Wayne Chen Research by SuperAGI

Contact Overview

Name: Wayne Chen
Current Company: Trendsi
Role: Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer (首席技术官), Engineering
Location: Baldwin Park, California
LinkedIn: [Wayne Chen – LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-chen-62208a277)
Newsletter: [Product Small Talk (Substack)](https://productsmalltalk.substack.com)

Current Role at Trendsi

Wayne Chen serves as Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Trendsi, an innovative B2B e-commerce platform specializing in dropshipping, open pack wholesale, and made-to-order solutions for retail businesses. As one of the founding team members—alongside CEO Ella Zhang, Sherwin Xia, Maddie Davidson, and Owen Ma—Chen has played a critical role in scaling the company's engineering and product initiatives.

Trendsi distinguishes itself with a technology-focused supply chain platform that enables retailers to start and scale their online businesses efficiently. Its infrastructure manages everything from inventory procurement to shipments, with an emphasis on automating logistics and minimizing inventory risks for independent retailers and established brands. Wayne Chen’s engineering leadership has been instrumental in making Trendsi’s Shopify app the #1 solution in the Fashion category, boasting up to 10x year-over-year new user growth.

Business Performance and Strategic Direction

Funding: Trendsi recently secured a $25 million Series A round (total capital raised: $30 million), led by LightSpeed Venture Partners with participation from prominent investors and operators (including Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, ex-Instacart leadership, and others).

Growth Metrics:

Over 105 full-time employees worldwide; projected to reach 120 by year-end.

Strong partnerships with major US designer brands (e.g., Judy Blue, Kancan Jeans, POL, Zenana, etc.) ensure product variety and competitive margins for their retailer customers.

Recognized as a first mover in the post-pandemic economy for retail tech.

Technology Focus:

Heavy investment in AI/machine learning for inventory and sales forecasting, aiming to further optimize supply chain efficiency and product curation.

Plans for expansion into new merchandise categories (home décor, accessories, makeup) and ongoing international growth are in development.

Strategic emphasis on risk-free inventory solutions, enabling smaller retailers to list and sell major brands without upfront inventory investment.

Professional Background and Thought Leadership

Engineering & Product Management:

Wayne Chen brings a background in engineering and product management with a demonstrated focus on technology-driven solutions in commerce and supply chain operations. His experience encompasses building and scaling tech infrastructure for e-commerce platforms, integrating advanced automation, and aligning cross-functional teams for rapid product iteration.

Community Engagement & Mentorship:

Chen is an active contributor to the wider product and technology community. He publishes the [Product Small Talk newsletter](https://productsmalltalk.substack.com), sharing actionable, real-world insights in product management, technology careers, and navigating growth as a tech leader.

Known for his reflective, mentor-driven approach, Chen emphasizes giving back to the tech community through thought leadership and practical guidance on breaking into and progressing within product management roles.

Key Professional Interests

Supply Chain Technology & Automation

Startup & Scale-Up Operations

AI/Data Science for Commerce

Product Management Education & Mentorship

E-commerce Partnerships and Business Model Innovation

Company Mission & Market Position

Trendsi, under Chen’s technical stewardship, positions itself at the intersection of retail enablement technology and supply chain innovation, aiming to democratize retail by removing barriers to entry for independent sellers and optimizing operations for established brands. The company’s core value proposition centers on providing a robust, automated backend infrastructure for modern retail—mitigating inventory risk, expanding access to in-demand products, and enabling scalable growth. Trendsi’s rapid expansion, high-profile investor backing, and adoption among top designer brands mark it as a significant player in the evolving B2B retail technology space.