Our Story

RainFocus was established in 2013 to simplify event success and accelerate business relationships. After decades of struggling with other companies' pieced-together systems and complicated data silos, our founder built a single platform that uses event data to boost business performance. Because RainFocus was founded by seasoned events industry experts, we quickly attracted the attention of the world’s most innovative companies.

Early on, after powering some of the most renowned events — including Oracle CloudWorld, VMworld, and Cisco Live — we proved that one platform could accommodate even the most complex events. With continuous enhancements, we’ve further simplified event registration, content management, exhibitor activation, virtual delivery, and on-site experiences. The platform also optimizes all live and on-demand content to create memorable attendee experiences.

Meet Our Leadership Team

Doug Baird

Founder and President

With 20-plus years of unparalleled experience in the technology industry, Doug has held several roles including programmer, founder, and president. Before founding RainFocus in 2013, Doug was the general manager of the B2B enterprise business at Active, where he oversaw the acquisition and integration of five software companies into the B2B business unit. Prior to Active, he was a founding partner and the CTO of WingateWeb. Doug’s vision shaped the industry and remains the foundation for modern enterprise event solutions. He continues to share his knowledge by speaking publicly to educate individuals in the event technology industry, and is heralded as a pioneer in the next wave of experiential marketing.

JR Sherman

Chief Executive Officer

With more than 20 years of leading highly impactful service and SaaS businesses, JR is highly regarded for his expertise in SaaS, events, marketing, and experiential marketing. After leading technology companies Right Source, Active Network BSG, and Lanyon, JR now educates marketers on how they can transform event marketing from an isolated investment to an integrated customer experience that drives top-line revenue growth, builds brand equity, and accelerates the sales funnel. As CEO of RainFocus, he focuses on creating and nurturing a culture grounded in pride and dedication, balanced with a commitment to supporting family and private lives. JR has been named one of the 25 Most Influential Executives by Business Travel News.