Episode 077 - Building a Shopify for Marketplaces: Juho Makkonen on ShareTribe and Steward Ownership

In 2008, Juho Makkonen and his co-founder built what was essentially Facebook Marketplace before Facebook Marketplace. Their student-focused platform at Aalto University in Helsinki quickly morphed into ShareTribe, a company that empowers entrepreneurs to create their own online marketplaces. ShareTribe offers a powerful yet user-friendly software solution that allows entrepreneurs to launch marketplaces without coding and provides no-code customization options for more complex needs. They even have a network of developers to help with advanced customization.

But ShareTribe's journey wasn't without its challenges. Early on, Juho and his team realized the misalignment between traditional venture capital and their purpose-driven mission. In 2018, they made the bold decision to transition to a steward ownership structure, buying out their investors and raising €1.1 million through crowdfunding. This shift ensured ShareTribe remained true to its values of sustainability and impact, prioritizing the needs of its customers and employees over hypergrowth. Tune in to hear Juho's story and learn about the challenges and rewards of building a purpose-driven, sustainable business in tech.

Juho will also be speaking at the Ownership Economy Summit next week, December 4th, 2024 in New York. Get your ticket now, with a 30% discount for listeners (use EXCLUSIVE30 at checkout).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-ownership-economy-summit-registration-920820347447