YC-Backed Zimi Secures $2M to Streamline U.S. Market Entry for Global Merchants
The Founders’ Vision: Solving Cross-Border Commerce Challenges
Audrey Djiya and Peter Nsaka, the dynamic co-founders behind Zimi, share a passion for entrepreneurship and a drive to revolutionize international commerce.
- Djiya’s entrepreneurial roots: Growing up in a family of cross-border traders, she witnessed firsthand the complexities of global trade
- Nsaka’s tech perspective: As a former Shopify engineer, he noticed Africa’s glaring absence in global e-commerce visualizations
“Engineering taught me that assumptions are the enemy of innovation,” Nsaka told TechCrunch, explaining their motivation to challenge the status quo.
Zimi’s $2M Seed Round: Fueling Global Commerce Innovation
The startup recently closed a $2 million seed funding round with:
- Lead investor: Fearless Fund
- Participants: Y Combinator and other strategic funds/advisors
This financial boost comes just months after Zimi’s launch, validating their mission to simplify cross-border selling.
How Zimi Transforms International Commerce
Zimi addresses critical pain points for merchants:
✅ Localized fulfillment centers in the U.S.
✅ Streamlined tax compliance and currency exchange
✅ End-to-end platform covering all cross-border needs
“We’re the only holistic solution that handles everything in one place,” emphasized Nsaka, Zimi’s CTO.
Growth Strategy: From Viral LinkedIn Posts to Global Expansion
Zimi’s unconventional customer acquisition approach yielded surprising results:
- Organic LinkedIn traction: Founders’ authentic storytelling attracted merchant inquiries
- Hands-on onboarding: Personal assistance with early adopters provided crucial product insights
- Direct outreach: Targeted Instagram and email campaigns to potential clients
What’s Next for Zimi?
The seed funding will accelerate:
- U.S. fulfillment network expansion
- AI-powered merchant tools
- Dollar-denominated payment solutions (launching 2025)
- Team growth to support increasing demand
“We’re seeing strong interest from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa,” Nsaka revealed. “This is just the beginning of making global commerce truly accessible.”
Article updated for clarity regarding Shopify’s data visualization and funding round details.
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