When Temu aired its "Shop Like A Billionaire" ad during the Big Game, millions of consumers reached for their smartphones and searched for more information about this e-commerce startup behind the most downloaded app in America. EDO Inc., the TV outcomes measurement company, declared the commercial one of the biggest winners of the evening, outperforming the median Big Game ad by 10x. 

Despite its growing popularity in the US, there has been some confusion over Temu's origins, with many people wondering if it's a Chinese company. In this article, we'll set the record straight and explore the true origin of Temu. We'll take a closer look at its ownership, where it's based, and how it ensures the quality of its goods. By the end of this article, you'll have a better understanding of Temu's roots and be able to dispel any misconceptions about this rising star in the online retail space.

The article will answer the following questions:

  • What is Temu

  • What is the origin of Temu and what does it stand for

  • What is PDD Holdings

  • How does Temu ensure the quality of its goods

  • Conclusion 

Let's dive right in. 

What is Temu?

Temu
(Photo : Temu)

Temu is a Boston-based e-commerce company that operates an online marketplace connecting millions of consumers with sellers, manufacturers, and brands around the world. Launched in September 2022, Temu offers affordable, quality products across 29 major categories, from fashion and beauty to sports and health, to kitchenware and office supplies.

Temu is known for its affordable and quality products on its platform and keeps bringing new discoveries to its consumers. Shoppers can find everything they need on Temu. It's like going to an everyday store.


Temu is available as a website (www.temu.com) and mobile app on Google Play and the iOS App Store. Temu soared to the top of both US app store charts in November and still holds the top position as of mid-February, Abe Youself, a senior insights analyst at Sensor Tower, told CNN. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Temu's US app installations exceeded those for Amazon, Walmart and Target. 

Temu
(Photo : Temu)

What is the origin of Temu and what does it stand for

Temu was founded in Boston in 2022. Temu's headquarters are in Boston and the company ships to consumers in the US and Canada. Its parent company, PDD Holdings, is a multinational company.

Temu's name is taken from the company's motto, "Team Up, Price Down." The name reflects Temu's commitment to using economies of scale to drive down costs for consumers. By partnering with a vast network of suppliers, Temu is able to source the best products at close to wholesale prices. This allows the platform to provide customers with access to a wide range of affordable products.

Temu's four core values lie behind its success and reflect its aim to be an ethical and socially responsible platform.

Their four core values are:

  • Empowerment

  • Diversity and inclusion

  • Integrity

  • Social responsibility

Temu has expressed its commitment to catering to the diverse needs and aspirations of all its customers, regardless of their identity or community. The company also offers a referral program, enabling individuals to start their own businesses. Students can participate and earn money by sharing their interests and hobbies through the campus ambassador program.

Who owns Temu?

Temu is owned by PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PDD), a multinational company with offices in several cities, including Boston, Dublin, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. PDD Holdings has been listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange since 2018 and has a market capitalization of over $120 billion as of February 2023. 

Temu benefits from its affiliation with PDD Holdings, which has built a global network of over 11 million merchants, manufacturers, brands, and logistics providers over the years. Despite Temu being a newcomer, these partners are willing to work with it because of the trust and reliability of PDD Holdings, and also because Temu represents a chance to tap into a new market and reach more customers. With PDD Holdings' support, Temu has quickly expanded its product offerings from a few categories in September to 29 major categories, and more than 250 subcategories, with thousands of new listings, added every day.

What is PDD Holdings?

PDD Holdings is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates various businesses, including US-based Temu and Pinduoduo, a popular social commerce platform.

PDD Holdings is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange and has a market capitalization of over $120 billion as of February 2023. The company has offices in several cities, including Boston, Dublin, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Its e-commerce platforms include Pinduoduo, a popular social commerce platform, and US-based Temu.

PDD Holdings was previously known as Pinduoduo Inc. The company changed its name to PDD Holdings and will retain its ticker PDD on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The name change was approved at the company's 2023 annual general meeting held on Feb. 8, according to the company's filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission.


PDD Holdings' board is made up of a majority of independent directors. Chairman and CEO Lei Chen is a founding member of the company and was appointed CEO in July 2020 and Chairman in March 2021. Among the independent directors are Anthony Kam, former deputy CEO of HSBC China, who is chairman of PDD's audit committee. Qi Lu, founding CEO of Miracle Plus and former president and COO of Baidu and global EVP at Microsoft, is independent director and chairman of the PDD compensation committee. George Yeo, a former foreign minister of Singapore, serves as the chairman of PDD's nominating and corporate governance committee. 

In 2021, PDD Holdings made US$14.7 billion in revenue and US$2.2 billion in non-GAAP net income. The company generated US$4.6 billion in net cash from operating activities in 2021. In terms of operations, PDD Holdings handled 61 billion orders and worked with over 11 million suppliers and shipping partners. 

How does Temu ensure the quality of its goods?

Temu ensures the quality of its products by sourcing the best products and best prices from a global network of manufacturers and suppliers. Temu has a higher rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) than Amazon, Etsy and Ebay, and has a 4.6 rating from both Google Play and App Store. 

In addition, customers can shop with peace of mind on Temu because of its comprehensive customer care program that includes full refunds if orders don't match descriptions or photos, arrive late, damaged, or not at all. Temu also allows customers to return eligible items free of charge within 90 days, one of the most generous returns policies in the industry. 

The Conclusion

Temu is a Boston-based company that operates an e-commerce platform offering affordable, quality products across multiple categories. It is owned by a multinational company, PDD Holdings, which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange with the stock ticker PDD. 

Temu seeks to drive down costs for consumers by working with consumers and suppliers to achieve economies of scale and lower prices. The name Temu means "Team Up, Price Down," a reflection of its strategy to create scale to drive down prices.