The former Shopify employee who co-founded its Build Native entrepreneurship program is relaunching the initiative after the e-commerce giant quietly shuttered it earlier this year.

“Shopify closed the program earlier this year. I chose not to let that be the end of our story.”

Tracy Ridler, CEO of the Centre for Native Nation Builders and founder of the Build Native program within Shopify, announced on LinkedIn that her organization is launching “Build Native 2.0,” a renewal of the program that sought to uplift Indigenous entrepreneurs. Ridler did not say who the program’s partners would be, but added that more details, including board appointees and “big tech partners,” will come in December. BetaKit has reached out to Shopify for comment.

“Shopify closed the program earlier this year

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