Fan experience startup, Went, launches in Buffalo

Company creates customized, artist-designed, physical souvenir tickets for sports games, concerts & other events

√ 10% of all Buffalo football souvenir ticket sales will be donated to Patricia Allen Fund 

Fan experience startup Went announced its launch in Buffalo. Founded by married couple and entrepreneurs Dan Gigante and Katie Krawczyk, Went creates artist-designed commemorative souvenir tickets to give fans a new way to memorialize concerts, sports games, performances and other once-in-a-lifetime events – in person, at home, or wherever they experienced the event.

As part of the launch, Went has partnered with the Patricia Allen Fund to donate 10% of sales for Buffalo football commemorative football tickets to the nonprofit. Went’s first ticket is on sale in recognition of the Sept. 8 Buffalo vs. Los Angeles game.

“In a digital-first world, the days of keeping physical tickets as timeless memories have faded – or not even existed for some. We wanted to bring that back, but in a way that goes beyond what section, row and seat you sat in, and create something truly unique to the memories you made,” Went co-founder Dan Gigante said. “Went is made for fans who want to immortalize their memories in a product that provides a memorable keepsake of the amazing experience you shared with friends, family and other fans.”

Images courtesy of 19 Ideas

••••••••

The Buffalo vs. Los Angeles ticket is on sale for $18. It honors the game that kicks off the 2022-23 football season, and is a matchup of last season’s reigning champs against this year’s top-rated team.

Artwork for the ticket was designed by Buffalo-based artist and animator Jarek Pulit. Ten percent of all sales earned from commemorative ticket purchases will go to an appointed charity. For Buffalo football tickets, 10% will be donated directly to the Patricia Allen Fund, supporting the work of the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital’s pediatric critical care team.

“We are so grateful Went chose to support the Patricia Allen Fund at Oishei Children’s Hospital,” said Andrew Bennett, vice president, The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation. “Great partnerships and community support like this help provide equipment, technology and resources to programs led by our critical care team. That team is ready 24/7, 365, for Western New York’s kids and families when they need them most, impacting thousands of lives each year.”

Went’s tickets can be purchased online and customized for fans who attended the game in person, and those who watched remotely. Upon purchasing, shoppers select where they watched the game from. Depending on their selection, the customization goes a layer deeper. Fans who attended an experience in person can add their section, row and seat number. Those who enjoyed remote can add the bar, restaurant or home address where they watched. A customized message can be added to each ticket or left blank to allow for a handwritten message to commemorate the event.

In addition to Went, Gigante and Krawczyk are veterans within Buffalo’s startup and entrepreneur community. The two currently own and operate strategic marketing agency 19 Ideas, and were also partners and owners of You and Who – a buy-one-give-one social-good T-shirt company. Beyond this, Gigante served as one of clevermethod’s co-founders and partners, helping the company become a Fortune 5000 organization. He also operated as a former partner of for-good T-shirt company 26 Shirts, and helped establish the Buffalo chapter of Startup Weekend. Earlier this week, he announced the launch of Fanfare, a startup that makes game day beers for the Buffalo football season and private labeling for company or event.

Krawczyk served as a founding board member for Persistence Preparatory Academy, a charter school located on Buffalo’s east side that instills scholars with college preparation beginning in kindergarten. She also worked on behalf of 43North during the organization’s infancy, propelling it to its current status as an internationally recognized business competition. 

Future tickets for the Buffalo football season will be designed by a different artist each week. Commemorative tickets for non-sports events are actively being developed and will be announced later this month. Follow Went on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future ticket releases. For more, visit Went.co.

Born in 2020 from the input of Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen and his family, The Patricia Allen Fund provides ongoing support to the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital’s pediatric care team. It started from one tweet that rallied together one community, leading to $1 million raised within the first week. The organization benefits The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation.

Join “Team 17” and donate online at OCHBuffalo.org/Foundation/Patricia-Allen-Fund.