ToucanTech is a cloud-based community management platform founded in 2014 by Kate Jillings and Sian Morley-Smith. The company originated from the founders’ experience running a business education news website, where they identified a widespread need among schools, universities, and organizations for a centralized, user-friendly software to manage communities of students, alumni, and supporters. Together with a small founding team including a lead developer and early joiners, they developed a beta product focused on the education sector, which later expanded to serve charities, associations, and companies worldwide.
Starting from humble beginnings with a small team working out of hot-desks fueled by caffeine and late nights, ToucanTech has grown steadily over the past decade. The company now employs around 50 to 60 people across offices in London, Lisbon, Sydney, and Washington D.C. It has built a strong client base of over 150 organizations, managing communities comprising thousands of members and tracking over £200 million in fundraising donations. ToucanTech’s growth has been supported by a £1 million funding round led by Pembroke VCT, aimed at expanding their UK and international presence.
ToucanTech raised £1 million in 2020 to accelerate growth and product development. the company’s reported annual revenue reached approximately $5 million as of 2025, reflecting its solid market position in the community management software space.
ToucanTech offers an all-in-one platform combining a powerful CRM, website builder, event management, fundraising tools, email marketing, payment processing, mentoring programs, job boards, and volunteer management. Its CRM automatically tracks member interactions such as email opens, event registrations, and donations, providing deep insights to community managers. The platform supports multi-channel communications, including personalized newsletters and SMS, and integrates social media syncing. Event management includes ticketing, waitlists, and post-event follow-ups, while fundraising tools manage campaigns, pledges, and financial reporting. A branded mobile app keeps communities engaged on the go. The platform is designed for ease of use, with dedicated customer support and continuous product enhancements driven by user feedback.
The company focuses on organic growth and rapid product development, with weekly code updates and feature releases to continuously improve the platform’s capabilities.
ToucanTech regularly updates its platform based on customer feedback, adding features that enhance community engagement and administrative efficiency. Recent developments include AI-assisted tools for generating effective email subject lines to boost open rates and expanded integrations for payments and event management.
ToucanTech prides itself on a high-energy, tenacious, and collaborative culture. The founding team emphasizes teamwork, passion for community building, and delivering exceptional service. The company supports remote work and maintains a customer-centric approach, offering personalized account management and 24/7 support. Their values focus on social mobility, inclusivity, and empowering organizations to foster meaningful connections within their communities.
ToucanTech serves a diverse range of clients including schools, universities, charities, professional associations, and corporate organizations. Its user base manages over one million contacts globally, sending on average 120,000 emails monthly through the platform. Clients include notable organizations such as the Shell Pensioners Association and the American Institute of Architects. The platform’s community-oriented features help organizations deepen engagement, streamline administration, and enhance fundraising efforts, making it a trusted partner in the education and nonprofit sectors.
