Marketplace Bootcamp
Have an idea for a marketplace, and don’t know where to start? Marketplace experts from Nautical Commerce, Marketplace Studio, and others are here to be your guides through the early stages of launching the next big marketplace.
Marketplace Bootcamp: How to launch a marketplace
The course starts with the foundation of every successful marketplace — establishing your why. From there, we’ll cover integral decisions like buyer and seller experience before wrapping up with how to generate demand for your two-sided network.
Your marketplace vision
Start by establishing your why. In this module, Steve Cody, Co-founder of Marketplace Studio, helps you get clear on your goals and your unique value proposition. As a seasoned marketplace professional, Steve shares valuable insights on how to establish the DNA of your marketplace at the outset.
Financing your marketplace
To launch a marketplace, you need money. In this module, Niklas Halusa, Co-founder and CEO of Nautical Commerce, dives into marketplace funding options, and how to see a return on investment. Prior to starting Nautical Commerce, Niklas spent years working in venture capital. With his experience as both an investor and founder, he outlines how to approach financing for your marketplace.
Defining your marketplace MVP
The first iteration of your marketplace won’t be the last. In this section, Darren Cody, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Marketplace Studio, guides you through determining your MVP (minimum viable product) requirements. Darren has both built his own marketplaces and helped clients bring their marketplaces to life. After launching countless marketplaces, he has a solid grasp on what's required for the first iteration (and why you shouldn't get too caught up in perfection).
Building and onboarding supply
Supply is one of the hardest problems to solve, and also one of the most important. In this lesson. Steve Cody shares his approach for finding your first sellers and what to consider during the initial onboarding process.
Building your buyer experience
Your marketplace’s buyer experience is critical. This lesson, led by Blake Hirt, helps you make decisions to reduce buyer friction. After four years leading operations and growth at Uber, Blake is now a trusted advisor to early stage marketplaces. Watch below to learn more about the metrics to track for success and key strategies to improve the user experience.
Identifying your tech stack
The technology you use plays a big role in your operational efficiencies. Bhavin Shah, CTO of Float, explores the key considerations to determine what technology tools are best for you. Learn more about how to assess your business needs, technical capabilities, and external software to determine the best fit for your marketplace.
Building trust on your marketplace
It’s time to go to market, now what? Don’t skip the steps to build trust with your buyers and sellers. In this lesson, Steve Grice, COO of Trustap, walks through critical strategies to avoid breaking the trust of both your buyers and sellers. Consider this module your guide for building confidence amongst your marketplace’s stakeholders.
Marketing your marketplace
If you build it, will they come? With the right marketing they will. Lindsay Britt, CMO of Rocket CMO, and Nicole Kahansky, Head of Content at Nautical Commerce, equip you with the knowledge you need to bring your marketplace to market. They cover building a strong marketing foundation with key messaging and goals setting, effective marketing channels to consider, and how to create buzz with public relations.
Meet your instructors
Marketplace experts from Nautical Commerce, Marketplace Studio, and others are here to be your guides through the early stages of launching the next big marketplace.
.png)
The Marketplace Bootcamp Curriculum
The course starts with the foundation of every successful marketplace — establishing your "why." From there, explore integral decisions around shaping the buyer and seller experience, before concluding with strategies to generate demand for your two-sided network.
Start by establishing your why. In this module, we help you get clear on your goals and your unique value proposition.
To launch a marketplace, you need money. This module dives into marketplace funding options, and how to see a return on investment.
The first iteration of your marketplace won’t be the last. In this section, we guide you through determining your MVP (minimum viable product) requirements.
How to sell to your sellers. Walk through how to find the right vendors, pitch them, and ensure value.
Your marketplace’s buyer experience is critical. This lesson helps you make decisions to help reduce friction to buy.
The technology you use plays a big role in your operational efficiencies. Determine what technology tools are best for you.
It’s time to go to market, now what? Don’t skip the steps to build trust with your buyers and sellers. Consider this module your guide for building confidence amongst your marketplace’s stakeholders.
Finally, let’s generate some demand. This module will provide you with the high-level tools required to launch your marketplace.