Meru.com
YC W21Mexico City, MX · Founded 2020 · 70 employees · 6 known investors
Meru operates an online marketplace connecting mechanics in Latin America with automotive aftermarket suppliers and parts dealers.
Also known as Meru · Meru.com
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W21)
Meru.com was founded in 2020 by Manuel Rodriguez Dao, Virgile Fiszman, Federico Moscato, and Eduardo Mata.
Investors · 6
Also in the syndicate · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Meru.com is a Mexico City-headquartered company founded in 2020 that built a technology platform for cross-border trade between Asian manufacturers and small and medium-sized businesses in Latin America. Its marketplace and app connect local and foreign manufacturers with the rest of the supply chain, working directly with quality-certified factories and initially focused on the China-Mexico corridor. The platform lets buyers select and purchase products in minutes, priced in their own currency, with guarantees on delivery and pricing, and bundles logistics, billing, follow-up and, through fintech partners, financing. Y Combinator, which admitted the company to its Winter 2021 batch, describes Meru as a platform optimizing the automotive aftermarket supply chain for mechanics in Latin America and as "the one-stop-shop for auto-parts in Mexico."
The company's current consumer-facing website presents a different product line: a global US-dollar and euro account offered through a mobile app. Advertised features include a dedicated US account and routing number and a European IBAN opened remotely with a national ID document, receipt of ACH, wire and SEPA transfers and payments from platforms such as Upwork, Stripe, PayPal, YouTube and Gusto, instant domestic and international transfers, QR payments, physical and virtual international Visa cards issued in the United States, deposits via bank transfer, PIX, cash or cryptocurrency, self-custodied access to more than 2,000 tokens, DeFi-based yield products, and cash withdrawal in local currency in more than 200 countries and territories through MoneyGram.
Founding story
Co-founder and CEO Manuel Rodriguez Dao and co-founder Federico Moscato encountered problems while sourcing goods from overseas for another company, including not receiving the items originally offered. In 2020 they joined with Eduardo Mata, Virgile Fiszman and Daniel Ferreyra to start Meru so that small and medium-sized companies could avoid the same outcomes.
Business model
Meru operates a technology-enabled distribution and marketplace model: it connects Latin American SME buyers directly with certified Asian factories, removing intermediaries and handling logistics, billing and follow-up, with financing offered through fintech partners. Its consumer app product provides banking-style dollar and euro accounts, cards, transfers and investment features, with the site advertising transactions without additional commissions.
Sources describe access to discounted prices and technology-enabled distribution for marketplace buyers and state the app charges no additional commissions on operations; specific pricing or take-rate terms are not detailed.
Traction
About one year after launch the company reported more than 10,000 registered users, seven product categories in operation, revenue growth of 40-50% per month, and growth from six employees in August 2020 to 210 employees in China and Mexico by December 2021. In April 2021 it reported 17 goods categories, roughly 1,000 products and about 100 factories in China.
Latest developments
The company's site now markets a global dollar account app with US and European account details, an international Visa card, PIX and crypto deposits, DeFi investing and MoneyGram withdrawals across more than 200 countries and territories.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Positioned by its CEO as aiming to become the "Alibaba of Latin America" and a one-stop shop for small businesses sourcing from Asia; investor HTwenty describes it as the one-stop shop for Asian wholesale in Latin America.
The company contrasts its offering with traditional sourcing, which it says can consume up to two days a week and involve as many as five intermediaries, and which it claims results in fraud in about 80% of transactions; Meru says customers can select and purchase in minutes with guaranteed receipt at best market prices, buying in their own currency with a safe-arrival guarantee and working only with quality-certified factories.
Technology
A marketplace platform and mobile app that connect manufacturers to the rest of the supply chain with a standardized process and no price asymmetries, using data and technology across the stages of the cross-border transaction. The consumer product issues US account/routing numbers and European IBANs, supports ACH, wire, SEPA and PIX rails, QR payments, US-issued Visa physical and virtual cards, self-custodied crypto covering more than 2,000 tokens, DeFi investment tracking, and MoneyGram cash payout.
Go-to-market
Direct online acquisition of SME buyers onto the marketplace, expansion into additional verticals and product categories, establishment of sourcing offices in China (Ningbo, Shenzhen) close to factories, and app downloads for the dollar-account product.
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Latin America that import goods from Asia, including mechanics and buyers in the automotive aftermarket in Mexico; the consumer app targets individuals and businesses in Latin America seeking US dollar and euro accounts, including those paid by international platforms.
Geography
Headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico, with operations and staff in China, including offices planned in Ningbo and Shenzhen; the cross-border corridor initially served was China to Mexico. The consumer account product advertises US and European account details and payouts in more than 200 countries and territories.
History
Meru was founded in 2020 in Mexico City. It launched its marketplace in August 2020 with six employees. In April 2021 it raised a $2.4 million round led by Mountain Nazca and announced its acceptance into Y Combinator's Winter 2021 batch, at which point it listed 17 product categories, about 1,000 products and roughly 100 Chinese factories, with plans to open offices in Ningbo and Shenzhen. In December 2021 it announced a $15 million Series A co-led by Valor Capital and EMLES Ventures, bringing total capital raised to $17 million, with headcount at 210 across China and Mexico. Y Combinator's company page later lists a team size of 70 and status Active, and identifies the four founders as former founders.
Risks & controversies
The company's stated market context centers on fraud in Asia-Latin America SME importing, which it cites as affecting up to 80% of such transactions. Its four listed founders appear on Y Combinator's page under "Former Founders," and reported headcount fell from 210 in December 2021 to a team size of 70 on the same page.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsMeru.com announced $15 million in Series A funding co-led by Valor Capital and EMLES Ventures, with individual investments from a group of founders, bringing total raised to $17 million. Funds were allocated to new verticals and categories, technology development and team scaling.
$15M source ↗
The company said it would establish a stronger presence in Asia by opening new offices in Ningbo and Shenzhen, China.
Meru.com raised a $2.4 million round led by Mountain Nazca with participation from private investors, and announced acceptance into Y Combinator's 2021 program. Proceeds were earmarked for hiring, software development and opening offices in Ningbo and Shenzhen.
$2.4M source ↗
Meru.com participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2021 batch.
Meru launched its marketplace, at which point the company had six employees.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Meru.commeru.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Meru.com do?
- Mexico City-based Meru.com runs a cross-border B2B sourcing marketplace and now offers a global US-dollar account app.
- Who founded Meru.com?
- Meru.com was founded by Manuel Rodriguez Dao, Virgile Fiszman, Federico Moscato, Eduardo Mata in 2020.
- Who are Meru.com's investors?
- Meru.com's investors include Emles Venture Partners, Y Combinator, Bold Capital Partners.
- Where is Meru.com headquartered?
- Meru.com is headquartered in Mexico City, MX.