AI cross-border commerce startup SAZO announced that it has attracted USD 5.1 million (KRW 7.1 billion) in Pre-Series A investment.

This investment was led by Japan Post Capital, a venture capital firm under Japan Post, and included participation from distribution companies such as Suzuyo Kogyo and Pola Orbis Holdings, as well as early-stage venture capital firms like Design for Ventures and MVC Corporation.

Gilmaro Lee, who founded SAZO, graduated from Incheon Science and Arts Academy and advanced to Nagoya Institute of Technology through the ‘Korea-Japan Joint Higher Education Student Exchange Program’ organized by the National Institute for International Education under the Ministry of Education. The SAZO service model was planned in a university startup club after Lee was discharged from the military in 2023.

SAZO was founded in 2024, bolstered by various competition achievements, including selection for ‘Tongari,’ a startup support program operated by six national universities in the Tokai region, and winning the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the ‘Campus Venture Grand Prix,’ a national university student startup competition.

Under the goal of ‘connecting the world and crossing borders with technology,’ SAZO is developing a service of the same name. The AI direct purchase and reverse direct purchase platform ‘SAZO’ (domestic service name ‘Sajwo’) has lowered the difficulty of overseas direct purchases to the level of domestic online shopping. By utilizing AI, the process from payment to customs clearance and delivery has been greatly simplified. When a customer searches for a product on the SAZO service page or enters the URL of the desired product page, the AI automatically analyzes product images and body content to calculate exchange rates, customs duties, shipping costs, and fees. Delivery also ensures stability by utilizing its own logistics hubs.

The funds raised through the investment will be used for global service expansion. Currently, SAZO operates a Korean direct purchase service in Japan and is establishing a Korean corporation and developing services to target Korean consumers and export companies. In the future, it plans to expand logistics hubs and focus on platform development and marketing in major countries around the world, including the Americas and Europe.

Tsuguhiro Nakata, Director of Japan Post Capital, who led the investment, said, “We believe SAZO is a company that is solving the challenges faced by overseas direct purchase users, such as language, information access, payment, and delivery, with innovative AI technology. To expand SAZO’s service users, we plan to support them by utilizing Japan Post Group’s domestic and international network.”

Gilmaro Lee, CEO of SAZO, said, “We plan to grow SAZO into a ‘cross-border AI commerce agent’ so that consumers can freely use shopping malls around the world and even access second-hand markets. Domestically, we will focus on expanding reverse direct purchase channels so that various shopping platforms and distribution companies can actively target overseas customers.”