Meeting event software companies MeetingPlay and Aventri announced they have merged and received a growth equity investment from Sunstone Partners and Camden Partners. Combining the strengths of both companies, said an announcement, the new entity “will forge a new path as the dominant, full-service event software provider.” MeetingPlay is a Washington, D.C.-based company focused on creating solutions for in-person virtual and hybrid events. Aventri is a Norwalk, Conn.-based provider of data-driven, end-to-end event and meeting management solutions for virtual, hybrid and in-person events. The joined company, said the announcement, will “close all gaps” in the planning process, offering the most complete full-service solution for meetings and events of all sizes, from conferences of more than 200,000 to meetings with fewer than 100 attendees. The combined company will become one of the world’s largest event technology companies, servicing customers on a global scale. Among its capabilities will be: event marketing website and registration, a virtual and hybrid event platform, a mobile app and onsite event solutions.  In conjunction with the merger, Eric Lochner has been named CEO of the new company, bringing over 25 years of experience in building technology and technology-enabled services companies. Co-founder and former MeetingPlay CEO Joe Schwinger and co-founder and former MeetingPlay COO Lisa Vann will remain with the new company and undertake executive roles. Former Aventri CEO Jim Sharpe will remain a shareholder and advisor to the new company.