# Aaron Luo

> Aaron Luo is the New York-based co-founder and CEO of Caraa and Mercado Famous, an operator whose path runs from a childhood in Shanghai and Madrid through engineering studies and more than a decade at GE to fashion, Spanish food, and competitive fencing. With designer Carmen Chen Wu, he has built consumer brands around practical product details, patient growth, and memories shared across Chinese, Spanish, and American cultures.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Caraa and Mercado Famous
- **Organizations:** Caraa, Mercado Famous, USA Fencing, Terracotta Partners, General Electric
- **From:** Shanghai, China
- **Nationality:** Chinese
- **Education:** Engineering degree, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Master of Business Administration, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Caraa, which reported more than $50 million in cumulative sales by 2024., Co-founded Mercado Famous, which reported more than $1 million in sales in its first year., Built a career spanning operations, technology, finance, global supply chain, fashion, and food.

## Career timeline

- **2004-2006** — Participated in GE Advanced Materials' Information Management Leadership Program.
- **2006-2009** — Worked at GE Healthcare as a Lean Six Sigma quality leader.
- **2012-2013** — Served as CFO for GE's corporate global simplification work.
- **2014** — Co-founded Caraa with designer Carmen Chen Wu in New York.
- **2015** — Caraa launched its first Studio Bag products.
- **2016** — Returned to competitive fencing after a decade away from the sport.
- **2022** — Co-founded and launched Spanish charcuterie brand Mercado Famous.
- **2023** — Began serving as an adviser to the CEO of USA Fencing.
- **2024** — Reported that Caraa had surpassed $50 million in cumulative sales and Mercado Famous had exceeded $1 million in first-year sales.
- **2026** — Launched the Caraa x USA Fencing capsule collection; its first-week sell-through reached 40% against a 30% forecast.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Caraa, which reported more than $50 million in cumulative sales by 2024.
- Co-founded Mercado Famous, which reported more than $1 million in sales in its first year.
- Built a career spanning operations, technology, finance, global supply chain, fashion, and food.
- Returned to fencing after a decade-long break and was ranked 26th nationally in the veterans-under-50 class in 2022.
- Developed a Caraa x USA Fencing collection whose profits support the USA Fencing Foundation.
- Caraa donated masks during the COVID-19 pandemic before developing its mask line.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Caraa reported that its USA Fencing capsule reached 40% sell-through in its first week, above a 30% forecast; profits from the collection go to the USA Fencing Foundation.
- **2026-07** — Caraa prepared to launch Caraa Kids and said it was developing its first gym collection in nearly a decade for a fall release.
- **2026-06** — Caraa launched a three-piece USA Fencing collection featuring a backpack, insulated tote, and sling, with a Pearl colorway reserved for Olympians and Paralympians.
- **2026-02** — Luo announced plans to join a keynote panel at eTail West about retail, AI in ecommerce, and omnichannel growth.

## Links

- Website: https://caraa.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-luo-4055792
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CARAASPORT
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraasport/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caraasport

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/aaron-luo
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25