Temu is an online marketplace based in Boston, Massachusetts, operated by PDD Holdings, an Irish-based Chinese e-commerce company. The platform, which went live in the United States in September 2022, provides heavily discounted goods mostly shipped from China directly to consumers. Temu enables China-based vendors to sell and ship directly to customers, increasing affordability by eliminating the need for intermediate distributors. They also encourage the expansion of their customer base through affiliate codes, social media, and gamification, sometimes offering free goods to users who bring in new customers. Purchases can be made using an internet browser or via their mobile app.