How MitoQ Scaled Globally with BigCommerce’s Headless Platform

Introduction

MitoQ began as a novel health brand created by scientists of the University of Otago. Their breakthrough molecule, small enough to target mitochondria directly, launched as skincare and supplement products. Growing fast in the US and China, MitoQ faced a critical turning point when a hack on Magento compromised customer data in 2018. Struggling through multiple Ecwid instances and payment hurdles, the team realized they needed a more secure, scalable and seamless ecommerce platform.

The Challenge

After the security breach, MitoQ urgently needed PCI Level 1 compliance to reinstate bank partnerships. They hastily rebuilt on Ecwid, but its niche design forced them to operate separate instances for each currency and price list. Every site update had to be repeated ten times, causing inconsistencies and lost conversions. The fractured checkout flow led to abandoned carts, mounting frustrations and stalled global growth.

Why BigCommerce

In mid-2019, MitoQ evaluated Shopify Plus and Sana Commerce but found them either too rigid or unsuitable for headless customization. BigCommerce met all key requirements: built-in PCI compliance, a modern headless API, and plug-and-play integrations. Working with Deloitte, they confirmed the platform’s security. By July 2020, the new store launched with a unified codebase, intuitive front end and a streamlined admin interface.

Key Integrations

MitoQ deployed AfterShip for order tracking, ending customer inquiries about delivery status and slashing support workload. HubSpot powered email marketing and CRM, while ShipperHQ optimized shipping rates across geographies. The team chose Recurly for subscriptions and connected BigCommerce to Microsoft Dynamics NAV via middleware. Google BigQuery consolidated analytics for real-time insight.

Results

• 45% year-over-year revenue increase
• 86% growth in subscription signups
• 109% boost in average page value

Beyond metrics, BigCommerce’s responsive support and flexible APIs allowed rapid A/B testing, new payment methods and a frictionless checkout. Today, MitoQ is redesigning its front end with Craft CMS and eyeing markets in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.