On February 17, in Kyiv, the fourth meeting of the B2B e-commerce community — Etsy Shopify Networking Hub took place. The event gathered over 300 entrepreneurs who are already selling abroad or are just planning this step.
This was the first event in 2026 within the project “Exporter’s Space” from Nova Poshta. It brought together entrepreneurs, experts, and service companies in a single space.
Organizers: Western Bid, Nova Poshta, and marketing agency Tsel.
Watch how it was in the event video:
What was this meeting about?
Etsy Shopify Networking Hub traditionally brings together those involved in commodity business and looking towards export. But this time, the event was even bigger — both in terms of the number of participants and the level of discussions.
Focus — on practical insights:
- where to find growth opportunities in 2026
- how to scale sales on Etsy and Shopify
- how to build partnerships and enter the US and European markets
Throughout the day, participants not only listened to presentations but also actively exchanged experiences, asked questions, and made new contacts.
Speakers and experiences you'll not find online
On stage — entrepreneurs and practitioners who have already gone through the scaling journey and are ready to speak about it openly.
Among the speakers:
- Ihor Fostenko (Enjoy The Wood) — about transforming an Etsy business into an international brand
- Dennis Shkriblyak (Synapora and ex-co-owner of Woodandhearts and Busywood) — about scaling in 60+ countries and real growth challenges
- Sergii Tkachенко (Sharky Forged Steel Tools) — about systemic development on Etsy and Shopify
- Andriy Stychinskyi and Oleh Tomilenko (BSIGN Store) — about building a systemic business on Shopify
Also attended were the CEO and Technical Director of Western Bid — Mykhailo Birman and Karina Birman, as well as the CEO of Nova Poshta in Ukraine, Yevhen Tafiychuk.
These were honest conversations with specific cases: figures, processes, mistakes, and solutions.
Participants could see themselves in these examples and understand what exactly needs to be changed in their own business.
Equally important were the open Q&A sessions — when questions about payments, logistics, or taxes could be asked directly to those who work with them every day.
“It’s great that there was an opportunity to communicate separately with representatives from different fields – legal matters, delivery, payment acceptance. There was also a lot of interesting content on the stage, great cases,” – noted Serhiy, a participant of Etsy Shopify Networking Hub.
Networking that brings them back again
Despite a busy schedule, many participants mention something else — the atmosphere.
Live introductions, honest conversations, exchange of experiences among entrepreneurs at different stages of development — from first sales to scaling into dozens of countries.
Etsy Shopify Networking Hub — it’s not about ‘listening,’ but about people who will help you move forward when you’ve hit a ceiling yourself.
“It’s great that there were blocks where we could communicate with entrepreneurs and share experiences. That’s truly the most valuable,” – noted Kateryna, an event participant.
Separate VIP format
For VIP-format participants, the event continued on the second day. Entrepreneurs visited the Kyiv Innovation Terminal of Nova Poshta and were able to see logistics from the inside, gaining a deeper understanding of the processes that directly impact the development of export business.
After the tour, participants continued their work in a masterclass format with Dmytro Mashtalir, co-owner of the marketing agency Tsil.
More than just a conference about e-commerce
Etsy Shopify Networking Hub is gathering entrepreneurs around export for the fourth time — and each time it confirms: this format is needed.
It’s not just about knowledge or contacts. It’s about the feeling that you’re not alone in your challenges, and there are those nearby who are on a similar path.
Often, new solutions, partnerships, and next steps in business development start from here.
“One idea you hear can completely change your business and give you a tenfold growth. That’s why I usually attend such events and recommend them to everyone who wants to grow and develop”, – emphasized Ihor Kostyenko, co-founder of Enjoy The Wood.
