Quick Information
- Name of Startup: Sharpei
- Year Founded: 2023
- Website: GoSharpei.com
- Type of company: B2B SaaS – Sustainable Fintech
- HQ Location: San Francisco
Startup Founders:
Maria Azofra – CEO –
Lucia Clifford – CTO –
Julian Azofra – CSO –
Startup one-liner:
Sustainable & flexible payments platform for retailers
Problem the startup solves:
There is a challenge for customers who want to adopt sustainable shopping practices due to the lack of accessible and convenient options, while retailers face difficulties in implementing new and sustainable revenue streams due to a lack of knowledge or lengthy implementation cycles.
Our solution addresses these challenges by facilitating the seamless integration of sustainable consumption alternatives like rentals, subscriptions and secondhand reselling into the checkout process of brands and retailers, thereby providing customers with convenient access to sustainable shopping options.
Progress and Current Status:
Throughout the past four months, we have been committed to developing our MVP, consistently seeking feedback from customers to build a product they will love. We have signed agreements with three retailers to start testing in May and we have other seven retailers on the waitlist. Moreover, we are building an exceptional team, recruiting top talent from top leading SaaS payments companies such as Afterpay, Stripe or Klarna.
What is an Inspiring Story about the Startup?:
Maria and Lucia – we have known each other for over twelve years since we used to play on the same soccer team. Together, we have co-founded three companies. Our journey has known both failure and success, which has made our relationship more resilient and allowed us to understand that entrepreneurship has its highs and lows, and how they should be managed. Alongside Julian, (Maria’s brother), we co-founded Yakk in 2020, a B2B rental marketplace in Spain and from that experience, we decided to start Sharpei.
What is a Company the Startup Looks Up to, and Why?:
We look up to Stripe because of the company’s innovative approach to solving a crucial problem in the e-commerce space – online payments. Here are some reasons why startups may admire Stripe:
Customer-Centric Approach.
Innovation.
Developer Friendly.
Reputation.
Stripe’s success in the online payments space has made it a role model for many startups like Sharpei.
The Company in Four Years Will Be…
We aim to become the top platform for sustainable & flexible consumption solutions in the retail industry within the next 5-10 years.
Our goal is to allow people to access their desired products without having to purchase them, thus providing an alternative to traditional retail consumption.
Own Less, Live More! 🔁🔥