Susa Ventures raises $5M for Powered By People Susa VenturesFlexport Fund, Golden Ventures, JVentures and Flexport Fund led a $5 million seed round to enable global makers wholesale marketplace Powered by People(PBP), to expand its operations. Kenya-based PBP connects independent brands and makers in 47 countries to retailers in North America.

PBP addresses two problems for makers: accessing foreign markets and financing for production and stock. PBP was established in 2021 by Ella PeinovichGriffith, Hedvig Alexander, and quickly became a trusted source of retailers such as Pottery Barn, West Elm, The Citizenry, and 100s more independent shops. This multi-brand marketplace allows 200+ brands to trade and showcase their products to a global audience. The platform gives makers access to new retailers, purchase order and invoice financing, export logistics services, and digital tools for production and inventory management. Retailers benefit from a simplified purchasing process and a carefully curated range of goods and logistics support. Peinovich–Griffith gained insight and experience in the makers market through her involvement. SOKOMade in Kenya, handmade jewelry company that exported to the US. Ella worked with thousands of East African artisans at SOKO and designed many of the tools she used to build her company. This informs the digital tools that PBP offers all its members on its platform. The platform now has an integrated team strategically located in the US. Canada, India, Mexico. Turkey, Turkey, and Canada. PBP utilizes innovative tech and financial solutions that allow retail buyers to confidently and seamlessly purchase these products. By removing the friction from what is too often a time-consuming, complicated process, PBP takes care of the laborious hassles so buyers and makers don’t have to.