What Build in Amsterdam does

Build in Amsterdam is a privately held, Amsterdam-based digital agency founded in 2013 that builds brands and digital flagship stores for premium and luxury brands. Following its 2024 acquisition by Front Row Group, the agency operates as a subsidiary within Front Row's connected commerce platform, with reach spanning North America, the DACH region and broader Europe. Its international team of 50+ designers, developers, brand strategists and data analysts across 21 nationalities serves enterprise clients such as Suitsupply (since 2018), Adidas (4-year design system partnership), Mammut, Polaroid, Moooi, Roger Vivier, AKRIS, Vitra, X-BIONIC, Secrid and Ace & Tate, with the agency claiming the title of most awarded e-commerce agency globally (6 Webby Awards, 4 Awwwards E-Commerce Site of the Year, 41 Awwwards Sites of the Day, 100+ awards).

The agency's core technology stack is built around headless and composable commerce architecture, combining Shopify Plus (certified partner) with Next.js front-ends and headless CMS layers including Sanity, Storyblok and Contentful. Deployments are hosted on Vercel or Netlify, with Algolia powering search, Framer Motion and GSAP driving animations, and Stripe or Mollie handling payments for select clients. Build in Amsterdam's differentiators include multi-sensory design systems incorporating sound, motion and AR (e.g., voice search on Moooi), WCAG-compliant accessibility-first implementations, and a portfolio of interactive product tools such as the Vitra Gift Finder and Vitra Chair Finder (with AR and QR-code reverse lookup from physical stores).

The business operates as a bespoke professional services agency with project-based and multi-year retainer engagements. Revenue is generated through quote-based agency fees for strategy, branding, design and full-stack e-commerce development, with longer billing cadences on retained clients. Go-to-market is primarily portfolio- and award-driven, with inbound initiated through the company website and direct outreach, complemented by Front Row's broader distribution channels post-acquisition. The agency's client mix is concentrated in premium fashion, luxury, premium sportswear/outdoor, design and lifestyle verticals, with selective engagement in cultural institutions (Foam), social enterprise (KLABU) and creative/cultural sectors (Bézier type foundry).

Name

Build in Amsterdam

Legal name

Build in Amsterdam

Website

https://buildinamsterdam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Build in Amsterdam is a privately held Amsterdam-based digital agency, founded in 2013 and acquired by Front Row Group in 2024, that builds brands and headless digital flagship stores for premium and luxury enterprise clients such as Suitsupply, Adidas, Mammut, Polaroid, Moooi and Vitra.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

E-commerce Agency Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Experiential Brand Design (Retail/Exhibit/Signage) (MPAAAEAG)

Keywords

• E-commerce agency services
• Headless commerce development
• Digital flagship stores
• Brand strategy consulting
• Shopify plus development

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Agency Services: Build in Amsterdam earns revenue through bespoke agency fees for strategy, branding, and e-commerce development services. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements and retainer relationships with premium brand clients. The company has a recurring revenue model through ongoing client partnerships (e.g., multi-year retainer with Suitsupply and Mammut).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Build in Amsterdam is an award-winning digital agency that delivers end-to-end e-commerce, branding, and strategy services for premium and luxury brands. Its core offering consists of three service pillars: brand and platform strategy, design and branding (including multi-sensory digital design systems), and full-stack e-commerce development with a focus on headless and composable commerce built on Shopify Plus, Next.js, and headless CMS platforms such as Sanity, Storyblok, and Contentful.

Product overview

Build in Amsterdam is an award-winning e-commerce agency that builds brands and digital flagship stores. The company offers three core service pillars: Strategy (brand positioning, market analysis, platform strategy), Design/Branding (art direction, UI & UX, multi-sensory design, digital design systems), and E-commerce Development (headless architecture, Shopify Plus implementations, custom API integrations, next-gen technologies). Their key technology partnerships include Shopify, Sanity, Contentful, and Vercel. The agency has delivered numerous client projects including digital flagship stores for Suitsupply, Mammut, Polaroid, Moooi, Secrid, and The Balvenie; rebranding for X-BIONIC, Mollie, and KLABU; design systems for Adidas; and interactive tools like Vitra's Gift Finder and Chair Finder. Built on over a decade of experience, they specialize in headless and composable commerce solutions combining strategy, design, and in-house full-stack development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategy Services Brand and platform strategy services for premium and luxury brands, including market analysis, stakeholder interviews, data analysis, brand positioning, naming, platform strategy, and verbal identity development. Delivered to enterprise clients on a bespoke engagement basis.
• Design/Branding Services Comprehensive design and branding services including art direction, brand design, UI & UX design, multi-sensory design, digital design systems, brand guidelines, content production, and AI-powered craftsmanship. Delivered to enterprise clients on a bespoke engagement basis.
• E-commerce Development Services Full-stack e-commerce development including headless architecture, Shopify Plus implementations, UI & UX development, next-gen technologies (3D, AR), custom API integrations, performance tracking, and WCAG-compliant solutions. Delivered to enterprise clients on a bespoke engagement basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41 Sites of the Day on Awwwards and 100+ total industry awards including 6 Webby Awards and 4 Awwwards E-Commerce Site of the Year — self-described as 'the most rewarded e-commerce agency in the world'
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration24 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationBuild in Amsterdam is a certified Shopify Plus partner and specializes in headless Shopify builds. Shopify serves as their primary e-commerce platform for delivering digital flagship stores to premium and luxury brands.
• SanitycoreTechnology or IntegrationSanity is used as a headless CMS in conjunction with Shopify for delivering flexible, scalable e-commerce experiences, particularly for brands requiring rich content management alongside commerce (e.g., Polaroid, X-BIONIC Terraskin).
• StoryblokcoreTechnology or IntegrationStoryblok is used as a headless CMS across multiple client projects including Mammut, Foam Museum, KLABU, Secrid, Moooi, and Vitra Gift Finder, enabling flexible content management and composable architecture.
• VercelcoreTechnology or IntegrationVercel is used for deployment and hosting of Next.js-based digital flagship stores, providing fast, global content delivery and seamless developer experience.
• Services GenerauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Services Generaux to produce a bespoke brand film for Bézier type foundry, capturing the brand's essence and craftsmanship for its reveal and tagline launch.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DEPT: Amsterdam-headquartered global digital agency with comparable capabilities in e-commerce builds, design, and Shopify Plus delivery, serving many of the same premium and enterprise clients (e.g., Philips, Bose, Patagonia). Most direct head-to-head competitor given overlapping service pillars, geography, and Shopify Plus partnership.
• Dogstudio: Belgium-based digital agency with a strong portfolio of award-winning, design-led brand and e-commerce sites for premium clients. Closely comparable in craft standard, headless-commerce capabilities, and Awwwards-level creative output.
• B-Reel: Stockholm and NYC-based digital creative agency specializing in interactive digital experiences, branded content, and digital product development for premium global brands. Comparable in craft ambition, technology integration (AR, real-time, immersive web), and premium client roster.
• Resn: New Zealand-based boutique digital agency with an identical positioning of building award-winning, emotionally resonant interactive experiences for premium brands. Closely comparable in size (~50-100 people), creative ambition, and Awwwards-grade portfolio quality.
• Fantasy (Interactive): Brooklyn-based interactive agency building immersive, award-winning digital experiences for brands like Google, Nike, and Spotify. Comparable in the way it pairs high design ambition with deep technical implementation, including 3D, motion, and real-time web.
• We Are BBR: Rotterdam-based creative technology agency with a focus on e-commerce, brand, and digital flagship store builds for premium and lifestyle brands. Direct comparable in geography (Netherlands), service mix, and target client profile in the European premium segment.

Broad incumbents

• Valtech: Global digital commerce consultancy with deep Shopify Plus, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and headless commerce capabilities, frequently competing for the same enterprise re-platforming RFPs from premium brands. Broader incumbent at significantly larger scale.
• MediaMonks (S4 Capital): Large global content, media, and digital production network within S4 Capital that competes for the same premium-brand digital experience RFPs. Broader incumbent with deeper production resources but less boutique-creative positioning.

Emerging players

• Locomotive: Montreal-based web agency recognized for high-craft, design-led digital experiences for premium brands, including extensive e-commerce work. Comparable in headless commerce stack, design ambition, and boutique-agency positioning.
• The New Jones: Amsterdam-based smaller digital agency with overlapping expertise in e-commerce builds, branding, and Shopify Plus implementations. Comparable as a regional peer competing for the same Dutch and European premium client base, though at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/buildinams
• Facebookfacebook.com/buildinamsterdam
• LinkedInnl.linkedin.com/company/build-in-amsterdam
• Instagraminstagram.com/buildinamsterdam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Build in Amsterdam