Chilean startup Bulk has officially entered the Mexican market with an artificial intelligence agent that automates debt collection through WhatsApp. The company, founded in 2023, already reports more than 10 operating clients in Mexico, including major retail companies, and the expansion follows an initial exploratory visit to the market in April. This early traction has exceeded the founders' expectations for customer acquisition in a new and much larger market.
How the Collections Agent Works
Bulk's software integrates with WhatsApp and automatically contacts customers with overdue payments to remind them of their obligations and offer renegotiation options for terms, installments, or other conditions. The hiring company always defines the commercial rules, so if a bank permits renegotiation between three and nine installments, the AI agent will not offer a 12 installment plan. The platform also works through SMS and email, and the company reports that it resolves up to 83.3% of cases without human intervention.
Why Mexico Represents a Key Opportunity
Mexico offers a significantly larger potential client base than Chile, according to Bulk's founders, because of the size of its consumer credit market. Unlike Chile, Mexico does not have a maximum conventional interest rate, which can increase appetite for credit risk and demand for advanced collections tools. The market also includes competitors such as Mexican firm Kleva, which develops AI agents for collections, and Bulk will need to differentiate through its rule-based compliance features.
Expansion Model and Regional Ambitions
For its Mexican expansion, Bulk will keep its central operations in Chile while placing key personnel on the ground, although it does not plan to open a fixed office for now. One of the three founders will relocate to Mexico to lead the launch, customer development, and growth strategy in the coming months. The company remains open to adding strategic partners to consolidate its regional presence, despite never having raised venture capital.
Company Trajectory and Early Traction
Bulk was founded in 2023 by Arturo Dell'Oro, Mario Cruz, and Cristóbal Taverne. Dell'Oro is a lawyer who advised the automotive industry, where financiers faced regulatory fines and rising call center costs; Cruz was a product chief at Banco Ripley; and Taverne programmed the first prototype in one week before leaving university. After joining the Start-Up Chile accelerator in March 2023, the company now serves 60 clients in sectors including banking, retail, clinics, and highways with a team of 13 people.
Performance and Revenue Goals
Bulk says it is profitable and grew more than 400% year over year, with a target of US$3 million in revenue. The company has not raised venture capital to date, although it remains open to strategic partners that could help accelerate its regional expansion. Cofounder Arturo Dell'Oro said initial warnings about long sales cycles proved unfounded: "They had scared us a lot. They told us the first client could take more than a year, and within a few weeks we had five or six operating."
Bulk's entry into Mexico signals growing regional demand for AI-powered collections tools, especially in markets with higher credit risk tolerance. The company's rule-based approach and early traction with retail clients may help it establish a foothold before pursuing further expansion across Latin America. With profitability, rapid growth, and a revenue target within reach, Bulk is positioned to test whether its Chilean model can scale internationally.
Source: Diario Financiero