WHY WE INVESTED

We invested in Centralo because we saw potential in the company’s B2B marketplace solution for streamlining and simplifying purchase-sale management for proximity stores and wholesale distributors. We recognized that Centralo’s platform could help reduce costs and improve efficiency in the supply chain, and believed that the company’s focus on digital transformation in the wholesale industry in Latam align with our investment strategy.

FOUNDER(S)

CEO & Co-Founder – Joaquin Aguirre.

CPO & Co-Founder – Tomas Manrique.

Joaquin and Tomas meet at a consumer staples giant, both have a passion for democratizing access to market for many brands at the time they like to empower thousands of Latam proximity stores were 60% of total commerce happens. In 2018 they created Centralo a B2B marketplace that allows proximity stores to get their supplies from wholesale distributors. Centralo’s platform digitalizes the buying experience and logistics in Large cities in Argentina.

The inside story of Centralo began when co-founders Joaquin Aguirre and Tomas Manrique met while working at a consumer staples giant. Both had a passion for democratizing access to the market for many brands and empowering thousands of Latam proximity stores, where 60% of total commerce happens. In 2018, they decided to put their shared vision into action and created Centralo, a B2B marketplace that allows proximity stores to get their supplies from wholesale distributors.

Centralo’s platform digitalizes the buying experience and logistics in large cities in Argentina, making it easy for store owners to manage their multi-supplier orders, compare prices, and track their shipments without leaving their business. Suppliers can synchronize their prices, stocks, and distribution zones, and thus serve thousands of stores without having to increase their sales team, while being able to measure their sales and service performance for each customer.

In order to develop the SaaS product and expand the operation in the marketplace product, Centralo raised a round led by Xperiment Ventures. Xperiment also actively participated in the pivot of the business model, which now generates 30+% of the company’s revenue.

Centralo’s focus on the B2B space and its ability to digitize the buying experience for store owners and suppliers have helped the company grow quickly. Today, Centralo has more than 100 active wholesalers, and more than 3,000 buying stores, making it a leader in its space.