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How Shopify Built a Partner Ecosystem for Global Ecommerce
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Shopify built one of the most extensive partner ecosystems in ecommerce, with over 60,000 partners including developers, agencies, and app creators. They dive into the specific partner tiers — from Shopify Partners to the Plus Certified Partner Program — and how the company's API-first approach and revenue-sharing model (like the 80/20 split for app developers) created a self-reinforcing network. Lucas highlights how Shopify's 'build a business, not a website' mantra attracted a community of builders, while Luna questions whether the ecosystem can maintain quality as it scales. The conversation touches on the numbers: 6 million merchants globally, over 8,000 apps in the Shopify App Store, and the $12 billion in partner-driven gross merchandise volume in 2025. Tune in for a specific look at how one company turned partnerships into the engine of its growth, without owning the factories or the logistics.