In this episode of WP Legends, we sit down with Ashok Dudhat, founder and CTO of WP Event Manager, a lightweight and powerful event management plugin powering over 30,000 websites globally. From coding websites in Surat, India, to building a globally recognized plugin and tech hiring platform, Ashok shares his journey of product development, scaling WordPress solutions, and leveraging AI to enhance events.
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From Freelance Developer to WordPress Product Founder
Ashok’s journey began in India, where he freelanced as a developer and launched his first theme shop in 2013. His move to Germany opened new opportunities, inspiring him to transition from services to full-time product development. Along the way, Ashok founded Tech Jobhere, a global hiring platform connecting job seekers with startups, scaleups, and corporates across Europe, India, and the US.
Launching WP Event Manager
Inspired by his experience with job boards and the need for event management solutions, Ashok developed WP Event Manager in 2016. By 2017, the plugin gained its current name and identity, making it easily adoptable by WordPress users. Today, it helps organizers manage millions of events worldwide, offering flexibility, scalability, and advanced functionality.
Building Themes & Supporting Agencies
Ashok’s early theme experience helped him expand WP Event Manager’s offerings to include themes. This ensures customers can launch fully compatible websites seamlessly. The plugin serves both agencies and direct customers, offering a free core version and premium add-ons for advanced functionality like ticketing, CRM integration, and email automation.
Innovating with AI & Advanced Features
WP Event Manager recently launched AI matchmaking and one-to-one meeting requests, helping attendees connect efficiently at large events. The plugin supports unlimited event attendees, depending on hosting power, and offers organizer and attendee apps to manage events on the go. These features reflect Ashok’s commitment to innovation driven by real-world event feedback.
Scaling Teams & Managing Multiple Ventures
Ashok manages WP Event Manager alongside Tech Jobhere with a team of around 30 people across India, Germany, and Budapest. His approach focuses on building scalable systems and documenting processes, allowing him to guide product strategy without being involved in every technical detail. Feedback from Tech Jobhere events directly informs plugin development, creating a synergistic ecosystem.
Views on WordPress & the Future
Ashok believes WordPress will continue to grow, driven by strong SEO support, a robust plugin ecosystem, and better-managed hosting solutions. With AI tools making coding accessible to everyone, Ashok sees limitless potential for WordPress, expecting its market share to grow in the next five years. He encourages agencies to deliver holistic value, from design to marketing, to remain competitive.
Giving Back & Looking Ahead
Asked what he would do with $100 million, Ashok said he would support the poor and contribute to charitable causes. His story reflects a balance of entrepreneurship, innovation, and purpose-driven growth. Looking ahead, Ashok plans to keep scaling WP Event Manager while expanding features, ensuring it remains the go-to WordPress plugin for event management.
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