SoCom Enters Its Next Stage as an Expanding Platform for the Social Commerce Economy
As part of that evolution, Social Commerce Holdings has acquired assets of the SoCom conference, bringing complementary brand equity, relationships and community into a platform that has been building independently through a rapidly expanding event series and year-round industry media platform. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Under the new brand architecture, SoCom will serve as both the name of the broader platform and the identity of its events. The developing platform will combine SoCom’s news, research and podcast properties with membership and mentorship, industry recognition and a growing national and international event series. New SoCom branding and websites reflecting the unified platform will roll out soon.
“The acquisition is an important part of this story, but the bigger story is where SoCom is going,” said Social Commerce Holdings Founder and CEO Stuart Johnson. “We have been building a broader platform for the social commerce economy from the beginning. Bringing these assets and community together under SoCom gives us an opportunity to accelerate that work and create a stronger, more connected platform for the people and companies shaping this economy.”
That momentum now moves directly into SoCom LA, October 14–15 at Westdrift Manhattan Beach, and SoCom New York, November 10 at Sony Hall in Times Square. Previous events this year have been held in Los Angeles, New York City and Salt Lake City.
The event series will continue into 2027, with plans for additional U.S. and international gatherings in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, London and Hawaii. The growing calendar reflects SoCom’s continued expansion as a national and international platform for the social commerce economy.
The broader vision extends well beyond conferences. SoCom is being built as an independent platform to connect the people and companies driving the development of social commerce under one global brand.
“This is about building something that serves the social commerce economy year-round and across markets,” said David Vanderveen, strategic advisor and podcast host, Social Commerce News. “Our goal is to create a platform where the channel can connect, learn and share what is working and help shape what comes next.”
SoCom Live events were created by Max Benator and Lauren Stevens. Their Orca agency was subsequently acquired and became part of Third Commerce, whose core business is its agency platform. As part of the new relationship, Benator and Stevens will be recognized as SoCom Live Founders, acknowledging their early role in creating the SoCom brand and community.
"We created one of the must-attend events in social commerce,” said Benator, founder of SoCom and strategic advisor at Third. “Now under Stuart's leadership, SoCom has the dedicated focus of a world-class trade events team. Moreover, we're thrilled to continue our role as a key partner in the conference for years to come."
Benator, Stevens and Third Commerce will remain strategically connected to SoCom through a multi-year relationship that includes sponsorship, visibility and participation.
About SoCom
SoCom is the unified platform for the social commerce economy, connecting the people and companies building its future. Through live events, industry media, research, recognition and membership, SoCom gives operators, brands and platforms a year-round home to learn, connect and grow, including its upcoming research membership with mentorship program and digital hub. Together, these pillars make SoCom the connected home for the social commerce community under one global brand.
About Third
Third is a modern-commerce growth company helping brands turn new and emerging platforms into real sales channels. Its integrated acquisition strategy connects best-in-class teams across TikTok, Whatnot, Meta, Snap, and beyond—eliminating the need to stitch together multiple partners. Third blends deep-niche expertise with modern execution to launch, operate, and scale commerce on new platforms, transforming culture, creators, and content into real product sales.
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