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§ Private Profile · 140 S State College Blvd Ste 300, Brea, California 92821, US
Yamibuy is a technology company.
Yamibuy operates an online marketplace, providing authentic Asian products via its e-commerce platform. Available on web, iOS, and Android, it offers a selection of groceries, snacks, beauty, home goods, and wellness essentials from diverse Asian regions. Its digital platform connects consumers with genuine, trending items.
Alex Zhou founded Yamibuy in 2013, identifying unmet demand for accessible Asian goods in North America. His insight was a dedicated online destination could bridge this cultural gap, enabling consumers to acquire authentic products. This brought diverse Asian culinary and lifestyle items to a wider audience.
Yamibuy serves a U.S. customer base seeking genuine Asian products. The company’s vision fosters cultural appreciation by making Asian flavors and goods readily available through a seamless experience. It aims to bring the best of Asia directly to its users, promoting engagement and understanding.
Yamibuy has raised $60.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Yamibuy has raised $60.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Yami (formerly Yamibuy) is an e-commerce platform specializing in Asian products, including groceries, snacks, beauty items, health supplements, and home goods. It serves primarily Asian Americans, Chinese students, and consumers seeking authentic Asian imports in the U.S., solving the problem of limited access and high costs for these goods by providing direct supplier sourcing and online delivery.[1][3][4] The company has shown strong growth momentum, reaching over 2 million registered customers by 2022, offering 260,000+ SKUs from 4,000+ brands, $100 million in annual transactions by 2018, and $82.2 million in revenue with $61 million in total funding, including a $50 million Series B in 2022.[1][4][6]
Yami was founded in March 2013 by Alex Zhou, a Chinese student at Kansas State University, who grew frustrated with the scarcity and expense of authentic Chinese goods in the U.S., often requiring long drives to access them.[1][2] Zhou bootstrapped the business by visiting Asian supermarkets, noting supplier names, and securing direct accounts to import goods, operating initially from a warehouse to sell online.[1] Early traction came from Chinese American communities and students, fueling rapid growth; by 2018, it hit $100 million in transactions, and it expanded into fresh food delivery during the pandemic via partnerships with local supermarkets, leveraging its app's 1.5 million customers.[1][2]
Yami rides the wave of e-commerce globalization and rising demand for ethnic groceries in North America, capitalizing on Asian diaspora growth and post-pandemic online shopping shifts. Its timing aligns with increased U.S. interest in authentic Asian products amid supply chain disruptions, enabling partnerships like fulfillment for Asian brands and autonomous delivery pilots that boost North American market entry.[1][2][6] By connecting suppliers directly to consumers and innovating in last-mile logistics, Yami influences the ecosystem, competing with players like Weee! and Umamicart while enhancing tech adoption among traditional supermarkets.[3]
Yami is poised to expand its fresh delivery and autonomous logistics amid e-commerce's continued dominance in specialty groceries. Trends like AI-driven supply chains, further diaspora growth, and U.S.-Asia trade will shape its path, potentially scaling revenue beyond $82 million through more Series B-fueled innovations. Its influence may evolve from niche importer to broader cultural connector, solidifying its role in making Asian goods as accessible as mainstream ones—echoing Zhou's student-era frustration turned marketplace triumph.[1][2][4][6]
Yamibuy has raised $60.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Yami - Series B in March 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2022 | $50M Series B | Altos Ventures, Balsam BAY Partners | Hans Tung, J.P. Morgan, Abstract Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Notable Capital, Shine Capital | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2017 | $10M Series A | GGV Capital | Abstract Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Notable Capital, Shine Capital, K2VC, NEW Oriental | Announced |
Yamibuy has raised $60.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Yamibuy's investors include Altos Ventures, Balsam Bay Partners, Hans Tung, J.P. Morgan, Abstract Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Notable Capital, Shine Capital, GGV Capital, K2VC, New Oriental.