Last week in Helsinki we introduced Apollo, our new platform designed to help consumer brands grow globally. The launch was the centerpiece of a day filled with stories, lessons, and reflections from some of the most influential voices in Finnish and international commerce.

The event was hosted by our CMO, Justin Chacona, who guided the day’s discussions. Our Co-Founder and CEO, Robin Bade, together with Antti Moilanen, Head of Partnerships at eBrands, opened by sharing Apollo’s story: why it exists, what it enables, and how it is already powering brands to grow beyond borders. From there, the stage shifted to leaders from Business Finland, Reima, Verkkokauppa.com, Amazon, and Wolt - each adding perspective on what it takes to succeed in international markets.
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Introducing Apollo

Robin and Antti began the day by unveiling Apollo, a platform designed to simplify the messy, unpredictable world of cross-border commerce. Built from our experience scaling more than 50 brands across Europe and North America, Apollo offers fast and frictionless entry into new markets without heavy upfront costs.

The numbers tell the story: Apollo now supports 50+ brands across 30+ marketplaces, 50+ D2C stores, and more than 1,000 retailers worldwide. With warehouses strategically located in Finland, Germany, the UK, the US, and Canada, the platform gives brands the infrastructure to expand at speed, while also providing the data and insights needed to plan with confidence and scale sustainably.

As Robin and Antti explained, Apollo is not just about technology or logistics. It is about enabling ambition. By removing complexity, brands are free to focus on understanding customers, creating demand, and scaling with confidence.
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Lessons in Going Global

The theme of courage and ambition carried directly into the talks that followed. Business Finland’s Vilma Rissanen reminded us that 80 percent of companies never sell outside their home market. For those that do, the path requires more than a strong product. Cultural understanding, marketing, and PR are just as critical as logistics. Vilma’s message was clear: think long-term, tell your story locally, and do not be afraid to take risks.

That advice was illustrated through the experience of Reima, as CEO Heikki Lempinen shared how the kidswear brand grew from Finnish roots to global recognition. Reima’s entry into North America was anything but linear, involving early experiments, a leap of faith, and ultimately a local team and operation in Denver. Today, the U.S. has become a major growth market. His takeaway: validate product-market fit, then commit fully.

From retail, Pekka Litmanen of Verkkokauppa.com highlighted how consumer expectations are rewriting the rules of shopping. Customers want speed, trust, and convenience all at once. Verkkokauppa.com has responded with one-hour deliveries in Finland, already reaching 1.7 million people, and a product-led, light-touch approach to international growth. For Pekka, scaling abroad is not always about heavy capital investment but about partnerships, rapid testing, and focusing on core strengths.
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The Amazon Opportunity

In a fireside chat, Ed Snelson, Head of Amazon Channel at eBrands, sat down with Andreas Baller, Head of Amazon Sweden, to discuss what Amazon really means for Nordic brands. Their conversation touched on the common misconceptions of selling on Amazon, the differences across regions, and the growing role of content, advertising, and AI tools. The message was simple: Amazon is no longer optional. It can be a powerful springboard for brands of any size, provided they commit to building visibility and trust.
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Wolt’s Evolution

The event closed with a conversation between eBrands Co-Founder and CEO Robin Bade and Miki Kuusi, Co-Founder and CEO of Wolt, as well as Head of International at DoorDash. Wolt may be best known for food delivery, but as Miki explained, it is quickly becoming an “everyday store,” expanding into new categories and markets while maintaining local authenticity.

For consumer brands, Wolt is more than a logistics channel. It is also a place for discovery and visibility, with in-app marketing and millions of engaged users. Miki reflected on the balance between local relevance and global scale, offering lessons that resonated strongly with the Finnish entrepreneurs in the room.
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Why Apollo, Why Now

By the end of the day, the connections were clear. Global growth requires courage, local understanding, and relentless focus on the customer. It also requires platforms and partners that can simplify the path.

Apollo was built to be exactly that kind of partner. The insights shared in Helsinki reinforced why the platform matters and why now is the right time to make cross-border growth faster, easier, and more accessible.

The event marked a launch, but also a signal: the future of consumer brands lies beyond borders, and the opportunity is there for those ready to seize it.

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