What Powered by People does

Powered by People (PBP) is a B2B technology platform and curated marketplace founded in June 2021 that connects independent artisan brands with major retail partners through a zero-inventory dropship model. The company serves 3,000+ maker brands across 100+ countries and operates partnerships or integrations with retailers including Nordstrom, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Bloomingdales, Target, Wayfair, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, Lulu & Georgia, One Kings Lane, Joss & Main, Mejuri, Liberty, and Ganni. Its core product, PBP Dropship, enables retailers to list 13,574+ responsibly-made products without holding inventory, with fulfillment from a US-based EDI warehouse in Athens, Georgia, and a $12 flat-rate shipping fee within the contiguous United States. The PBP Portal provides brands with multi-channel catalog, order, and inventory management, while a Shopify app integration supports self-serve retailer onboarding via Shopify Collective in roughly 10 minutes; additional integrations span Mirakl, Rithum, SPS Commerce, and CommerceHub.

PBP generates revenue through a $99/month brand subscription, a 10% commission on wholesale sales facilitated through the platform, $12 per-order shipping fees, and $5 per-unit return processing fees. Beyond distribution, the company operates an Impact division offering Purchase Order Financing and Consignment Financing through the Mastercard Foundation-backed Jiinue Growth Program, the Learning Universe training platform with nearly 100 modules, PBP ShipSmart consolidated shipping, and PBP Verified, an ESG assessment program developed with third-party expert Equiception. The platform applies multimodal AI (computer vision and NLP) to product catalog generation, taxonomy classification, attribute extraction, and multilingual translation. PBP is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with a globally distributed team across North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and South Asia, and has raised approximately $14.5M across seed and Series A rounds between 2021 and 2023. The company achieved B Corp certification in September 2025 and was a finalist in Fast Company's 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards.

Name

Powered by People

Legal name

Powered by People, Corp.

Website

https://www.poweredbypeople.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PBP is a B2B technology platform and curated marketplace connecting 3,000+ independent artisan brands across 100+ countries with major retailers such as Nordstrom, Target, and Wayfair through a zero-inventory dropship model, multi-channel catalog management, and ESG verification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Sustainable Dropship Marketplace

NAICS

General Merchandise Retailers (455)

SIC

Wholesale-Misc Durable Goods (5090)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wholesale/B2B Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAF), Wholesale Dropship & Bulk Import/Export Sourcing Marketplaces (CRAFAHAO), Cross-border Dropshipping & Sourcing Platforms (CRAFAJAD)

Keywords

• B2B dropship marketplace
• Sustainable product sourcing
• Artisan brand platform
• Retail fulfillment software
• ESG verified wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Subscription Fees: Brands pay $99 monthly fee for access to PBP platform, including Shopify integration, product data validation, account management, and access to retail network.
2. Commission on Sales: PBP charges 10% commission on wholesale sales facilitated through the platform. This covers last-mile shipping, subsidized returns, PBP Verified compliance, and promotional costs.
3. Shipping Fees: Flat fee of $12 per order for delivery within contiguous United States, handled directly from PBP's warehouse in Athens, Georgia.
4. Return Processing Fees: $5 per unit returned, covering administrative and logistical costs of coordinating returns. For high-value items, additional signature confirmation costs apply.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Powered by People runs a B2B sustainable dropship and marketplace platform that connects independent artisan brands in 100+ countries with major retailers such as Nordstrom, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Target, and Wayfair. Retailers access over 13,500 responsibly-made products through a self-serve dropship catalog with no inventory risk, while brands use the PBP Portal to manage catalogs, orders, and inventory across multiple retail channels. The company layers PBP Verified ESG compliance, AI-powered catalog tooling, and financing products on top of its distribution infrastructure.

Product overview

Powered by People (PBP) operates as a B Corp Certified B2B technology platform combining a curated sustainable product catalog with multi-channel distribution infrastructure. The core offering is PBP Dropship — a zero-inventory dropship platform where retailers access over 13,500 responsibly-made products from 3,000+ maker brands across 100+ countries. The PBP Portal serves as the central management interface for brands to control catalogs, orders, and inventory across retail channels. The Shopify App Integration enables direct product import for Shopify-based retailers. PBP Verified provides ESG compliance verification for brands. Beyond distribution, PBP's Impact division offers financing products including Purchase Order Financing and Consignment Financing through the Jiinue Growth Program, plus the Learning Universe training platform with 100+ modules. PBP ShipSmart provides consolidated shipping, while the Crafted Journal serves as an editorial content platform. Pricing includes a $99/month subscription plus 10% commission on wholesale sales, with last-mile shipping at a flat $12/order within the contiguous US.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PBP Dropship Sustainable B2B dropship platform enabling retailers to source and sell over 13,500 responsibly-made products from a curated network of independent artisan brands without holding inventory, with real-time inventory sync, automated order management, and flat $12 shipping from EDI warehouses in Athens, Georgia.
• PBP Portal All-in-one management dashboard where brands manage catalogs, orders, and inventory across multiple retail and marketplace channels in the PBP network, with real-time inventory and order synchronization, automated catalog standardization for retailer compliance, and simplified payment reconciliations.
• Shopify App Integration Shopify application that lets brands import PBP products directly into their Shopify admin and lets retailers integrate via Shopify Collective with setup in under 10 minutes for automated order sync and Shopify Payments.
• PBP Verified ESG verification program developed with third-party expert Equiception that assesses brands on sustainability, quality, and reliability across Social, Environmental, and Governance pillars, with ongoing capacity building; signals responsible business commitment to buyers.
• Purchase Order Financing Purchase Order Management Service that bridges cash flow gaps for artisan partners by verifying buyer purchase orders, managing the order, and facilitating advance payment terms so artisans can access funds to begin production.
• Consignment Financing Flexible funding solution developed with BFA Global that helps makers and retailers bring products to market faster, meet retailer demand, and scale without upfront costs, delivered as part of the Jiinue Growth Program.
• Jiinue Growth Program Market systems development initiative in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and consortium partners (Grassroots Business Fund, DT Global, 4G Capital, GROOTS Kenya) that combines financial support with technical assistance including training in product quality, costing, pricing, and storytelling, with PBP providing purchase order and consignment financing.
• PBP ShipSmart Consolidated shipping program offering reduced shipping costs to PBP makers worldwide, piloted through the Ashoka-IKEA Dela Programme to address logistics barriers that limit artisan competitiveness in global markets.
• Learning Universe Digital learning platform featuring nearly 100 training modules focused on retail and export readiness, covering product development, quality control, marketing, pricing, and sales for artisan communities and small brands.
• Crafted Journal Editorial platform featuring stories for the conscious buyer, including Crafted digital magazine volumes and blog articles covering artisan profiles, maker spotlights, and trends in sustainable and artisan-made goods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 million people employed in Creative Manufacturing and Handmade sector globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• R.I.S.E. Artisan FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PBP partnered with ByHand Consulting and Trade+Impact to support artisan enterprises worldwide through grant programs. Initial funding from the Rucker/Gibbs Family Charitable Fund. Program aims to empower artisans in Colombia, Guatemala, and Indonesia.
• TRANSFORM (Unilever, FCDO, EY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative of Unilever, UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, and EY aiming to impact 15 million lives by 2025. PBP partnered to test and scale solutions improving outcomes for women makers through training, digitalization, and export readiness.
• Ashoka (IKEA Dela Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Ashoka-IKEA Dela Programme, PBP helped effect systemic change in global shipping. Piloted PBP ShipSmart program offering consolidated shipping opportunities to makers worldwide.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPBP works with IOM supporting the Ukrainian makers community at Shoppe Object event in New York City, helping migrants and displaced people access market opportunities.
• BFA GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with impact innovation firm BFA Global to address women's economic empowerment in Kenya using technology to close the digital divide by testing AI-generated high quality digital profiles for makers.
• EquiceptioncoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party ESG expert that helped develop PBP Verified assessment program. Committed to assessing brands' sustainability status and providing guidance to improve their businesses.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary technology integration partner. Brands download PBP's Shopify app to import products and manage orders. Retailers integrate via Shopify Collective for seamless product syncing and automated payments through Shopify Payments.
• MiraklcoreTechnology or IntegrationMarketplace platform integration enabling PBP to connect with Mirakl-powered marketplaces for broader retail distribution.
• Grassroots Business FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Jiinue Growth Program consortium providing technical assistance and coordinated approach for supporting MSMEs in Kenya.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Shopify Collective: Shopify Collective is Shopify's native B2B cross-selling feature that lets Shopify merchants list and fulfill products from other Shopify-based brands. It is both a critical integration partner for PBP and a potential competitor, as it offers retailers a platform-native alternative for dropship artisan assortment.
• Mirakl: Mirakl is a marketplace platform that powers enterprise retailer marketplaces (including Target Plus, Best Buy, and others). It is a technology integration partner for PBP and a broader incumbent that enables retailers to operate their own third-party seller programs, potentially competing with PBP's managed marketplace offering.

Direct peers

• Joor: Joor is a B2B wholesale platform focused on fashion and accessories, connecting brands with retailers globally. It is comparable to PBP's fashion category business in marketplace model, retailer relationships, and wholesale transaction support, with a heavier concentration in apparel.
• IndieMe: IndieMe is a B2B marketplace connecting independent makers and artisans with wholesale buyers and retailers. Comparable to PBP in artisan supply base, B2B wholesale model, and curated independent-brand positioning, with overlapping product categories including home goods and accessories.
• Abound: Abound is a curated B2B marketplace for independent brands to reach retailers, with a focus on discovery, storytelling, and wholesale order management. Directly comparable to PBP in target customer (independent retailers and brands) and curated marketplace positioning.
• Faire: Faire is a leading B2B wholesale marketplace connecting independent brands with retailers across categories including home, fashion, and gifts. It is the most direct competitor to PBP in the dropship/wholesale marketplace category, with overlapping retailer customers and a comparable self-serve onboarding model.
• Ankorstore: Ankorstore is a European B2B marketplace connecting independent brands and makers with retailers. Highly comparable to PBP in business model (marketplace + dropship), customer base (independent retailers), and value proposition (curated independent brands), though with stronger European geographic concentration.

Emerging players

• Novica: Novica is an artisan marketplace connecting global artisans with consumers via direct e-commerce, with a strong social-impact and artisan-narrative focus. Comparable to PBP in artisan supply base and conscious-commerce positioning, though Novica is B2C while PBP is B2B.
• RangeMe: RangeMe is a product discovery and sourcing platform that helps brands get listed with major retailers including Target, Walmart, and Kroger. Comparable to PBP in connecting makers to enterprise retail buyers, though focused more on discovery/onboarding than dropship fulfillment.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade retailer of artisan-made home goods sourced from maker cooperatives worldwide. Comparable to PBP in artisan supply chain, fair-trade values, and home decor category focus, though operating a retail model rather than a marketplace platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/poweredbypeople.io
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/powered-by-people-pbp
• Instagraminstagram.com/powered_by_people
• Pinterestpinterest.com/powered_by_people

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Powered by People