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Mage Camp is almost here, and we're introducing the people who make it possible. We caught up with Dion Van der Griend, who leads the partnerships team at Hypernode, one of our Headline sponsors at this year's event in Manchester on 14 October.
Click on the video above to watch the full interview with Dion Van der Griend.
Dion Van der Griend leads the partnerships team at Hypernode, an eCommerce hosting provider focused on Magento. He explains why Hypernode became a Headline sponsor of a merchant-first, not-for-profit event like Mage Camp without hesitation, and previews the demo on its stand: one click to spin up a Magento store running Hyvä. He also names the biggest challenges facing merchants, high total cost of ownership and bot traffic, and shares how AI is changing the way developers work.
"An event should be about the community and about merchants; it doesn't have to be about making profit. It is about bringing people together, networking, and sharing knowledge." - Dion Van der Griend
Could you introduce yourself, your role, and what Hypernode does?
Dion: I'm Dion Van der Griend, and I lead the partnerships team at Hypernode. Hypernode is an eCommerce hosting provider with a full focus on Magento.
How has Hypernode changed or grown over the last year?
Dion: Over the last couple of years, Hypernode has moved from being a normal hosting provider to being more of a consultant as well. We have a lot of experience in and around Magento, and we use it in our services for our merchants, but also for our agencies and developers.
How long have you been part of the Magento/Adobe Commerce community, and what does being part of it mean to you?
Dion: Almost eight years. For me, the community feels like a family. A lot of my partners and clients feel like friends at this point. It's really welcoming to get together, see faces you've known for years, and catch up on how everyone is doing, in business and in private life.
Why did you decide to become a headline sponsor of Mage Camp?
Dion: It wasn't a difficult decision. We saw an event coming up in Manchester organised by our partners, and we didn't think twice. We wanted to be there and we wanted to support it big time, which is why we went straight for headline.
Mage Camp is merchant-first and not-for-profit. Why does that matter to you?
Dion: An event should be about the community and about merchants. It doesn't have to be about making a profit. It's about bringing people together, networking and sharing knowledge, and those are all things we like too.
What can attendees expect from you on the day? Is there anything special planned for your stand?
Dion: On the Hypernode stand, we're going to demo how easy it is to spin up a Magento store including Hyvä. Hypernode has been an official hosting partner of Hyvä since this year, and we'll show how, with the click of one button, you can have a Hyvä website installed and running on the server. Just one click.
If a merchant stops by, what's the one thing you'd like them to leave with?
Dion: Recommendations and advice. I think every merchant has a challenge or an issue they want to discuss. We want people to leave our stand, or the event, feeling helped. They've received advice, or met people who've had the same issue, and gained knowledge on how to solve challenges in their market.
What's the biggest challenge you see merchants facing right now, and what's one practical tip they could act on today?
Dion: A high total cost of ownership. If you work with a proper agency and use a product such as Hyvä Commerce, there's already a lot you can do to lower the total cost of ownership of your platform.
We also see a lot of online stores being attacked and crawled by bot traffic, which is a huge challenge for everyone, and we'd really recommend taking action on it. You need to be protected, you need to be able to monitor your traffic, and you need a proper partner who takes care of that for you.
What advice would you give a merchant attending Mage Camp for the first time?
Dion: Have fun and network. Make it a fun day. Talk to people, talk to developers, talk to agencies, and make sure that when you leave the venue you've had a great day and picked up all the knowledge you needed.
What are you most looking forward to on 14 October, and what would make the event a success for you?
Dion: Meeting new people. I love it. Building connections, networking, and seeing how people can help each other, whether by sharing knowledge or by setting up partnerships, and just having fun. For me, a successful day is one where I've met a lot of new people, the after party was a big success, and I can go to the hotel room and sleep well.
Where do you see the Magento/Adobe Commerce ecosystem heading over the next year or two?
Dion: With the age of AI, a lot is changing. I'd say developers aren't really writing code anymore. Most of them are writing commands for AI agents, which then write the code for Magento. We see that as a really good move for the market, because developers can get more done in less time, which lowers the total cost of ownership of Magento. Developing new products and new features is also becoming faster and faster, which is a great benefit too.
Is there a merchant success story you're especially proud of?
Dion: We're proud of all our clients' successes, and that's not a joke. Every time we onboard a new client and see the performance improvement, or the special support for Magento that they were looking for, it always brings a smile to our faces. Where can people find you or learn more? Dion: At Mage Camp, you can visit our booth. If you can't make it, you can find Hypernode online at hypernode.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn. We're always open to a chat.
Hypernode is a managed eCommerce hosting platform built for Magento, also supporting WooCommerce and Shopware. With 2,200+ Hypernodes across 12 countries, it offers speed-optimised hosting, built-in bot and malware protection, 24/7 monitoring, flexible pay-as-you-go contracts, and developer tools. It's also an official Hyvä hosting partner.
Find the Hypernode team at their booth in Manchester on 14 October. Here's what you can do there:
Hypernode is a managed hosting provider specialising in high-performance eCommerce infrastructure for leading platforms. With over 25 years' experience and 2,500+ customers, Hypernode delivers speed, security, and scalability backed by round-the-clock expert support.
Visit sponsorMage Camp is almost here, and we're introducing the people who make it possible. We caught up with John Hughes, VP of Product at Hyvä, one of our Marketplace Plus sponsors and a speaker at this year's event on 14 October.
