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Powered by People
Small-batch wholesale marketplace
- 21-100 employees
- B2B
- Marketplace
- Sustainability
- Supply Chain
- Financial Services
- Consumer Goods
- eCommerce
- City Square, Nairobi, Nairobi County
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Company mission
To connect the world to a new creative economy - powered by people.
Our take
As consumers demand more authentic, responsibly made products, retailers must expand their wholesale sourcing to include small-batch producers to fit the demands of their customers. Powered by People (PBP) provides independent brands and small-batch makers access to global markets, financing, and digital tools as it aims to bring small-batch manufacturing into the mainstream.
The fast-growing company has been rapidly scaling its eCommerce platform, working with over 200 brands and 45,000+ artisans across 47 countries. The company has also partnered with several global companies such as West Elm, bringing PBP-curated and artisan-made products to international retailers.
The boutique manufacturing industry represented $1 trillion of 2022’s $25 trillion retail market and is on track to see a continued annual growth rate of 20%. Powered by People is empowering a vast new segment of brands and manufacturers through its range of market opportunities and visibility tools.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Benefits
- Remote-First (w/ Hybrid Work Opportunities)
Company values
- Creative - People ingenuity and collaboration fuel us. It’s in our name
- Responsible - We are committed to progress for people and the planet. We work to cause no unnecessary harm and to do more good
- Innovative - We look around corners for new ways to improve the lives of makers and earn the trust of buyers.We think global but not at the cost of local
- Diverse - We believe supply chains should look more like our customers: global, diverse, and female
- Transparent - We give conscious buyers choice, so they do not need to compromise their values for price
- Self-sustaining - Because as our business grows, their businesses grow
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Mar 2023
$5.6m
GRANT
Mar 2023
$8m
SERIES A
Total funding: $20.5m
Leadership
Ella Peinovich
(CEO)Founder of Soko (Acquired by Essence Ventures in 2022) and LocalDM. Current Board Member at Impact Africa Network.
Hedvig Alexander
(VP of Community & Impact)Former Senior Strategic and Investment Advisor at Good & Well Inc. Founder of Far & Wide Collective.
Alison Phillips
(VP of Design & Merchandising)Current Executive Advisor at CFC Media Lab. Former Managing Director & Global Head of Industrial Design at BlackBerry.