Summary of How Techstars, Meta helped profitable LatAm startup Mercately raise a $2.6M seed | TechCrunch

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    Mercately: Empowering Businesses to Sell on WhatsApp

    Mercately is a startup that provides a platform for businesses to sell products through WhatsApp, a popular messaging app in Latin America. The platform aims to simplify the e-commerce experience for both businesses and consumers by leveraging the ubiquitous nature of WhatsApp.

    • Mercately has a B2B model, providing software to businesses to integrate with platforms like Stripe and HubSpot.
    • The company uses AI agents to automate communication with customers, manage inventory, process payments, and create purchase orders.

    The Inspiration Behind Mercately: A Shift in Consumer Behavior

    Henry Remache, the co-founder and CEO of Mercately, noticed a trend in Latin America where many businesses were using WhatsApp for the majority of their sales, instead of traditional e-commerce platforms. This inspired him to create a solution that would streamline the process of selling products through WhatsApp.

    Mercately's Approach: Simplifying WhatsApp Commerce

    Mercately's platform offers a range of features designed to simplify the selling process on WhatsApp.

    • AI-powered chatbots handle customer interactions, reducing the need for manual intervention.
    • Inventory management tools streamline the ordering process and prevent stock shortages.
    • Integrated payment processing allows customers to complete purchases without leaving the WhatsApp app.
    • Mercately handles the complexities of different currencies and shipping processes across Latin America.

    Mercately's Success and Future Plans

    Mercately has gained traction in Latin America, working with over 1,000 companies across 20 countries. The company has achieved profitability and surpassed $1.5 million in annual revenue, with a growth rate of 3.5x year over year.

    • Mercately recently raised $2.6 million in a seed round, which will be used to expand its AI team and enhance its chatbot capabilities.
    • The company plans to strengthen its presence in Brazil and the US, two key markets where WhatsApp is growing rapidly.

    WhatsApp's Growing Role in E-commerce

    Mercately is not alone in recognizing the potential of WhatsApp as an e-commerce platform. Other companies, such as Magie and Félix Pago, are also developing solutions that leverage WhatsApp for financial services and payments.

    Mercately's Vision: Revolutionizing WhatsApp Commerce in Latin America

    Mercately aims to become the leading platform for WhatsApp commerce in Latin America, providing businesses with a simplified and efficient way to engage with customers and drive sales. The company draws inspiration from platforms like Shopify, which revolutionized web-based e-commerce in the US.

    • The company believes that by simplifying the process of selling on WhatsApp, it can empower businesses to reach a wider audience and achieve significant growth.
    • Mercately is well-positioned to benefit from the continued adoption of WhatsApp as a primary communication and commerce platform in Latin America.

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