FoxPlug

Donkey launch: what they're building and where to launch next

FoxPlug writes launch posts from what a startup ships and matches it to the launch communities that fit it. This page shows what Donkey is building and where it could launch next; if it is your startup, start free below.

What they're building

The AI-native trading company: factory prices, delivered, one number

Batch
Y Combinator Summer 2026
Industry
B2B
Team size
7
Based
San Francisco, CA, USA

Founders

donkey.trade ↗

See their funding details ↗

Donkey on the record

What they shipped

  • From its YC profile: Donkey is the modern trading company. We buy straight from Chinese factories and sell delivered to US importers: one USD price to their dock, duty paid, our own inspectors on the factory floor before the factory gets paid. Most importers buy through trading companies that mark up every container 15 to 30 percent and never reveal the factory. US customs records are public. Almost nobody reads them, so we arrive already knowing their supply lane. They send one photo of a part they reorder. (source)
  • Its own site describes it as: "The smart container: factory prices, delivered, one number. Upload your buying list and see every landed price instantly, tariffs and delivery included." (source)

Who is behind it

  • Benjamin Martindale, Founder/CEO: Prev founded Prelude OS: 31 paying Chinese factory customers cold-acquired in 39 days on the ground in Guangzhou; cash-flow positive. Advised heavy-equipment giants Sany and Sinoboom on overseas expansion. Featured on Mango TV, China's largest media station: factory-floor interview segments and a named 13-minute personal profile. Ran a Toronto marketing company: $4M closed for construction clients in 6 months. (source)
  • Minghao Tan, Founder/CTO: Co-founder & CTO. Donkey buys factory-direct in China and sells delivered to US importers. Customs records are public. We read them, flag the trading company markup, and quote the same parts straight from the factory that makes them. QC on the floor before the factory gets paid. (source)

Timeline

  1. 2025: founded, per its YC profile. (source)

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  • Mireye: Infrastructure for Physical World AI Agents

Where else to launch Donkey

  • Product Hunt ↗
    Self-promotion allowedFree
  • Indie Hackers Forum ↗
    Self-promotion allowed
    Audience: IndieHackers; bootstrapped solo founders sharing revenue and behind-the-scenes
  • Hacker News (Show HN) ↗
    Self-promotion allowed, within the community's rules
    Audience: Hacker News readers; engineers, technical founders, infra-curious people
  • Demand Curve ↗
    Self-promotion allowed, within the community's rules
    Audience: Slack community; tight-knit, pseudo-private peer group
  • No Code Founders ↗
    Self-promotion allowed, within the community's rules
    Audience: Slack community; tight-knit, pseudo-private peer group
  • OnlineGeniuses ↗
    Self-promotion allowed, within the community's rules
    Audience: Slack community; tight-knit, pseudo-private peer group
  • Product Makers ↗
    Self-promotion allowed, within the community's rules
    Audience: Slack community; tight-knit, pseudo-private peer group
  • ProductLed ↗
    Self-promotion allowed, within the community's rules
    Audience: Slack community; tight-knit, pseudo-private peer group

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