Wibond

Wibond operates as a financial technology company in Latin America, positioning itself as a key player in the "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) market. The company was founded in 2018 by Ezequiel Bucai, Lucrecia Porta, and Alejandro Silvestre, although some sources cite the founding year as 2020. Ezequiel Bucai, the CEO, previously co-founded ClickyPass, a gym network platform that was later acquired by the American unicorn ClassPass. This prior entrepreneurial experience in building and scaling a regional tech platform provides a relevant background for Wibond's ambitions. Lucrecia Porta brings corporate finance experience from her time at JPMorgan and as the Finance Director in her family's B-corp, Porta Hnos.

Wibond's core business revolves around providing a digital payment method that allows consumers to purchase goods in installments without needing a credit card. This model specifically targets the large segment of the population in Latin America that is underbanked or prefers not to use traditional credit. The process for users is straightforward: they create a free account, verify their identity, and can then shop at affiliated merchants, selecting Wibond at checkout to access a personalized payment plan. The company's platform integrates directly into the online checkout flow of its merchant partners. For these merchants, which include major retailers like Samsung and Motorola, Wibond offers a way to increase sales, expand their customer base, and access a new demographic of consumers.

The company's revenue model is based on its BNPL services. It has also expanded its offerings to include a Fintech-as-a-Service white-label platform. This service enables other businesses to launch their own financial infrastructure, including branded digital wallets, payment processing (online, QR codes), and lending services, without the need for extensive in-house development. Wibond handles the technology, risk assessment, capital access, and regulatory compliance, offering a ready-to-operate solution for a monthly subscription fee.

Since its inception, Wibond has achieved significant milestones, including participating in the Y Combinator accelerator program in the Winter 2022 batch. The company has successfully raised a total of $8.5 million in funding over two seed rounds. The latest round in June 2022 secured $6 million and attracted investment from notable firms like Y Combinator, Soma Capital, and Fen Ventures, as well as angel investors such as Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph and Fitbit CEO James Park. Headquartered in Córdoba, Argentina, Wibond has plans for regional expansion, targeting markets like Chile and Mexico.

Keywords: Buy Now Pay Later, BNPL, financial inclusion, fintech-as-a-service, installment payments, digital wallet, consumer financing, e-commerce payments, Latin America fintech, payment gateway, point of sale financing, underbanked solutions, merchant payment solutions, alternative lending, Ezequiel Bucai, Y Combinator, digital credit, online financing, white-label fintech, embedded finance