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Marketplace Trends
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November 6, 2024

11 Marketplace Experts You Need to Follow (2025)

Nicole Kahansky
Nicole Kahansky
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Anyone who’s launched a marketplace knows—going at it alone can be challenging. The good news? The internet is full of marketplace experts who generously share their wisdom. Whether you’re bootstrapping a startup, looking to scale, or simply hoping to stay on top of industry updates, following seasoned ecommerce and marketplace pros can fast-track your journey to success. With so much experience available online, both free and paid, why not take advantage of it?

Below, we’ve rounded up some of our top picks, organized by medium, so you can dive right into their expertise. From podcasts and social media to books and communities, these are the marketplace experts you don’t want to miss in 2025.

Top Marketplace Experts on Social Media

Jason Greenwood, Founder, Greenwood Consulting

Marketplace expert Jason Greenwood's headshot and social handle

Jason Greenwood is a trusted name in ecommerce and a seasoned consultant for B2B and DTC companies. His LinkedIn feed is filled with insights on ecommerce trends and strategy tips that marketplace founders and business owners alike can use to stay ahead. On his podcast, Ecommerce Edge, he interviews industry leaders and covers everything from online retail trends to marketplace growth tactics, making it a must-follow for marketplace operators looking to stay informed on the larger ecommerce landscape.

Where to Find Him: LinkedIn, The Ecommerce Edge Podcast

Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis

Marketplace expert Jason Goldberg headshot and social handle

Jason Goldberg is an excellent source for up-to-date retail news, sharing the latest on industry shifts and retail data analysis on his LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. He also has a podcast, The Jason and Scot Show, where he and his co-host, Scot Wingo, share more detailed thoughts, making him an ideal follow for anyone wanting to keep their finger on the pulse of ecommerce news and understand its implications for marketplaces.

Where to find him: LinkedIn, Twitter, and The Jason and Scot Show

Adi Thacker, GM and VP, Monetization and Ads at Poshmark

Marketplace expert Adi Thacker social handle and headshot

Adi Thacker specializes in monetization strategies and ads, with direct insights on how to leverage these tools in marketplaces. His posts on LinkedIn provide marketplace operators with the latest approaches to monetization, revenue strategy, and platform optimization. Adi’s expertise is ideal for those looking to understand marketplace ad strategy and how to maximize revenue streams.

Where to Find Him: LinkedIn

Top Marketplace Experts Who Wrote a Book

Tom McFadyen, CEO, McFadyen Digital 

Marketplace expert Tom McFadyen headshot and book

Tom McFadyen leads McFadyen Digital— an agency focused on helping companies grow their ecommerce and marketplace initiatives. His book, Marketplace Best Practices, dives into marketplace strategy and practical frameworks for building profitable online marketplaces. For operators looking for a comprehensive approach to marketplace creation, his work is foundational.

Read the book: Marketplace Best Practices 

Lisa Gansky, Co-Founder, Mesh Ventures 

Marketplace expert Lisa Gansky headshot and book

Lisa Gansky’s influential book on the Mesh Economy presents a strong argument for the future of the sharing economy. Her insights are particularly relevant for marketplace founders interested in the intersections of community, sustainability, and profit.

Read the book: The Mesh: Why The Future of Business is Sharing 

Andrew Chen, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

Marketplace expert Andrew Chen headshot and book

Andrew Chen’s book tackles growth strategies for digital products, making it a crucial read for marketplace startups. His work on network effects provides a deep understanding of user acquisition and engagement strategies, which are essential for marketplace success.

Read the book: The Cold Start Problem.  Andrew also has a newsletter

For even more book recommendations, check out our article on must-read books for marketplace founders.

Top Marketplace Experts with a Podcast

Lenny Rachitsky, Angel Investor & Author of Lenny’s Newsletter and Lenny’s Podcast

Marketplace expert Lenny Rachitsky headshot and podcast

Lenny Rachitsky’s background leading product at Airbnb and his work as an angel investor in tech startups make him an insightful voice on the broader landscape of products and growth. While he doesn’t focus exclusively on marketplaces, his podcast episodes dive deep into building products, scaling, and managing growth—all essential skills for marketplace founders. Lenny’s insights are particularly valuable for marketplace operators who need both strategic and tactical advice to scale successfully.

Where to find him: Lennysnewsletter.com

Leah Solivan, Founder of Task Rabbit

Marketplace expert Leah Solivan headshot and podcast screenshot

Founder of TaskRabbit, Leah Solivan has seen the marketplace ecosystem evolve from the inside. Her podcast, Breaking Precedent, focuses on telling the stories of innovators who are pushing boundaries in a breadth of different fields. These inspiring stories are a helpful resource to stay motivated and inspired as you seek to change old models and set new precedents. 

Where to find her:  The Breaking Precedent podcast. You can also follow her on Twitter

Niklas Halusa, Co-Founder and CEO, Nautical Commerce  

Marketplace expert Niklas Halusa headshot and podcast

Niklas Halusa spent his early career investing in marketplace technology and now works to help founders launch their marketplaces with more ease through access to better technology. Niklas is the host of Operation Marketplace, where he interviews marketplace founders about their journeys and what they’ve learned along the way. 

Where to find him: Operation Marketplace podcast

Top Marketplace Experts Who Facilitate Community

Mike Williams, Founder of Everything Marketplaces

Marketplace expert Mike Williams headshot

Mike Williams runs one of the most active communities for marketplace founders, Everything Marketplaces. This group provides a space for marketplace founders to connect, ask questions, and find resources on all aspects of marketplace building. In addition to forums and discussions, Everything Marketplaces offers webinars and resources from seasoned marketplace operators. Mike also shares updates on what’s happening in the Everything Marketplaces community on X. 

Where to find him: Everything Marketplaces, X

Brian Beck, Co-Founder of Master B2B, Managing Partner at Enceiba

Marketplace expert Brian Beck headshot

Brian Beck is a powerhouse in the B2B ecommerce space. Along with his co-founder, Andy Hoar, Brian runs Master B2B — a private community for B2B ecommerce— bringing together B2B commerce practitioners for knowledge-sharing. Through the platform, they run “un-webinars”, roundtable discussions, and other events. One thing we know for sure— if you join a Master B2B event you won’t be bored. In addition to being educational, Andy and Brian bring the energy, always making their events entertaining and engaging. 

Where to find him: Master B2B, LinkedIn

👉 Check out our interview with Brian about whether marketplaces are worth the investment for distributors and manufacturers

What Does a Marketplace Expert Do?

Marketplace experts bring strategic insights, practical advice, and sometimes even hands-on help to marketplace startups and businesses alike.

They can guide founders on everything from platform design and user experience to growth strategies and monetization. The best marketplace experts have often launched their own platforms or consulted with multiple marketplace startups, so they bring experience-based insights to each situation.

How Can a Marketplace Expert Help My Business?

Experts can offer perspective on current market trends, customer acquisition, and revenue streams. They might suggest partnerships, technology solutions, or operational efficiencies that could drive significant improvements in growth and engagement. For new founders, tapping into this expertise can help avoid costly mistakes and reduce time-to-market.

Trends in Digital Marketplaces for 2025

Experts agree that the marketplace landscape will continue to evolve. Some key trends include:

  1. Niche Marketplaces: Vertical marketplaces targeting specific industries will continue to grow.
  2. AI and Automation: From product matching to customer service, marketplaces are increasingly leveraging AI for better user experiences.
  3. Community-Led Growth: Communities are powerful tools for marketplaces, and founders are creating spaces where users can connect, share, and learn from each other.

As you explore the world of marketplaces, consider following some of these experts to stay updated on these trends and make the most of your business potential.

Ready to Get Started?

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