Tobias Lütke is the co-founder and CEO of Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Born in Germany and now a Canadian entrepreneur, Lütke has played a pivotal role in Shopify's growth, transforming it into a publicly-traded company with over $1 billion in revenue and serving millions of businesses worldwide.

Who is Tobias Lütke?

Tobias Lütke, a German-Canadian entrepreneur and software developer, is the co-founder and CEO of Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Lütke's journey began with an early interest in coding and modifying computer hardware, leading him to drop out of school and enter a computer programming apprenticeship.

After moving to Canada, he co-founded an online snowboard shop called Snowdevil, where he developed a new e-commerce platform using Ruby on Rails. This innovation eventually led to the creation of Shopify in 2006.

Under Lütke's leadership, Shopify has grown into a publicly-traded company with over $1 billion in revenue, serving millions of businesses worldwide, including well-known brands like Kylie Cosmetics, Allbirds, and Gymshark.

Work History

• Tobias Lütke served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Shopify from September 2004 to April 2008.
• Since April 2008, Lütke has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shopify.

Education History

Tobias Lütke has a unique educational background that diverges from traditional academic paths, characterized by an early focus on computer programming. At the age of 16, Lütke dropped out of high school and entered into an apprenticeship program to become a computer programmer in Germany. This practical education and early exposure to programming shaped his technical skills and fostered a deep understanding of software development. Lütke's unconventional educational route reflects his hands-on learning style and direct entry into the tech field, which laid the groundwork for his future as the co-founder and CEO of Shopify, a leading global commerce company. His story is particularly inspiring for its demonstration of how non-traditional educational paths can lead to significant success in the technology sector.

When did Tobias Lütke join Shopify?

Tobias Lütke, the co-founder of Shopify, initially joined the company as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in September 2004. He transitioned to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in April 2008. As of now, Lütke has been with Shopify for over 17 years, playing a crucial role in the company's growth and success.