Gelato
Gelato is a Norwegian print-on-demand platform connecting 2M+ creators and ecommerce merchants to 140+ localized print partners across 32 countries, with a B2B SaaS arm (GelatoConnect) serving 200+ production operations worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Gelato does
Gelato is a Norwegian print-on-demand (POD) and software platform founded in 2007 and headquartered in Oslo, with a workforce of 251-500 employees. The company operates a global production network of 140+ print partners across 32 countries, connecting creators, ecommerce merchants, and enterprises to localized manufacturing for customized physical products including apparel, wall art, mugs, photo books, and marketing materials. Its two-platform architecture pairs Gelato (a merchant-facing POD storefront and marketplace) with GelatoConnect, a B2B SaaS solution that onboards independent print producers onto its routing, pricing, and workflow infrastructure. Reported operational metrics include 2M+ creators, 10M+ cumulative orders, 99.9% uptime, 0.35% average error rate, 90% of orders produced locally, and 90% delivered within five days.
Gelato monetizes through multiple tiers: pay-per-order transaction fees on its core marketplace, a Gelato+ subscription at $19.99/month (annual) or $29.99/month (monthly) for merchants, GelatoConnect SaaS contracts (quote-based) for print producers, and a Gelato Platinum custom enterprise tier for global sellers. Add-on revenue includes branded packaging and an affiliate program. The platform integrates natively with major ecommerce systems including Shopify and Etsy, and has extended into social commerce via TikTok Shop, with logistics partnerships including FedEx and DHL. The company has raised approximately $269M cumulatively, the most recent being a $240M Series D in August 2021 led by Insight Partners (with SoftBank, Dawn Capital, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and SEB Pension Fund), which established unicorn status at a $1B+ valuation.
The company's competitive positioning rests on a software-led approach to a fragmented global print industry, with embedded AI/ML capabilities spanning catalog migration (Velocity Switch), automated mockup generation (Magic Mockups), dynamic pricing (Price Navigator), personalized design tooling (Personalization Studio and CreatorAI Suite), and production estimation (GelatoConnect Estimator). Leadership is anchored by founder and CEO Henrik Müller-Hansen, with John K. Hepburn as Chairman, Elena Bladh as CTO, and Jose Herrero as CFO.
Gelato firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gelato
- Legal name
- Gelato
- Website
- https://gelato.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Gelato is a Norwegian print-on-demand platform connecting 2M+ creators and ecommerce merchants to 140+ localized print partners across 32 countries, with a B2B SaaS arm (GelatoConnect) serving 200+ production operations worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Gelato is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Gelato business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Pay-per-order production fees: Core transaction revenue: sellers are charged per product produced and shipped only when a customer order is placed. No setup fees, no minimum orders, no inventory carrying cost. Pricing is product- and shipping-method dependent (e.g., framed poster $26.74 with economy/express shipping options).
- Gelato+ subscription: Premium recurring subscription giving up to 33% off products year-round, access to Personalization Studio, AI tools (Magic Mockups, Instant Collections, Price Navigator, Creative Vault), and free shipping campaigns. Priced at $19.99/month billed annually or $29.99/month monthly.
- Gelato Platinum enterprise contracts: Enterprise tier with personalized pricing, price matching from competitors, free samples, dedicated account management, and migration support via Velocity Switch. Quote-based revenue from large-volume sellers.
- GelatoConnect SaaS (print-producer side): Software subscription sold to print producers and production operations (Estimator, Apparel, Store Link, core Connect modules), giving them access to Gelato's order network (100M+ order network, 3x more volume guaranteed), AI carrier selection across 100+ carriers, and procurement automation.
- Branded packaging and inserts: Per-unit add-on revenue from custom packaging inserts and branded labels (start at $0.49 each with Gelato+), produced and shipped with the underlying order.
- Affiliates program: Referral/affiliate revenue share for partners who refer creators and sellers to Gelato's print-on-demand platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free core platform — pay only when a customer orders |
| Subscription | Annual | Gelato+ subscription (Annual) — $19.99/month billed annually |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gelato+ subscription (Monthly) — $29.99/month |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Gelato Platinum — custom quote-based enterprise tier |
| Subscription | Annual | GelatoConnect — quote-based SaaS for print producers |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Gelato product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gelato operates a global print-on-demand platform that connects ecommerce merchants to 140+ certified print partners across 32 countries, producing and shipping customized products locally on demand with no minimum orders or inventory. The company also offers GelatoConnect, a B2B SaaS production operating system for print producers that orchestrates quoting, production routing, apparel decoration, logistics, and procurement. Revenue is generated through per-order production fees, Gelato+ and Gelato Platinum subscriptions, and GelatoConnect SaaS subscriptions.
Product overview
Gelato operates a platform-plus-modules architecture built around two core offerings: the Gelato print-on-demand platform — which connects ecommerce merchants to a global network of local production hubs for on-demand manufacturing and fulfillment — and GelatoConnect, a separate B2B production software platform for print providers that orchestrates estimating, routing, and fulfillment. The Gelato merchant platform is extended by an ecosystem of add-on modules and features, including Gelato+ (subscription), Personalization Studio, Velocity Switch (AI-powered migration tool), Magic Mockups, Instant Collections, Price Navigator, Creative Vault, Premium Mockups, the CreatorAI suite, Branded Packaging, and the Gelato App, and is supported by catalog offerings such as Sport-Tek apparel, white-label products, and dropshipping products. GelatoConnect itself is composed of its own modules — the Estimator (AI quoting engine), the Apparel module, and Store Link (B2B storefronts) — plus a mobile app, and integrates with ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, TikTok Shop, Amazon, Wix, Squarespace, and BigCommerce, and exposes a REST API (https://order.gelatoapis.com) for custom integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GelatoConnect: AI-native, end-to-end software platform for print providers covering quoting (Estimator), production workflow, apparel decoration, and store link integrations. Used by 200+ production operations across 30+ countries.
- Gelato Platinum
- Gelato+
- Personalization Studio
- CreatorAI
- Velocity Switch
Products and services
- Gelato Print-on-Demand Platform Core print-on-demand platform that connects ecommerce merchants to a global network of 140+ local production hubs across 32 countries for on-demand manufacturing and fulfillment of customized products. No setup fees, no minimum orders, no inventory; pay per order produced and shipped.
- Gelato+ Subscription Premium subscription tier for high-volume merchants priced at $19.99/month (annual) or $29.99/month (monthly), giving up to 33% off products year-round, Personalization Studio, AI creator tools (Magic Mockups, Instant Collections, Price Navigator, Creative Vault), free shipping campaigns, and branded packaging/inserts from $0.49 each.
- Gelato Platinum Enterprise tier of Gelato's print-on-demand platform offering personalized quote-based pricing, price matching from competitors, free samples, dedicated account management, and migration support via Velocity Switch for high-volume sellers migrating from platforms such as Printify and Printful.
- GelatoConnect B2B SaaS production operating system for print producers that orchestrates quoting, order intake, production, decoration, logistics, and procurement across 200+ production operations. Replaces legacy MIS with AI-native modules (Estimator, Apparel, Store Link), AI carrier selection across 100+ carriers, and access to a 100M+ order network with 3x more volume guaranteed.
- Sport-Tek Apparel Catalog Sport-Tek performance apparel line (13 athletic styles, 140+ colors, PosiCharge color-lock) added to the Gelato product catalog, available for customization and print-on-demand fulfillment. Currently produced and fulfilled in the US for US customers.
- White-Label Product Catalog Catalog of white-label base products (apparel, wall art, drinkware, accessories) that merchants can customize and sell under their own brand via Gelato's print-on-demand fulfillment network.
- Gelato Custom (Shop for Yourself) Direct-to-consumer flow on gelato.com/custom that lets individual consumers purchase personalized products (framed posters, mugs, apparel, etc.) directly from Gelato, bypassing any merchant store.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2–3x faster delivery than traditional centralized POD services (2–5 business days vs. 7–14 days)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Gelato
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gelato technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability10 records
Feature7 records
Gelato partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Shopifyflagship1-click Shopify integration via the Gelato Print on Demand app (4.8/5 across 801 reviews on the Shopify App Store). Sellers publish Gelato products to Shopify and orders auto-import for local fulfillment in 32 countries.
- EtsyflagshipNative Etsy integration: publish Gelato products to Etsy listings and sync orders for local, on-demand fulfillment. Personalization Studio integration automates buyer personalization requests into print-ready artwork.
- TikTok ShopcoreTikTok Shop integration currently available for US and UK sellers: connect shop, publish products, and orders import automatically for fulfillment.
- AmazoncoreAmazon (beta) integration for US sellers, allowing them to sell custom print-on-demand products without inventory or fulfillment.
- WooCommercecoreWooCommerce plugin integration: connect WordPress store to publish Gelato products and sync orders for local fulfillment.
- WixcoreWix integration with 90+ language translations and localized site domains; publish Gelato products and auto-import orders.
- SquarespacecoreSquarespace integration allowing creators to choose from Gelato's growing selection of dropship products and sync orders to Gelato for production and delivery.
- BigCommercecoreBigCommerce integration enabling sellers to connect their storefront to Gelato's POD network for local fulfillment.
- CanoncoreListed GelatoConnect printer technology partner; GelatoConnect integrates with Canon production devices as part of its machine-agnostic software stack.
- BrothercoreListed GelatoConnect printer technology partner integrated with GelatoConnect production software.
- KornitcoreListed GelatoConnect printer technology partner; Kornit DTG/digital textile printers integrate with GelatoConnect Apparel production workflows.
- CloudprintercoreListed GelatoConnect partner for global print production network connectivity.
- HP IndigocoreListed GelatoConnect printer technology partner integrated with GelatoConnect production workflows.
- FedExcoreFedEx cited (alongside Gelato, FourKites, Silo AI, AfterShip) in Forbes coverage of AI-driven e-commerce logistics; FedEx is part of Gelato's 40+ logistics partners for shipping.
- DHLcoreNamed logistics partner used by Gelato for international shipping across its global delivery network.
- Sport-TekcorePerformance apparel brand now sold via Gelato's print-on-demand platform (13 styles, 140+ colors, PosiCharge color-lock). Currently produced and fulfilled in the US for US customers; sold under Gelato+ Sport-Tek landing page.
- Port AuthoritycoreCorporate-cut apparel brand supplied to Gelato for performance/team uniform POD (alongside Sport-Tek).
- OptimalprintminorOptimalprint linked from Gelato.com footer as a Gelato-owned / affiliated brand providing print products.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gelato competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gooten: Gooten is a print-on-demand production partner network offering on-demand fulfillment of customized products to ecommerce merchants, with overlapping product catalog and integration model comparable to Gelato.
- SPOD (Spreadshirt Print-on-Demand): SPOD is Spreadshirt's print-on-demand service offering on-demand apparel and accessories with ecommerce platform integrations, overlapping directly with Gelato's core merchant offering and pricing model.
- Apliiq: Apliiq is a print-on-demand apparel and accessories provider focused on customization, private label, and ecommerce integrations, overlapping with Gelato's apparel POD offering.
- CustomCat: CustomCat is a US-based print-on-demand service specializing in apparel and accessories with direct ecommerce platform integrations, competing with Gelato in the same SMB POD segment.
- Printify: Printify operates a print-on-demand marketplace connecting merchants to a global network of print providers with similar Shopify/Etsy integration model. It is explicitly named as a migration target of Gelato's Velocity Switch tool, confirming direct head-to-head competition.
- Printful: Printful is a leading print-on-demand fulfillment provider offering apparel, accessories, and home goods to ecommerce merchants, with a comparable network of production facilities and direct integrations with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. It is Gelato's most-cited direct competitor.
Emerging players
- T-Pop: T-Pop is a Europe-based print-on-demand platform focused on sustainable, ethically produced apparel, competing with Gelato in the European market and emphasizing local production similar to Gelato's value proposition.
- Teelaunch: Teelaunch is a print-on-demand and dropshipping platform offering on-demand products with ecommerce platform integrations, competing with Gelato in the SMB POD segment with comparable Shopify integration.
Broad incumbents
- Redbubble: Redbubble is a global online marketplace for independent artists to sell printed-on-demand designs on apparel, accessories, and home decor, overlapping with Gelato's creator-led custom product model but as a marketplace rather than a fulfillment platform.
- Zazzle: Zazzle operates a custom-products marketplace where creators and consumers design and purchase made-to-order goods, comparable to Gelato's creator-economy and personalization use cases at a broader retail scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gelato social profiles
Digital presenceGelato financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gelato leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Gelato subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Gelato funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gelato M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gelato
What does Gelato do?
Gelato operates a global print-on-demand platform that connects ecommerce merchants to 140+ certified print partners across 32 countries, producing and shipping customized products locally on demand with no minimum orders or inventory. The company also offers GelatoConnect, a B2B SaaS production operating system for print producers that orchestrates quoting, production routing, apparel decoration, logistics, and procurement. Revenue is generated through per-order production fees, Gelato+ and Gelato Platinum subscriptions, and GelatoConnect SaaS subscriptions.
Is Gelato a public or private company?
Gelato is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Gelato founded?
Gelato was founded in 2007. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Gelato based?
Gelato is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Gelato make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Pay-per-order production fees are the primary driver. The others are gelato+ subscription, gelato Platinum enterprise contracts, gelatoConnect SaaS (print-producer side), branded packaging and inserts and affiliates program.
Who are Gelato's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gooten, SPOD (Spreadshirt Print-on-Demand), Apliiq, CustomCat, Printify and Printful. Emerging players are T-Pop and Teelaunch. Broad incumbents are Redbubble and Zazzle.
Does Gelato have an API?
Yes. REST API served over HTTPS with authenticated clients and webhooks. Base URL: https://order.gelatoapis.com. Enables developers to build and automate print-on-demand workflows including product creation, order management, production routing, and shipment tracking across Gelato's global network. Developer documentation is at dashboard.gelato.com/docs.