Insights for marketplace startups
Best Multi-Vendor Marketplace Platforms (2026)
Compare the best multi vendor marketplace platforms in 2026: no-code, open-source, and custom builds, plus split payouts, commissions, and how to pick by stage.
How to Build a SaaS / App Marketplace
A practical guide to building a SaaS marketplace platform: the building blocks, revenue-share economics, a step-by-step build, and the pitfalls to avoid.
Marketplace vs Platform: What's the Difference?
Marketplace vs platform explained: a marketplace is one type of platform. Learn how they differ, who owns inventory and pricing, and which model to build.
Stripe vs Stripe Connect: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Stripe vs Stripe Connect, explained for marketplace founders: standard Stripe collects money for one business, Connect pays out to third-party sellers.
What Is a Marketplace Platform? Types & Examples
A marketplace platform is software that lets third-party sellers and buyers transact under one brand. Learn the types, core components, examples, and how to choose one.
What Is Stripe Connect? A Plain-English Guide for Marketplaces
What is Stripe Connect? A plain-English guide to Stripe's platform product for marketplaces: account types, charge types, costs, and when you actually need it.
Marketplace Growth Strategy: A Stage-by-Stage Playbook
A practical marketplace growth strategy by stage: beat the cold start, build liquidity, scale demand, and defend with network effects. Goals, tactics, and metrics.
How to Build a Service Marketplace (Step by Step)
How to build a service marketplace step by step: pick a niche, solve supply, build trust, handle escrow payments, set a take rate, and pick the right platform.
Two-Sided Networks: How Network Effects Really Work
A two-sided network gets more valuable as both sides grow. Learn cross-side and same-side network effects, winner-take-all dynamics, and how to build defensibility.
How GMV Drives Marketplace Valuation
How GMV valuation works for marketplaces: GMV vs revenue multiples, why take rate and net revenue drive value, and how investors read GMV value.
30 Marketplace Examples to Learn From (2026)
30 real marketplace examples across product, B2B, peer-to-peer, service, rental, and creator categories, with the model and the lesson each one teaches founders.
50 Marketplace Business Ideas for 2026
50 concrete marketplace business ideas for 2026, grouped by type, plus a quick framework to judge which marketplace ideas are actually worth building.
Vendor Management for Marketplaces: A Practical Guide
A practical guide to vendor management for marketplaces: how to source, vet, onboard, activate, tier, and offboard your sellers, plus the metrics that matter.
What Does Payout Mean? A Marketplace Glossary Guide
Payout meaning explained for marketplaces: how seller payouts work, payout schedules, instant payout fees, reserves, and why payouts get delayed or fail.
What Is a Payment Facilitator (PayFac)? PayFac vs Marketplace vs Aggregator
What is a payment facilitator (PayFac)? Learn how the model works, PayFac vs marketplace vs aggregator vs ISO, costs, compliance, and when to register.
Marketplace Take Rate Explained (With Benchmarks)
What is take rate? Learn the take rate meaning, the formula, and approximate marketplace take rate benchmarks, plus how to raise it without losing supply.
Marketplace Liquidity: The Metric That Makes or Breaks You
Marketplace liquidity is the probability a listing or request finds a match fast. Learn how to measure it, why it matters most, and how to improve it.
B2B Marketplaces: The Complete Guide (2026)
A complete guide to the B2B marketplace model: how it differs from B2C, the main types, real examples, the hard problems, and how to monetize and start one.
Payment Splitting: How It Works for Marketplaces
A practical guide to payment splitting for marketplaces: how the money flow works, how to implement split payments with Stripe Connect, and how to reconcile fees.
What Are Escrow Payments? A Guide for Marketplaces
What are escrow payments and how do they work in a two-sided marketplace? A practical guide to holding funds, releasing payouts, and the compliance risks.
Stripe Connect Alternatives: 7 Payment Platforms for Marketplaces
Compare the best Stripe Connect alternatives for your marketplace — Adyen, PayPal, Mangopay, Mollie, Razorpay, and more — with honest fit notes for each.
What Is GMV (Gross Merchandise Value)? The Complete Guide
GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) is the total value of goods and services sold through your marketplace before fees. A complete guide for operators and founders.
Andrew Chen and a16z: What Marketplace Founders Can Learn From His Work
Andrew Chen, general partner at a16z, has shaped how a generation of founders thinks about marketplace growth. Here are the frameworks and lessons that matter most.
Marketplace Software: The Complete Guide to Platforms That Power Two-Sided Businesses
Compare the best marketplace software options for building your two-sided platform. From no-code builders to enterprise solutions, find the right tool for your stage and needs.
Marketplace Startup: How to Go From Idea to First Transaction
A practical guide to launching a marketplace startup. Learn how to validate your idea, solve the chicken-and-egg problem, choose the right tech stack, and reach your first transaction.
How to Build a Successful Marketplace Business: From Zero to Sustainable Growth
A practical guide to building a marketplace business that lasts. Learn the stages of marketplace development, how to achieve liquidity, and what separates successful platforms from ghost towns.
Peer-to-Peer Marketplace Software: How to Pick the Right Platform in 2026
Compare the best peer-to-peer marketplace software options for launching your P2P platform. From no-code builders to custom solutions, find the right fit for your marketplace.
Sharetribe Pricing in 2026: Plans, Features, and What It Actually Costs to Run a Marketplace
A detailed breakdown of Sharetribe's pricing plans. Understand what you get at each tier, what the hidden costs are, and whether Sharetribe is the right choice for your marketplace.
Stripe Connect Pricing Explained: The Real Cost for Marketplace Founders
A clear breakdown of Stripe Connect pricing for marketplaces. Understand the fee structure, hidden costs, and what you'll actually pay as your platform scales.
Two-Sided Marketplace: The Definitive Guide to Building Platforms That Connect Buyers and Sellers
Everything you need to know about two-sided marketplaces. Learn how they work, why they're so powerful, and how to build one that achieves network effects and sustainable growth.
The Complete Guide to Marketplace Analytics (2025)
Master marketplace analytics with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to track liquidity, analyze cohorts, and build a data stack that drives growth for your two-sided platform.
How to Build a Marketplace Website: The Ultimate Guide (2025)
Learn how to build a successful marketplace website from scratch. From idea validation to choosing the right tech stack and launching your MVP, this guide covers it all.
Low-hanging fruit for Marketplace SEO
Discover actionable SEO strategies specifically designed for marketplaces to drive organic traffic and acquire new customers through user-generated content optimization.
Experimenting with pricing as a marketplace
Learn how to experiment with pricing strategies in your marketplace while navigating the unique challenges of commission structures and user expectations.
How to overcome the chicken-and-egg problem and use it to get things off the ground
Learn proven strategies to break through the chicken-and-egg problem that plagues new marketplaces and discover how to build momentum by focusing on one side first.
Keep out the bad apples: How to moderate a marketplace
Learn essential strategies for moderating your marketplace, from automated content filtering to community management techniques that keep bad actors at bay.
Metrics for Marketplaces
Marketplaces are unique ecosystems that require careful attention to a variety of performance metrics to ensure growth and sustainability.
SEO for Marketplaces
Learn how strategic SEO can transform your marketplace from a struggling platform into a thriving hub of activity through simple yet effective optimization techniques.
What's a vetted marketplace and why is it so interesting?
Discover how vetted marketplaces differentiate themselves from open platforms by offering enhanced services, quality assurance, and higher value propositions for both buyers and sellers.