Online Event Pioneer

In March of 2020, Jim called for a halt to in-person ticket sales before almost any other major live entertainment organization, saying to Goldstar’s customers in an email, “I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but I don’t want you to go out to live events right now!” Taking action immediately and decisively, Jim led Goldstar to launch the creation of Stellar, the first complete hybrid events platform.

Since then, Jim has been a pioneer and a thought leader in the blossoming online event medium. He published the definitive primer on the subject Beyond the Back Row in July of 2022, when it hit #1 on Amazon’s best seller list in several categories.

Jim created an entire series of videos to guide people to better understand online events here. He’s also covered these subjects in many conferences, including Theatre Maker’s Summit, INTIX 2021, Ticketing Business Forum 2020 and more.

Entrepreneur with experience bootstrapping from zero to scale. Leader. Writer. Speaker. Teacher. Curator. Whisky expert.
Kung Fu Black Belt. Shameless karaoke singer, party thrower and creator of good mayhem.

Leader in the Live Events and Ticketing Industry

Jim co-founded Goldstar in 2002 and was the CEO of Goldstar until its acquisition in 2021. Goldstar invented the model of developing an audience for live events and then connecting that audience to event promoters and venues in a two-sided marketplace. Starting from initial capital of just $1000, Jim and his co-founders grew Goldstar to scale. Over the years, the company sold tickets on behalf of more than 2,000,000 events.

Jim has been an innovator and thought leader in the industry since the beginning. His philosophy of pricing and marketing in live entertainment have gone from controversial and disruptive in the beginning to widely accepted today. His thought leadership in the industry was never more important than during the Covid shutdown of live entertainment of 2020 and the rise of online events as an important new medium and opportunity for the industry.

Jim’s also the co-founder and lead curator of TEDxBroadway, one of the longest running TEDx events in the world.

Teaching, Coaching and Supporting Entrepreneurs

Jim is an adjunct professor at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurship at USC. What makes his unique as a teacher is his experience as an entrepreneur who bootstrapped a business with $1000 in initial capital to scale.

Jim also runs a entrepreneurship meetup in person in Pasadena, California, using his own version of the mastermind format. If interested, entrepreneurs can sign up for upcoming events.

Monthly Entrepreneurship Meetup

Bob Lefsetz podcast

Michael Keeler podcast

Speaker, Panelist, Podcaster

Jim has a lot to share and he’s good at sharing it, with dozens of appearances as a keynote speaker, podcast cast or panelist to his credit.

The enemy of any conference or podcast is dull and over-cautious, and Jim is never those things. He’s positive and constructive, and also candid and often contrarian. He talks about entrepreneurship, culture, the entertainment business, the future and loves the chance to share ideas in a variety of interesting settings.

Once when Jim was on a panel, another panelist who was debating him on a topic said, “Hmm. I see your point. I think you’ve changed my mind on this.”

They’ve worked together ever since.

Jim has spoken and appeared in places such as:

SXSW, TED-U, INTIX, Ticketing Business Forum, Ticket Summit, Aspen Live, Arts Reach, Anderson School at UCLA

Recent Podcast Appearances

Strategic Value Creator

Jim’s has a unique ability in seeing better possible futures for companies, industries and people. As an executive, entrepreneur, teacher, speaker and advisor, he’s helped people find exciting ways to expand what’s possible for them. If you think Jim might be an asset to you as a board member or advisor, feel free to reach out.

About Jim

Jim McCarthy is the co-founder and former CEO of Goldstar, civic leader, writer, podcaster and speaker. He’s a friend and advisor to entrepreneurs and a huge fan of theatre, music and all forms of live entertainment.

Jim co-founded and led Goldstar from a bootstrapped startup in 2002 to one of the most popular ways to find tickets to great shows and things to do. Jim has appeared on dozens of stages, at conferences, including SXSW, TED-U and all major live entertainment and ticketing conferences.

Jim completed his BA in English cum laude from Harvard and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA. He played rugby in college and for Idemitsu Kosan in Japan after college.

Jim holds a black belt in Northern Eagle Claw Kung Fu, a Level 2 Certification with Distinction from the World Spirits Education Trust, and speaks Japanese and Italian.

Jim McCarthy