Great Entrepreneurs is pleased to announce The Top 50 E-Commerce Entrepreneurs of 2024. As e-commerce continues to evolve and adapt to shifting consumer behaviors, a new generation of entrepreneurs is leading the charge in transforming how consumers interact with brands and how businesses navigate the complexities of the digital marketplace. This year’s list highlights those who have shaped the industry by leveraging innovative technologies, data-driven solutions, and scalable business models to create customer-focused platforms.
These entrepreneurs are pioneering personalized shopping experiences, enhancing customer loyalty, and optimizing logistics, fulfillment, and shipping processes. Their work—whether through launching marketplaces, creating AI-powered tools, or streamlining global shipping—has significantly impacted how businesses operate and succeed in the fast-paced digital economy.
Among this year’s awardees, Thatcher Spring, Founder and CEO of GearLaunch, is revolutionizing e-commerce with a comprehensive platform that helps online retailers scale their businesses by providing the tools necessary for growth and customer relationship management. Jeneva Bell, Founder and CEO of Ruggable, has disrupted the home goods market with her patented two-piece washable rug system, making it easier and more affordable for consumers to maintain their rugs. Assaf Feldman, Co-Founder and CTO of Riskified, is transforming e-commerce risk management with an AI-powered platform that uses machine learning models to automate decision-making and help businesses combat fraud while enhancing customer experience.
This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical process and careful consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions. Please join us in celebrating The Top 50 E-Commerce Entrepreneurs of 2024.
1. Brandon Leonardo
Co-Founder, Instacart
Brandon Leonardo is the Co-Founder of Instacart,a leading grocery technology company in North America. Instacart partners with grocers and retailers to provide online shopping, delivery, and pickup services. The company works with over 1,500 retail banners across North America, facilitating access to products from more than 85,000 stores through its marketplace.
Previously, Leonardo was a Senior Developer at Webs. Leonardo earned an undergraduate degree in computer science and business administration from San José State University.
2. Robert Kalin
Founder and CEO, Etsy
Robert Kalin is the Founder and former CEO of Etsy. He served as CEO from the company's founding until August 2008, and again from December 2009 to July 2011. Etsy operates online marketplaces that connect millions of buyers and sellers worldwide, with a mission to "Keep Commerce Human" and empower individuals through business and technology.
Before founding Etsy, Kalin was a woodworker and carpenter. He attended five colleges, including the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, MIT, and NYU, before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in an individualized study.
3. Matt Mullenweg
Founder and CEO, Automattic
Matt Mullenweg is the Founder and CEO of Automattic, a technology company focused on developing and providing web-based solutions and services. Automattic offers WordPress.com for website creation and management, WooCommerce for e-commerce, Jetpack for site performance and security, and other tools aimed at enhancing web functionality.
Mullenweg brings 20 years of experience to his current role and first got his start in 2004 as a Senior Product Manager at CNET Networks, his most recent position prior to joining Automattic. Mullenweg graduated from the University of Houston.
4. Anthony Casalena
Founder and CEO, Squarespace
Anthony Casalena is the Founder and CEO of Squarespace, a platform that enables entrepreneurs to build brands and businesses online. He launched the company in 2003 from his dorm room at the University of Maryland, where he initially managed all aspects of the business.
Under Casalena’s leadership, Squarespace has grown into a publicly listed company with over $1 billion in annual revenue and 1,800 employees. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Maryland.
5. Geraldo Thomaz
Founder and Co-CEO, VTEX
Geraldo Thomaz is the Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of VTEX, a role he has held since its inception. He has also served as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2019. VTEX is a composable commerce platform designed to enhance efficiency and reduce maintenance for organizations looking to optimize their IT investments and modernize their technology infrastructure.
Thomaz developed the VTEX platform under the SaaS model, providing systems, servers, security, and infrastructure solutions for enterprise-level companies. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
6. David Wright
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pattern
David Wright is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pattern, a company that specializes in global e-commerce and marketplace acceleration. Since its founding in 2013, Pattern has grown to over 1,700 employees across 22 global locations.
Wright brings 27 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Pattern, Wright was a Director of Enterprise Information Management at LDS Church and before that a manager of database operations at Autoliv. Earlier in his career he worked with TenFold in application support. Wright graduated from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and information systems management.
7. Dhruv Saxena
Co-Founder, ShipBob
Dhruv Saxena is the Co-Founder of ShipBob, a technology company that fulfills e-commerce orders for direct-to-consumer brands. As an end-to-end fulfillment solution, ShipBob provides warehousing and package delivery in 1-2 business days, with a network of fulfillment centers across the U.S. Its software combines order and inventory management, customer communication, predictive insights, and optimized shipping for online merchants.
Saxena brings 13 years of experience to his current role and first got his start in 2012 as a software developer at InContext Solutions, his most recent position prior to joining ShipBob. Saxena graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree and an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering.
8. Jan Bednar
Founder, ShipMonk
Jan Bednar is the Founder of ShipMonk, a company that provides supply chain and fulfillment solutions for e-commerce businesses. Founded in 2014, ShipMonk leverages innovative software and automation to address key challenges in product delivery, enabling businesses to focus on growth while improving operational efficiency.
Prior to founding ShipMonk, Jan Bednar was the CEO of BedaBox, an international package forwarding service. After graduating from Florida Atlantic University and gaining experience in several business ventures, he pivoted BedaBox into ShipMonk in 2016.
9. Mike Moreno
Co-Founder, Route
Mike Moreno is the Co-Founder of Route, a company that simplifies the online customer journey by offering order protection and tracking services. Route connects to orders from various retailers, enabling users to track their packages in real time.
Moreno brings 15 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Route, Moreno worked in strategic sourcing at doTERRA International and before that he served as VP of Operations at Blue H20 Business Consultants. Earlier in his career he worked with Brigham Young University as a training specialist.
Moreno graduated from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate degree in business.
10. Carly Strife
Co-Founder, BARK
Carly Strife is the Co-Founder of BARK. Strife has managed and scaled the complex business operations behind each of BARK's businesses, starting with BarkBox in 2012 and now spanning several distribution channels and product lines. Today, she leads strategic BARK initiatives, including BARK Eats, the company’s new personalized food blend offering. BARK is focused on providing products, services, and content designed to enhance the lives of dogs and their owners.
Prior to BARK, Strife was an early employee at Uber, hired to help launch the company’s New York operation. She started her career in the Financial Advisory practice at Deloitte where she was responsible for the valuation of real estate, property, and business assets. She also co-founded Ambush Capital, investing in and advising early stage founders. Strife graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.
11. Igor Gorin
Founder, Board Member and Strategy Advisor, Astound Commerce
Igor Gorin is the Founder, Board Member, and Strategy Advisor of Astound Commerce. Astound Digital provides end-to-end digital commerce solutions, utilizing technology, data, and AI to create streamlined customer experiences. The company offers services in e-commerce, strategic design, and online marketing, helping brands strengthen their online relationships with consumers. Astound Digital partners with firms like RLH Equity Partners and Salesforce Ventures to implement digital strategies.
Gorin brings 25 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Astound Commerce, Gorin was Founder and CEO at SysIQ. Gorin graduated from the University of San Francisco with an undergraduate degree in business and finance.
12. Omri Cohen
COO and Co-Founder, Yotpo
Omri Cohen is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Yotpo, an e-commerce marketing platform. Its single-platform approach integrates data-driven solutions for reviews, loyalty, SMS marketing, empowering brands to create smarter, higher-converting experiences that spark and sustain customer relationships.
Cohen graduated from Tel Aviv University with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and computer science.
13. Jennifer Fleiss
Co-Founder and Board Member, Rent the Runway
Jennifer Fleiss is a Co-Founder and Board Member of Rent the Runway, an online clothing rental service that allows customers to rent high-end clothing and accessories for a fraction of the retail price. The company offers a wide range of items, including dresses, outerwear, and handbags, that can be rented for a specific period. Previously, Fleiss held the role of Head of Logistics and Business Development.
Before joining Rent the Runway, Fleiss served as the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JetBlack, a digital commerce platform and subsidiary of Walmart. She previously joined Volition Capital, a growth equity firm. She also acts as an advisor to investment firms Prelude Growth Partners and Torch Capital, while investing in and advising early-stage startups. Fleiss holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
14. Vitali Lapko
Co-Founder and President, Spreetail
Vitali Lapko is the Founder of Spreetail, an online marketplace that helps companies across various industries optimize their product sales while maintaining high product and service standards. Under his leadership, Spreetail has grown to employ over 1,600 people globally.
In addition to his work at Spreetail, Lapko founded Thrive Aviation in 2018 after acquiring a small charter company in Las Vegas. As a jet-rated pilot, he has been instrumental in scaling the business, which has expanded to a fleet of 17 aircraft and 140 employees in just four years.
Lapko holds a degree in finance and an MBA from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
15. Assaf Feldman
CTO and Co-Founder, Riskified
Assaf is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Riskified, where he leads the Product Development and Technology teams. Under his leadership, Riskified has built an e-commerce risk management platform with proprietary machine learning models that drive an automated decisioning engine supporting its e-commerce risk mitigation suite of products.
Assaf brings two decades of experience developing robust systems with machine learning algorithms and intelligent UIs for risk management applications. He was selected to be a research scientist for the Ambient Intelligence group at MIT’s Media Lab.
16. Dirk Hoerig
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, commercetools
Dirk Hoerig is the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of commercetools, a global commerce company that specializes in composable commerce—a modular and customizable approach to digital commerce solutions. Hoerig is recognized as a pioneer in cloud software for the enterprise market.
Previously, Hoerig was a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Xoanon. Earlier in his career he worked with Several Web Companies in software development and project management. Hoerig earned an undergraduate degree in computer science from Technical University of Munich.
17. Andy Katz-Mayfield
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Harry's
Andy Katz-Mayfield is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Harry's, a men’s grooming brand founded in 2013. Harry’s has built a direct-to-consumer model focused on delivering high-quality shaving and personal care products at accessible prices. Together with Jeff Raider, Katz-Mayfield launched Harry’s with the goal of addressing unmet consumer needs in the grooming market.
Katz-Mayfield brings 21 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Harry's, he worked in business development and strategy at Brighter.com and before that he was an associate at Charlesbank Capital Partners. Earlier in his career he worked with Bain & Company as a senior associate consultant. Katz-Mayfield graduated from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from Duke University with an undergraduate degree in public policy.
18. Guru Hariharan
Founder and CEO, CommerceIQ
Guru Hariharan is the Founder and CEO of CommerceIQ. CommerceIQ, a leading retail e-commerce management (REM) platform for consumer brands to plan, monitor, and execute their businesses and profitably grow market share across over 650 global online retailers.
Hariharan is a seasoned technology and business leader with over 15 years of experience in the e-commerce industry. Before founding CommerceIQ in 2012, Hariharan spent over five years at Amazon building out automated vendor management and supply chain.
Previously, Hariharan also held the role of General Manager of the Marketplace Experience at eBay, where he led the global launch of eBay’s “Fast N’ Free” shipping and the Global Returns programs. Hariharan holds a master’s degree in machine learning from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the Wharton School.
19. Bruce Buchanan
CEO and Founder, ROKT
Bruce Buchanan is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairperson of Rokt, a company that provides e-commerce marketing technology. Rokt helps brands engage with customers through personalized marketing at the point of transaction, using data-driven solutions to enhance customer experience and drive business outcomes. Buchanan has led the company's growth and development, focusing on creating opportunities for businesses in industries like e-commerce, travel, and financial services.
Prior to Rokt, Buchanan held the role of Group CEO at Jetstar. He was also the Chief Architect of Jetstar’s APAC pan-Asian strategy, building a successful business across Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan. Prior to joining Jetstar, Buchanan worked for The Boston Consulting Group. Buchanan holds a degree in civil engineering from The University of New South Wales, and an MBA from The Australian Graduate School of Management and the Anderson School at UCLA.
20. Mariam Naficy
Founder and Executive Chairman, Minted
Mariam Naficy is the Founder of Minted, a premium marketplace focused on discovering and promoting untapped creative talent through design competitions. Founded in 2007, Minted connects independent artists and designers with consumers to bring fresh and innovative products to market.
Naficy has been a pioneer in the consumer internet space, co-founding the first online cosmetics retailer, Eve.com, in 1998, which was sold for over $100 million. She is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Heretic Ventures and serves on the boards of Every Mother Counts, Medium, Victoria’s Secret, and Minted.
Naficy graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from Williams College with an undergraduate degree in political economy.
21. Gwyneth Paltrow
Founder and CEO, Goop
Gwyneth Paltrow is the Founder and CEO of Goop, a lifestyle brand that combines digital content and commerce. Launched in 2008 as a weekly newsletter, Goop began as a platform for Paltrow to share travel recommendations, health recipes, and shopping finds with friends. Over time, the company has expanded to cover various topics related to health, fitness, and wellness.
Paltrow brings 17 years of experience to her current role. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara.
22. Jens Grede
Co-Founder and Chairman, FRAME
Jens Grede is the Co-Founder and Chairman of FRAME, a California-based fashion brand founded in 2012. The brand is known for its signature tailoring, luxury leather, and quality cashmere, with a focus on creating timeless, everyday outfits through denim. Since its inception, FRAME has combined Californian modernity with European influence in its ready-to-wear collections. Grede brings 13 years of experience to his current role.
23. Alex Plugaru
CTO and Co-Founder, Gorgias
Alex Plugaru is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Gorgias, a customer relationship platform (CRM) used by e-commerce businesses globally. Gorgias helps brands manage and scale customer service operations efficiently.
Previously, Plugaru was a software engineer at Gymglish and before that a software engineer at Eau de Web. Earlier in his career he worked with Mgnet as a network administrator. Plugaru earned an undergraduate degree in computer science from Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași.
24. Jacob Boudreau
CTO and Co-Founder, Stord
Jacob Boudreau is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Stord, a company that provides fulfillment services and technology to enhance supply chains for mid-market and enterprise brands. Stord aims to enable seamless checkout and delivery experiences across all channels.
Previously, Boudreau was Founder and CEO at One 6 Web. Boudreau attended Arizona State University.
25. Al Dekin
Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, Locus Robotics
Al Dekin is the Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Locus Robotics, a company that provides warehouse automation solutions to optimize operations and improve efficiency. With 30 years of sales and leadership experience, Dekin has helped position the Locus Robotics Sales group as a key partner in supporting customer success.
Dekin has extensive expertise in the warehouse, logistics, and robotics sectors. He focuses on building long-term fulfillment partnerships with companies ranging from local operators to Fortune 500 brands with global operations.
Previously, Dekin was a Co-Founder and SVP of Sales and Marketing at Quiet Logistics and before that a producer and managing member at First Five Films. Earlier in his career he worked with IBM as an account marketing representative. Dekin earned an undergraduate degree in history from Dartmouth College.
26. Kenny Rueter
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Kajabi
Kenny Rueter is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Kajabi. Kajabi, based in Irvine, California, provides an all-in-one platform for knowledge entrepreneurs and creators to build, market, and sell content and services. The platform offers tools for publishing, marketing, and selling various knowledge products, including online courses, coaching, memberships, and newsletters.
Previously, Rueter was a branch manager at Foremost Trading and before that a President at Binary Trading. Earlier in his career he worked with Centrocom as a software engineer. Rueter holds an undergraduate degree in computer science from Biola University.
27. Jeneva Bell
Founder, Ruggable
Jeneva Bell is the Founder and President of Ruggable, an e-commerce company offering a patented, two-piece washable rug system. The company provides consumers with an affordable and practical solution for keeping their rugs clean. Under Bell's leadership, Ruggable has grown to serve customers across the U.S. Bell graduated from Arizona State University.
28. Jarrett Streebin
Founder and CEO, EasyPost
Jarrett Streebin is the Founder of EasyPost, a company founded in 2012 that provides shipping solutions to online retailers through the first RESTful API for shipping. The company has partnered with tens of thousands of enterprises and facilitates billions of shipments.
Prior to founding EasyPost, Jarrett worked at The 451 Group and a family office. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
29. Aaron Rubin
Founder and CEO, ShipHero
Aaron Rubin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ShipHero, a U.S.-based provider of cloud-based e-commerce fulfillment solutions that give online retailers and third-party logistics providers the tools to ship more efficiently anywhere in the world.
Rubin is responsible for planning and executing the overall vision and strategy at ShipHero. He has strong skills in leadership, change management, and strategic planning, with a focus on organizational progression. Previously, Rubin was Founder and CEO at Zengu.
30. Jan Kees de Jager
Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Sana Commerce Cloud
Jan Kees de Jager is the Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor of Sana Commerce Cloud, an e-commerce platform that helps manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers build lasting relationships with their customers.
de Jager brings 33 years of experience to his current role and first got his start in 1992 as a Managing Partner at ISM eCompany, before eventually rising to CFO and member of the board of management at KPN, his most recent position prior to joining Sana Commerce Cloud.
de Jager graduated from Erasmus University Rotterdam with a master in economics, civil, and company law and from Nyenrode Business University with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
31. Fayez Mohamood
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bluecore
Fayez Mohamood is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bluecore, a company founded in 2013 that focuses on retail shopper identification and customer movement technology. Bluecore helps enterprise brands increase revenue by converting anonymous shoppers into known customers and efficiently guiding them through the purchase funnel.
Previously, Mohamood was Head of Product at BigDoor Media and before that a software developer at The MathWorks. Earlier in his career he worked with AMD as a microprocessor design engineer. Mohamood holds a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in computer engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
32. Michael Preysman
Founder and Executive Chair, Everlane
Michael Preysman is the Founder and Executive Chair of Everlane, a clothing design and manufacturing company that specializes in designing clothing and footwear for men and women. It also provides an online marketplace that allows individuals to create accounts and purchase their products online. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Preysman earned an undergraduate degree in computer engineering and economics from Carnegie Mellon University.
33. Amit Sharma
Founder, Narvar
Amit Sharma is the Founder of Narvar, a customer experience platform founded in 2013. Narvar helps retailers enhance customer loyalty throughout the post-purchase journey by providing seamless experiences that engage and retain customers. The platform serves over 500 retailers, including brands like Sephora, Patagonia, Home Depot, Gap, and Bose.
Previously, Sharma was a product manager in Apple online stores at Apple Inc. and before that a Director of Operations at Walmart.com. Earlier in his career he worked with Citicorp as an associate. Sharma earned an MBA in strategy and operations from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business and an undergraduate degree in electronics engineering from VJTI, University of Mumbai.
34. Rob Bellenfant
Founder and CEO, TechnologyAdvice
Rob Bellenfant is the Founder and CEO of TechnologyAdvice, a B2B demand generation company that connects buyers and sellers of business technology. The company focuses on simplifying the process for businesses to connect with potential customers. Bellenfant is a serial entrepreneur and investor with over twenty years of experience.
Previously, Bellenfant was CEO and Founder at Thrive Creations and before that President and Founder at BellTech. Earlier in his career he worked with AcuNett as President and co-owner. Bellenfant earned an undergraduate degree in accounting and business administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
35. Aslaug Magnusdottir
Co-Founder, Moda Operandi
Aslaug Magnusdottir is the Co-Founder of Moda Operandi, a platform that facilitates the discovery of fashion by connecting consumers directly with both established and emerging designers. It offers a diverse range of products across women's, men's, fine jewelry, and home categories. The company also supports designers in growing their businesses through a global network.
Magnusdottir has over 20 years of experience in launching and scaling fashion and consumer businesses. She is passionate about leveraging technology to create compelling consumer experiences that improve efficiency and promote sustainability within the fashion industry.
Previously, Magnusdottir was a Co-Founder and CEO at Tinker Tailor and before that a VP of Premium Products and Services at Gilt Groupe. Earlier in her career she worked with Deloitte as a corporate and tax attorney. Magnusdottir earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an LLM in law from the Duke University School of Law.
36. Mario Colla
Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder, Tiendamia.com
Mario Colla is the Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Tiendamia.com, a cross-border e-commerce platform that delivers products from the U.S. and China to customers in Latin America. Tiendamia addresses challenges such as customs, shipping, and payments, serving over 400,000 orders across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Based in Miami, the company has become a key player in the LATAM e-commerce market.
Colla brings 41 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Tiendamia.com, Colla was a CEO at Gproxy Solutions and before that a CEO at Mobidepot. Earlier in his career he worked with EDF SA as a computer programmer. Colla graduated from Universidad ORT Uruguay with an undergraduate degree in business administration, management, and software development.
37. Alex Yancher
Co-Founder and CEO, Passport
Alex Yancher is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader, currently serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of Passport. With in-house logistics, technology, and expertise, Passport helps clients simplify global commerce and grow profitably. The company has enabled over 1,000 merchants like Rhode, Carpe, OneSkin, Wildflower Cases, and GORUCK to access and grow in over 180 countries and territories globally.
Prior to founding Passport, Yancher held key positions such as Chief Operating Officer at Pantry. Yancher has also held finance roles at companies like Facebook and Morgan Stanley.
Yancher graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in business and economics.
38. Kevin Jones
CEO and Founder, Celero Commerce
Kevin Jones is the Founder and CEO of Celero Commerce, a non-bank payments processor founded in 2018. Under his leadership, Celero has grown through 12 acquisitions and organic growth. Celero serves over 50,000 American businesses through financial institution partnerships, business management software integrations, and direct-to-merchant strategies. The company provides integrated electronic commerce solutions powered by technology, strategic partnerships, and business intelligence.
Jones began his fintech career at Chase Paymentech. He then contributed to significant growth in the strategic partner channel at First American Payment Systems. In 2013, Jones founded Anovia Payments, a partner-focused company that achieved an 8.5x return on investment and over 10,000 customers by 2018. Jones also served as President of the Electronic Transactions Association, focusing on government relations and member advocacy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
39. Laura Behrens Wu
Founder, Shippo
Laura Behrens Wu is the Founder of Shippo, a shipping platform designed to help e-commerce businesses manage their shipping operations efficiently. The company offers a multi-carrier shipping API and web app that connects businesses with over 40 global carriers, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Shippo provides tools for creating shipping labels, tracking packages, managing billing and invoicing, and accessing discounted shipping rates. Wu has 14 years of experience. She began her career in 2011.
Wu brings 14 years of experience to her current role. Before joining Shippo, she was a business analyst at Harvard College Consulting Group. Wu graduated from the University of St.Gallen with an MBA and an undergraduate degree.
40. Thatcher Spring
Founder and CEO, GearLaunch
Thatcher Spring is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GearLaunch. GearLaunch offers a sophisticated platform for E2E commerce, a rapidly emerging category that focuses on the full e-commerce value chain. The company provides the tools and resources for online retailers to build independent and scalable online businesses, giving them control of their customer relationships and enabling infinitescale. GearLaunch customers range from regional and specialty outlets to large global brands.
Spring brings 19 years of experience to his current role. Before joining GearLaunch, Spring was Founder and CEO at Thatcher Spring, Inc. He graduated from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School with an MBA and from Georgetown University with an undergraduate degree in English and Spanish.
Thatcher Spring's Insight
"I have consistently found that the way to succeed is to maintain focus on your vision while also keeping yourself and your team rooted in practical, common sense approaches to realizing your vision."
41. Vinod Kankariaz
CEO and Founder, Ziffity Solutions
Vinod Kankaria is the CEO and Founder of Ziffity Solutions, a company that provides e-commerce solutions to enhance online revenue for B2B and B2C businesses. Before founding Ziffity, Kankaria held leadership roles in various organizations, where he was responsible for P&L management. He holds a master’s degree in computer applications from the University of Madras.
42. David Pumberger
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, ZAGENO
David Pumberger is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of ZAGENO. ZAGENO operates a life sciences lab supply marketplace that enables scientists, lab managers, and procurement leaders to compare products, source alternatives, track deliveries, and monitor order statuses in real time. The platform aims to streamline the procurement process and support innovation by improving efficiency.
Pumberger brings 19 years of experience to his current role and first got his start in 2006 as a partner, trainer, and coach at mathekurse.ch. From there, he went on to J&M Management Consulting AG, before eventually rising to manager at PwC Management Consulting, his most recent position prior to joining ZAGENO. Pumberger graduated from ETH Zürich with a doctoral degree in mathematics and from the University of Warwick with an undergraduate degree in mathematics.
43. Jerel Ho
Co-Founder, Acquco
Jerel Ho is the Co-Founder of Acquco, a company that focuses on identifying, evaluating, and acquiring leading Amazon brands. Acquco supports Amazon sellers by leveraging capital, resources, and opportunities to help them achieve their goals. The company uses proprietary technology and global operational experience to structure its acquisition approach, delivering sustained impact for clients and partners.
Ho brings 14 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Acquco, he was a Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at WeWork and before that a VP of Investment Banking at Guggenheim Partners. Earlier in his career he worked with Citi as an analyst in investment banking. Ho graduated from the University of the Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business with an undergraduate degree in finance.
44. Mike Xu
Founder and CEO, GrubMarket
Mike Xu is the Founder of GrubMarket, a company that provides AI-powered technology solutions for the food supply chain industry. Founded in 2014, GrubMarket was among the first to introduce B2B e-commerce and enterprise AI solutions to the sector. Today, it is one of the largest private food tech companies in the U.S. and globally.
Previously, Xu was a VP of Engineering at Brightidea and before that a Senior Manager of Software Development at Yodlee. Earlier in his career he worked with Oracle as a senior member of technical staff. Xu earned a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and computer science from Xiamen University.
45. Andrew Laffoon
CEO and Co-Founder, Mixbook
Andrew Laffoon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mixbook, a company founded in 2006. Mixbook is a design platform that allows consumers to create and share personalized stories. The platform leverages emerging technologies, including modern cloud architectures and interactive experiences through React and native mobile frameworks.
Previously, Laffoon worked in marketing, development, and customer support at Active Reasoning. Earlier in his career he worked with Morning Star International as an IT developer. Laffoon earned an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of California, Berkeley.
46. Sarah Jenkins
Co-Founder and CEO, Genesis Digital
Sarah Jenkins is a Co-Founder of Genesis Digital, a company that provides SaaS e-commerce solutions. Founded in 2013 and based in La Jolla, California, Genesis Digital’s flagship product, Karta, is an online business platform offering marketing and sales tools to help businesses grow.
Jenkins is an accomplished serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and business strategist. She was a core member of the team that built Genesis Digital and recently served as its CEO, where she guided the company's strategy and operations. She continues to serve on the Genesis Digital board.
47. Purva Gupta
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lily AI
Purva Gupta is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lily AI, an AI platform that aims to bridge the gap between brand language and customer language to drive growth for retailers and brands. Lily AI’s technology assigns customer-centric product attributes to entire product catalogs and integrates this language across retail systems such as onsite search, SEO, recommendation engines, and demand intelligence platforms.
Gupta began her career at Saatchi & Saatchi, where she worked with P&G, gaining insight into the emotional connections consumers have with their preferred products. She later joined Eko, a mobile payments platform for the unbanked, funded by the Gates Foundation. Prior to founding Lily AI, Gupta worked with UNICEF Ventures' Innovation Fund, investing in life-saving apps and technologies.
Gupta holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business and a bachelor's degree in economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce in India.
48. Shannon Van Buskirk
Vice Chair and Founder, GOVX
Shannon Van Buskirk is the Co-Founder and Vice Chair of GovX.com, an e-commerce platform serving current and former members of the U.S. Military, law enforcement, first responders, and related government employees. The site offers a variety of products, including lifestyle goods, tactical gear, and tickets to major events.
Van Buskirk is an operations executive with extensive experience in retail sales, e-commerce, digital marketing, and customer acquisition. She has a deep understanding of selling to military and government employees, which she gained from founding and growing USStandardIssue.com, an e-commerce platform that offered tactical eyewear, boots, and gloves for military personnel. She and her husband Marc grew the site to over $30 million in annual sales before its acquisition by Luxottica/Oakley in 2009.
After their time with Oakley, Shannon and Marc focused on establishing GovX.com, aiming to serve the same audience with a broader range of brands and services. Van Buskirk graduated from the University of the Pacific.
49. Somdutta Singh
Founder and CEO, Assiduus
Somdutta Singh is the Founder and CEO of Assiduus, a full service e-commerce management company that specializes in an end-to-end value chain enabling clients to exponentially grow sales on e-commerce platforms, enhance brand visibility, and improve customer retention.
Singh brings 15 years of experience to her current role and first got her start in 2010 as Founder and CEO at Unspun Group. From there, she went on to IRA Fashion, before eventually rising to Chief Advisor at Bloomberg Quint, her most recent position prior to joining Assiduus.
Singh graduated from MIT Sloan School of Management with a master’s degree and from Bangalore University with an undergraduate degree in business and managerial economics.
50. Nicholas Rioux
CTO and Co-Founder, Labviva
Nicholas Rioux is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Labviva, a platform that connects researchers with suppliers of reagents, chemicals, consumables, and instrumentation. Labviva offers a user-friendly interface that supports scientific priorities while ensuring compliance with purchasing rules.
Rioux is a life sciences technical leader with deep expertise in modern web development methodologies. Rioux has decades of experience in technical implementations for biotechnology organizations, and brings a unique e-commerce approach to Labviva’s scientific shopping experience merging artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, learning algorithms and shopping optimization methods.
Previously, Rioux was a CTO and senior partner at Enscight and before that an ebusiness strategy program leader at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Earlier in his career he worked with Alliance Analytical as a VP and CIO. Rioux holds an MBA in business and information systems from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.
