Announcing the Shopify Unite Fund and Our Call for Speakers

Shopify Unite, our annual partner and developer conference, is back this May in Toronto. We’ll celebrate our shared success, forge new connections, and ignite the future of commerce technology. Learn about how to apply to the Shopify Unite Fund, or how you can share your knowledge with the rest of the partner community as a speaker at the event.

An Important Update on Shopify Unite

Because of the evolving public health concerns around COVID-19, we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the in-person element of Shopify Unite 2020. Click through to learn more.

Learn more

This May, we’ll be hosting Shopify Unite, Shopify’s partner and developer conference, in Toronto. Running May 6 to 8, Shopify Unite is our annual opportunity to spend time with the community helping us build the future of commerce. In addition, we’re also announcing the return of the Shopify Unite Fund, and our call for speakers. 

While we're thrilled to welcome our partners and developers from around the world, we realize that not everyone has the same means or opportunity to attend. Read on for how the Shopify Unite Fund can help get you airfare, accommodations, and a ticket to the conference. For those interested in being a part of the Shopify Unite experience, we're also sharing details of how to apply as a speaker. Let's jump in.

Method #1: The Shopify Unite Fund

Are you a partner or developer looking to help build the future of commerce? If you are a member of an underrepresented community in tech, or are unable to attend Shopify Unite for financial reasons, we want to give you the chance to be there.

This year, we’ll pick 10 Unite Fund recipients. They’ll receive airfare up to $1,500 USD, accommodations, and a ticket to attend Shopify Unite in Toronto.

We're accepting entries until Friday, January 31, 2020. Selected attendees will be contacted via email by Monday, February 10, 2020.

What we’re looking for

If you’re interested in applying for the Unite Fund, be ready to answer the following questions:

• What does attending Shopify Unite mean to you as an entrepreneur?
• What do you hope to gain from the experience, and how do you believe it would help with your business goals and aspirations?

Get creative: links to videos, GIFs, Google Docs, and blog posts are welcome and encouraged. Keep in mind that we're much more interested in your ideas than your production budget or word count.

Applicant selection will be based on creativity, passion for commerce, and entrepreneurial spirit. In addition, financial status and those who identify with underrepresented communities in tech will be considered.

We’ll email the winners by February 10, 2020. 

Apply to the Shopify Unite Fund

Method #2: Become a speaker

We are also looking for speakers to join us at Shopify Unite. If you would like to share your knowledge with other Shopify Partners, we encourage you to fill out our application form no later than March 2, 11:59 PM EST. Join us on stage and help shape the future of commerce.

Apply to speak at Shopify Unite

Join us at Shopify Unite

Join us in Toronto in May to celebrate our shared success, forge new connections, and ignite the future of commerce technology. Submit your story to the Shopify Unite Fund or apply to be a speaker today!

We can’t wait to see you there.