Branddu, Reno Merge to Launch Branddu AI

Branddu and Reno have merged to launch Branddu AI, a B2B MerchTech platform for Latin America that combines AI, proprietary technology, and a regional supplier network.

The corporate merchandising industry in Latin America is undergoing a digital transformation as Branddu and Reno merge to create Branddu AI, a new B2B MerchTech platform designed to modernize how companies source, customize, and purchase promotional products.  The launch is accompanied by a US$300,000 pre-seed investment from 500 Global, bringing the company's total capital raised to US$800,000 as it seeks to expand throughout Latin America and establish a stronger presence in the United States.

The newly formed company combines Branddu's regional commercial footprint with Reno's technology-focused approach to merchandising procurement. By integrating AI, proprietary software, and a network of suppliers across Latin America and international markets, Branddu AI aims to replace traditionally manual procurement processes with a centralized digital platform.

"Uniting Branddu and Reno allows us to accelerate something we had been pursuing separately: fundamentally digitalizing an industry that operated through slow and manual processes for years,” says Mariana Velásquez, CEO and Co-Founder, Branddu AI. “We want to build the infrastructure this market needs to operate with the speed and transparency companies now demand, and Latin America has the talent and supplier ecosystem to lead that transformation."

Modernizing a Fragmented Merchandising Industry

The merger targets a global merchandising market that continues to rely heavily on manual workflows despite its size. According to Grand View Research, the industry was valued at US$355.4 billion in 2025, with an estimate of US$380 billion in 2026. In 2025, Mexico held the largest market share.

However, procurement often depends on quotation processes that take days, fragmented supplier networks, and limited visibility into available inventory. Those challenges become more pronounced for multinational organizations operating across Latin America, where companies frequently manage different suppliers, pricing structures and fulfillment timelines in each country. Branddu AI seeks to address those operational inefficiencies through a single platform that enables businesses to search, quote, customize, and purchase promotional products within minutes.

Founded in Bogota in 2019 by Velásquez as a marketplace that consolidated promotional product suppliers into one platform, Branddu evolved into a B2B digital solution offering immediate quotations, online product customization, inventory visibility and a catalog containing thousands of customizable items.

Reno, founded in Mexico by Sebastián Illescas, focused on developing MerchTech, an approach that applies technology, automation, and AI to modernize corporate merchandising procurement. Following the merger, that concept became the foundation of Branddu AI's business strategy.

"This merger brings that category to a new scale with an immediate and intuitive customer experience. Technology does not replace people; it optimizes processes," says Illescas, now CRO and Co-Founder, Branddu AI.

Building a Regional MerchTech Platform for Global Expansion

The newly combined organization is led by Velásquez as CEO and Illescas as CRO. The company employs 21 people across Mexico and Colombia and brings together the operational experience of both businesses.

Collectively, Branddu and Reno have served more than 700 clients and completed over 4,150 projects while building a catalog of more than 35,000 products. Their customer portfolio includes global enterprises and regional technology companies such as Netflix, Canva, Kavak, Clara, JP Morgan, GBM, AXA, Samsung, Warner Bros. Discovery, and WeWork.

The platform centralizes every stage of the merchandising procurement process, from product discovery and inventory visibility to quotations, online customization, design, and purchasing. Rather than relying on multiple vendors, email exchanges, and manual approvals, companies can complete the process through a single digital interface. Branddu AI also plans to expand its catalog by incorporating imported products from the European Union.

The US$300,000 pre-seed investment from 500 provides additional resources to strengthen the company's operations across Latin America while supporting expansion into the United States. The funding also reflects the company's broader objective of positioning MerchTech as a distinct technology category within the global enterprise software landscape.

For procurement, marketing, human resources, and internal communications teams, merchandising has traditionally remained one of the least digitized corporate purchasing categories despite growing demand for operational efficiency, supplier transparency, and faster execution. Branddu AI seeks to address that gap by combining automation, AI, and supplier connectivity into a unified procurement experience.

As organizations continue to modernize indirect purchasing functions, the company aims to position itself as the leading MerchTech platform in Latin America while competing in the world's largest promotional products market.