Case study: Expensify IPO Employee Celebration Week
Company: Expensify
Event type: IPO celebration, remote team offsite
Location: New York City
Team size: 130 employees (and their families)
Number of events: 9 events across 7 days
The Challenge
After nearly a decade of building, Expensify was preparing to go public, one of the most significant moments in the company’s history. Following two years of intense preparation leading up to the IPO where the IPO target day kept changing, we had just one month to plan a celebration that matched the scale of the milestone.
The goal? Create an unforgettable remote team offsite in New York City that honored every employee's contribution, whether they joined in year one or week one hundred, and celebrated this company’s milestone achievement. The event needed to feel personal, purposeful, and inspiring, while also delivering on goals across team morale, media exposure, and internal alignment.
The Execution
With just 30 days to execute, we designed and delivered nine unique events over seven days for Expensify’s fully distributed team from all over the world. Each moment was intentionally crafted to reflect the company’s culture of ambition, creativity, and collaboration.
Highlights:
Work-from-anywhere experiences each day—iconic cafés, scenic rooftops, and inspiring venues to connect and collaborate IRL.
Closing bell ceremony + flash mob in Times Square during the IPO moment, complete with a surprise team dance.
Team photoshoot at Lincoln Center, proudly displaying the new ticker symbol, EXFY.
Custom swag tailored to each event (that people actually wanted), ensuring employees felt recognized and celebrated throughout the week.
Private gala that included a performance by Gryffin at Cipriani Wall Street to cap off the milestone moment.
Full hotel takeover to house all 150 employees and their families in the heart of Manhattan, simplifying logistics and maximizing spontaneous connections.
Surprise meals, thoughtful gifts, and intentional details throughout the week to ensure every touchpoint designed to honor the team and create lifelong memories.
The impact
Expensify’s IPO week wasn’t just a celebration. It was a powerful example of how in-person offsites for remote-first companies can significantly improve team morale, collaboration, culture, and genuine excitement that lasts for years to come. From the smallest detail to the largest stage, every detail of every event was designed to make employees feel like part of something big.
Services provided
End-to-end event strategy and production
Venue scouting, coordination, and booking
Travel and lodging logistics and traveler management
Brand-aligned creative direction, including custom swag and signage, press, and an iconic photo moment at the Lincoln Center
Tech vendor coordination and setup to ensure wifi from cafes could support the entire group
Team culture and morale programming (happy hours, evening activities, etc).
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