How Shopify Became the Backbone of E-Commerce
Startup Stories with Fexingo: Conversations About Founders, Funding, and Building Companies from Zero · 2026-06-18 · 9 min
Episode notes
In this episode of Startup Stories, Lucas and Luna explore how Shopify grew from a small snowboard shop's online store to powering millions of businesses worldwide. They focus on the pivotal decision in 2015 when Shopify launched its app ecosystem and payment gateway, transforming from a simple website builder into a full-commerce platform. By 2026, Shopify processes over $200 billion in gross merchandise volume annually. The hosts discuss how CEO Tobias Lütke's developer-first mindset and the company's controversial shift into logistics with the 2022 Deliverr acquisition shaped its trajectory. They also examine the tension between Shopify's merchant-friendly roots and its push into enterprise clients. Lucas brings concrete numbers on revenue mix and merchant growth, while Luna questions whether the logistics bet is paying off. This episode is a masterclass in platform strategy and the risks of scaling beyond your core product.