Partner Article

Ecommerce giant Shopify bringing new accelerator to Aldgate

Canadian firm Shopify is courting startups and entrepreneurs in the capital as part a new accelerator programme based out of Aldgate Tower.

The Shopify Partner Accelerator, which has grown out of a pilot programme in New York City earlier this year, is targeting creative individuals and startups in the ecommerce sector with the aim of building a hotbed of web designers and development professionals in East London.

Based out of the WeWork co-working space in Aldgate Tower, the Ottawa-headquartered firm, which specialises in point-of-sale (POS) units and ecommerce software, will provide free work space, mentoring, training and guidance to successful firms and individuals as part of an intensive three-month programme.

The tech firm has also announced the launch of partner accelerator programmes in New York, Montreal and Austin, making the London initiative the only programme taking place outside of North America.

Commenting on the initial launch of the pilot programme back in February, HArley Finkelstein, Chief Operation Officer at Shopify, said: “We know the problems that prevent freelancers from getting their business off the ground.

“That’s why we’re creating a freelancer studio to help launch successful client-based businesses in the ecommerce space.”

As part of the announcement, Shopify has outlined that participants will have the opportunity to work on collaborative projects within the wider group as well as with four, as yet unnamed, London companies.

Applications for the inaugural programme are open now at https://www.shopify.com/partners/blog/accelerator.

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