How the Ultimate CIRS Summit Drove 1,600+ Registrations and $35,000 in Revenue Using HeySummit

Glenn DiTulio is no stranger to seizing opportunities. A retired supervisory Internal Revenue Agent, he set up the non-profit CIRS Research Foundation to raise awareness and funds for chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS). Despite having no prior experience running events—let alone virtual summits—Glenn decided to launch the Ultimate CIRS Summit. He not only attracted over 1,600 registrations, but also surpassed his revenue goal by netting $35,000 in attendee upsells and sponsorships. Here’s how he did it, and why HeySummit played a crucial role in that success.

The Background & Challenge

Glenn wanted to educate patients, families, and clinicians about CIRS—a complex condition affecting up to 80 million people in the US. Despite its widespread impact, CIRS is often overlooked in traditional medicine. Glenn’s goals were:

• Raise Awareness: Give patients and families practical advice on managing CIRS.

• Generate Revenue: Target $10,000 in net revenue to support further research.

• Keep it Simple: Provide free daily sessions with an optional all-access pass.

However, Glenn had never organized a virtual summit before. He needed a user-friendly platform that allowed him to upload and schedule pre-recorded talks without overwhelming costs or complex setup.

The HeySummit Solution

After comparing four different platforms, Glenn chose HeySummit for its:

1. Cost-Effectiveness: The HeySummit annual plan perfectly fitted within his budget.

2. Ease of Setup: Built-in scheduling tools, CSV exports, and straightforward configuration for pre-recorded sessions.

3. Flexibility: Unlimited speaker pages, smooth Vimeo integrations, and no need to pay speakers.

This flexibility was crucial. Glenn’s event featured a wide range of speakers—from environmental professionals to mental health experts—who weren’t all available live. Pre-recording talks made scheduling simpler and eliminated speaker fees.

Implementation & Key Features

Pre-Recorded Talks

Glenn recorded 48 sessions with 43 experts, then hosted them on Vimeo. He quickly linked them inside HeySummit for daily viewing. This meant speakers could present on their own time, and Glenn avoided hefty livestream costs.

Simple Ticket Structure

• Free Ticket: Attendees could watch each day’s sessions live during the summit week.

• $49 Upsell: On-demand access to all 48 talks for six months.

Sponsor Integration

Sponsors donated $2,000 each in exchange for a dedicated one-hour session. Although sponsors didn’t actively promote the summit, Glenn still earned $13,000 in sponsorship revenue.

Useful Tools

• CSV Export: Helped Glenn schedule 48 sessions over six days without confusion.

• Automatic Reminders: Encouraged attendees to watch daily sessions and consider upgrading.

The Results

• Surpassed Revenue Goals: Aiming for $10,000 net, Glenn ended up with $35,000.

• High Conversion to Paid: Of the 1,600+ registrants, about 460 paid for the $49 upsell. That’s nearly a 33% conversion rate.

• Minimal Upfront Costs: Total expenses of roughly $3,000 (HeySummit subscription, forming a Delaware non-profit, Vimeo subscription) were far outweighed by the event’s profits.

Lessons & Takeaways

Pre-Recording Reduces Complexity

Speakers didn’t need to appear live, so scheduling was far simpler. No one required payment, which kept costs low.

One Upsell Option Works

Charging $49 for extended access was clear and compelling—no confusion with multiple tiers.

Sponsor Advertising Matters

Glenn noted that requiring sponsors to promote the summit could have boosted attendance even further.

Choosing the Right Platform Pays Off

HeySummit’s ease of use, cost-effectiveness and data export features saved countless hours of manual work.

What’s Next

Buoyed by his success, Glenn plans to host future summits, potentially twice a year—one for patients and their families, and another for clinicians seeking advanced knowledge. The nonprofit, CIRS Research Foundation, will continue using HeySummit to educate, raise research funds, and unite the global CIRS community.

Conclusion

The Ultimate CIRS Summit is a testament to how first-time event organizers can exceed revenue goals and serve their communities with the right approach and platform. By leveraging HeySummit’s user-friendly features, Glenn built an event that drew in more than 1,600 registrants and delivered real value. If you’re looking to provide accessible, high-impact virtual events—even as a complete newcomer—Glenn’s success proves that a well-structured plan and the right tools make all the difference.