# Clay Sifford

> Clay Sifford is the Nashville-based founder and CEO of LASSO, an event-industry software business connecting crew, project, inventory, and financial management. Previously the founder and CEO of OVATION, he drew on production experience and conversations with more than 350 industry leaders to develop LASSO. Its expansion includes the 2021 acquisition of Intrinsic Meeting Solutions and the 2025 acquisition of Shoflo.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at LASSO
- **Organizations:** LASSO, OVATION, Hampden-Sydney College, Young Presidents Organization
- **Education:** Hampden-Sydney College
- **Known for:** Founded LASSO after operating a live-event production company., LASSO secured a $5 million Series A from McCarthy Capital in November 2022., LASSO reported inclusion in the Inc. 5000 in 2022.

## Career timeline

- **1994** — Hampden-Sydney College class year.
- **Before 2014** — Founded and led OVATION, a Nashville-based live-event production company; the precise founding date is not consistently documented in the reviewed accounts.
- **2014** — LASSO registered in Tennessee, initially under the name 4C Talent.
- **2017** — Focused on LASSO after stepping away from OVATION operations; LASSO had 13 full-time employees in May. Joined the Hampden-Sydney board of trustees.
- **2021** — LASSO acquired Intrinsic Meeting Solutions and completed a $3 million seed round in December.
- **2022** — LASSO announced a $5 million Series A from McCarthy Capital on November 7.
- **2024** — Joined Angela Alea and Jay Bredenberg for the LASSO Fest Ask Us Anything session.
- **2025** — LASSO announced the Shoflo acquisition on June 18. Hampden-Sydney recognized Sifford in its James Madison Society in its fall magazine.
- **2026** — Delivered The New Era of Live Events keynote at the July Saddle Up Summit in Nashville.

## Achievements

- Founded LASSO after operating a live-event production company.
- LASSO secured a $5 million Series A from McCarthy Capital in November 2022.
- LASSO reported inclusion in the Inc. 5000 in 2022.
- Led LASSO through the additions of Intrinsic Meeting Solutions in 2021 and Shoflo in 2025.
- Served a full term on the Hampden-Sydney College board of trustees, recognized in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Opened Saddle Up Summit at Virgin Hotels Nashville with The New Era of Live Events keynote and joined Angela Alea for its closing Ask Us Anything panel. The event ran July 14-16.
- **2025-06** — LASSO announced its acquisition of Shoflo, adding run-of-show and teleprompter management capabilities.

## Links

- Website: https://www.lasso.io/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-s-1156901/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/clay_sifford

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/clay-sifford
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23