WhatsApp Commerce Takes Off in Latin America
In Latin America, WhatsApp isn’t just for messaging - it’s become the digital storefront for millions. During the pandemic, over 60% of consumers used the platform for purchases. Recognizing this trend, Bogotá-based startup Mercately is building the essential infrastructure to transform WhatsApp into a full-fledged commerce platform.
The Mercately Advantage: WhatsApp as a Sales Channel
Mercately provides B2B software that enables brands to:
- Process payments seamlessly via Stripe integration
- Manage customer relationships through HubSpot connectivity
- Automate responses with AI-powered chatbots
- Track inventory and generate purchase orders
All without customers ever leaving WhatsApp’s familiar interface.
From Insight to Profitability: The Mercately Journey
CEO Henry Remache discovered the opportunity in 2021 while developing software for Latin American businesses. “When I saw an Ecuadorian shoe seller doing 90% of sales through WhatsApp, the potential became clear,” Remache explains. “In LatAm, most SMBs don’t have websites - commerce happens on WhatsApp.”
Since its 2022 launch, Mercately has:
- Achieved profitability with $1.5M annual revenue
- Grown 3.5x year-over-year
- Expanded to 1,000+ businesses across 20 countries
$2.6M Seed Round Fuels Expansion
The recent funding round was led by Inventus Capital Partners and SVQuad, with participation from:
- Techstars
- Salkantay Ventures
- BuenTrip Ventures
Funds will be allocated to:
- Enhancing AI capabilities for smarter chatbots
- Strengthening presence in Brazil and the U.S.
- Expanding the engineering team
“Being a Techstars company opened doors for us in a region where funding is scarce,” notes Remache. Participation in Meta’s 2022 accelerator program also connected them with key investors.
The Competitive Landscape
While Mercately leads in WhatsApp commerce infrastructure, compe*****s include:
- Infobip (marketing and customer engagement)
- Trengo (customer communication tools)
- Magie (recent $4M raise for WhatsApp payments)
- Félix Pago ($15.5M for remittances via WhatsApp)
Why WhatsApp Commerce is Here to Stay
With 90% of Latin American internet users on WhatsApp, the platform’s commerce potential is undeniable. Even in the U.S., WhatsApp adoption is growing, with 100 million active users.
“We’re doing for WhatsApp commerce what Shopify did for web stores,” Remache concludes. As consumer behavior continues evolving, Mercately is positioning itself as the essential infrastructure for the next generation of digital commerce.
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