Appstle, a leading ecommerce SaaS company building apps for shopify, has solidified its position in the e-commerce ecosystem under the technical leadership of co-founder Hemant Purswami. An engineering leader and builder behind Appstle, Appikon, SearchIt, and a former Apple innovator, Hemant brings a wealth of experience in crafting scalable e-commerce and enterprise solutions. 

TL;DR

By positioning Hemant as Appstle’s technical voice, we were able to:

• Build authority and trust in the Shopify ecosystem
• Attract nearly 3000 high-intent followers
• Spark industry conversations around retention technology
• Generated 110+ qualified inbound leads
• Establish Hemant as a go-to expert for e-commerce solutions

Through a strategic founder-led LinkedIn campaign crafted by our team at Brand Strategy Lab, Hemant’s technical expertise and authentic voice have driven significant brand visibility, engagement, and trust for Appstle. This case study outlines the strategy, execution, and impact of Hemant’s LinkedIn presence, mirroring the successful approach used for co-founder Rakshithaa Mahesh.

About Hemant Purswami

Hemant Purswami is the Co-founder of and Engineering Leader behind Appstle, Appikon, and SearchIt, and a former Apple innovator. With a passion for coding and a track record of developing e-commerce, AI/ML, and enterprise applications, Hemant drives Appstle’s mission to empower Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants with cutting-edge tools for customer retention and loyalty. His technical vision and hands-on approach make him a trusted figure in the e-commerce ecosystem.

The Challenge

Building great products takes everything you’ve got. And for good reason – that’s where the magic happens. But what if all that hard work goes unnoticed? Despite Hemant’s technical prowess and Appstle’s best-in-class product, his LinkedIn presence was underutilized. He needed to:

• Establish thought leadership in e-commerce technology and retention solutions
• Educate merchants on subscription and loyalty best practices
• Humanize Appstle’s brand through authentic, tech-driven storytelling
• Convert content engagement into qualified inbound opportunities

Our Approach

We treated Hemant’s LinkedIn as a branded media channel, aligning his technical voice with Appstle’s mission to drive merchant success. 

1. Deep-Dive Kickoff
   • Conducted in-depth interviews with Hemant to define his Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and unique point of view on e-commerce technology.
   • Established key outcomes: brand awareness, technical authority, and inbound leads.
     
2. Profile Revamp
   
   
   • Rewrote Hemant’s headline to “Engineering Leader | Builder – Appstle, Appikon, SearchIt | Ex-Apple” to highlight his technical credentials.
   • Updated the About section to position him as a technologist solving merchant retention challenges.
   • Added a clear CTA encouraging merchants to connect for insights or explore Appstle’s offerings.

Content Pillars That Drove Growth

The content strategy was structured around four pillars to ensure consistency and impact:

• Technical Innovation: Showcasing Appstle’s engineering achievements and Hemant’s coding expertise.
• Merchant Education: Providing actionable insights on subscriptions, loyalty, and retention.
• Brand Storytelling: Humanizing Appstle through Hemant’s vision and customer success stories.
• Industry Trends: Commenting on e-commerce shifts and Shopify ecosystem updates.
  This structure ensured every post had a purpose, whether to educate, inspire, or drive engagement.

Content Strategy Deployed

We implemented a value-first content strategy rooted in Hemant’s technical expertise, narrative storytelling, and consistent posting cadence. Key elements included:

1. Authority Building

To position Hemant as a technical thought leader, posts focused on:

• Shopify platform updates (e.g., checkout extensibility, app ecosystem changes) and their impact on retention.
• Technical insights into building scalable subscription systems, such as Appstle’s “Built for Shopify” achievements.
• Trends in e-commerce tech, such as AI-driven personalization or gamification..

2. Brand Strategy Breakdowns

Mini case studies analyzed retention strategies of major brands:

• Lavazza’s coffee subscription model, highlighting its user-friendly design and mobile optimization.
• Spotify’s subscription tactics, drawing parallels to e-commerce retention.

Each breakdown included actionable takeaways for merchants using Appstle’s tools, driving saves and shares while positioning Hemant as a strategic technologist.

3. Customer Testimonials + Product Impact

Narrative-style posts showcased Appstle’s real-world impact:

• A DTC coffee brand that improved retention with Appstle’s smart billing flows.
• A wellness merchant that reduced churn with adaptive cancellation management.
• A subscription box service that boosted engagement with gamified loyalty tiers.

These stories framed Appstle’s features as strategic solutions, building social proof and sparking inbound interest.

4. Educational Tips & Frameworks

Tactical content delivered bite-sized value, such as:

• “7 strategies for a thriving subscription model”
• “How to win back canceled subscribers”
• “Lessons from Spotify and Apple Music for e-commerce retention”

These posts, backed by Hemant’s technical insights, were designed for saves, DMs, and internal merchant discussions.

Top Performing Content Pieces

• “7 Strategies for 1,000 Subscribers”: Shared actionable tactics from Appstle customers, earning 250+ reactions and 100+ comments.
• “Lavazza’s Coffee Subscription Model”: Analyzed Lavazza’s user-friendly approach, generating 200+ interactions and 80+ DMs.
• “Win Back Canceled Members”: Provided a framework for managing churn, sparking 150+ comments and 100+ DMs.
• “Spotify vs. Apple Music”: Drew parallels to e-commerce retention, driving 200+ reactions and inbound leads. 

Active Engagement

• Daily 15-minute comment blitz on posts by e-commerce leaders and target merchants.
• Prompt, personalized replies to every comment on Hemant’s posts, fostering deeper conversations..

Performance Tracking & Optimization

• Bi-weekly KPI reviews (impressions, engagement rate, follower growth).
• Pivoted to technical POV and case study posts when data showed these drove the highest discussions and inbound interest.

Results and Outcomes

Our founder-led LinkedIn strategy transformed Hemant Purswami’s presence into a powerful growth engine for Appstle, yielding impressive results over 365 days:

• 2,950 followers: Grown organically to nearly 3,000 high-intent followers, expanding Appstle’s reach within the Shopify merchant community.
• 147% increase in impressions: Posts reached a broader audience, amplifying brand visibility.
• 56% increase in engagement: Value-driven content sparked meaningful interactions, with 100+ comments and 300+ reactions across posts.
• 676 profile views in 90 days: Increased curiosity about Hemant and Appstle, driving brand awareness.
• 110+ inbound leads: Merchants initiated conversations via DMs, seeking Appstle’s solutions for retention and loyalty challenges.
• Industry recognition: Hemant is now tagged in e-commerce tech discussions, establishing him as a go-to expert in the Shopify ecosystem.

“The Brand Strategy Lab’s strategy allowed me to showcase Appstle’s technical vision and connect with merchants on a deeper level. I’m now tagged in conversations about e-commerce tech, which has opened new doors for Appstle.”

Hemant Purswami, Co-Founder and Engineering Leader, Appstle

Are you a founder looking to turn your voice into a growth engine? Connect with The Brand Strategy lab to craft a LinkedIn strategy that drives visibility, engagement, and inbound opportunities for your brand.

Contact us now!