Powered by People operates a B2B digital wholesale marketplace that connects buyers in North America and Europe with small-batch producers in more than 70 countries. The platform provides financing to makers and offers flexible payment terms to buyers, enabling responsible, sustainable, and social-impact purchasing. PBP works with over 2,500 brands and producers and serves customers ranging from independent boutiques to large retailers such as West Elm, Pottery Barn, Banana Republic, and The Citizenry. The company says it will use new capital to continue scaling its global operations and technology. Founded in 2021 and based in Nairobi, Kenya, PBP has also secured philanthropic support alongside its equity financing. Powered by People operates a B2B online marketplace that links more than 200 brands and over 45,000 artisans from 47 countries with retailers such as West Elm and The Citizenry. The platform provides payment rails, logistics aggregation, a CRM for vendors, and up to 50% advance financing to help makers fulfill larger wholesale orders. Orders on the platform average $1,200 and the business recorded a $15 million annualized gross merchandise value run rate by mid-March, targeting $25 million by year-end. The company is building regional hubs to speed deliveries and expanding vendor tools and senior leadership to scale operations. It also plans to issue an additional $10 million in trader credit before the end of the year, having already extended $5.8 million in financing. Powered by People is a mobile-first B2B wholesale platform connecting creative manufacturing producers and international buyers across home décor, accessories, fashion and beauty. The platform provides online tools, a B2B marketplace, financing solutions and credit lines with flexible payments for SMEs in the handmade and creative manufacturing sector. It enables discovery of diverse global brands, product customization for exclusive retail offers, and secure transactions between buyers and producers in low-income countries. PBP’s brands supply major retailers including Williams-Sonoma, IKEA, Crate & Barrel, Nordstrom and Goop. CEO Ella Peinovich says the company is building a more digital, diverse and transparent future of retail and will use funding to support access for a new class of artisans to mainstream markets.

Total raised

$20M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

Mar 2023