Shopify wrapped up an international competition on Tuesday, selecting eight winning firms that each proved their abilities to scale from big to bigger.
The “Build a Bigger Business” competition was the next level of the Ottawa e-commerce giant’s annual “Build a Business” contest. Thousands of existing, later-stage companies were given the challenge to scale up beyond revenues around $1 million to reach levels of $50 million and beyond.
“The opportunity to support more entrepreneurs is really what inspired us to create ‘Build a Bigger Business,’” said chief operating officer Harley Finkelstein in a statement.
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Shopify partnered with business guru Tony Robbins on the competition. Together, they analyzed the top 50 companies in terms of highest gross sales gain and highest percentage growth. That process left two outright winners, as well as six additional companies that stood out in terms of marketing and scale strategy, fan culture, and disruption model.
Winners had the opportunity to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
Global fitness and apparel brand Gymshark took the prize for highest total gross sales gain, while Australia-based healthy recipes brand SkinnyMixers had highest percentage growth.
Productivity-promotion firm BestSelf.Co won best marketing strategy, influence marketer Fanjoy won best scale strategy, and Sand Cloud, which sells handwoven towels and donates proceeds to saving marine life, won best fan culture.
Robbins specifically picked comfort-focused lingerie brand Lively as his winner, while Shopify also selected a comfortable clothing manufacturer in Kindred Bravely, a maternal wear provider. Knixwear, which makes wireless bras and activewear for women, won the disruptor prize.
All eight companies were on-hand at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening day bell. Next, they’ll all receive a Fiji getaway with Robbins and guidance from a series of other high-profile mentors.
Called shot: Next year, Shopify unveils the “Build an Even Bigger Business” competition.
