SAZO
Category: AI Agents
AI-powered cross-border e-commerce platform that automates overseas purchasing including shipping/customs prediction, translation, payment, and customs clearance via agentic AI SAZO was founded in 2023. The company is led by Maro Gil (길마로). Based in Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (Korean HQ); Nagoya, Aichi, Japan (Global HQ). Team size: 101-500. Total funding raised: $10.7M. Latest round: Venture Round. Key investors include Naver D2SF, Japan Post Capital, Suzuyo, Pola Orbis, Design for Ventures, MVC Corporation.
- Founded
- 2023
- Headquarters
- Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (Korean HQ); Nagoya, Aichi, Japan (Global HQ)
- Team size
- 101-500
- Total funding
- $10.7M
Value proposition
One-click global shopping experience: users paste a product URL and AI agents handle everything — translation, shipping/customs cost prediction, payment, and customs clearance — making overseas buying as simple as domestic shopping
Products and solutions
SAZO.shop (consumer cross-border shopping platform), Agentic AI commerce infrastructure for cross-border transactions (shipping/customs prediction at 95% accuracy, AI translation, local pricing, payment, customs clearance)
Unique value
AI agents automate the entire cross-border purchase workflow with 95% accuracy in shipping/customs cost prediction, eliminating information asymmetry and complexity from international e-commerce
Target customer
Consumers wanting to purchase overseas goods (direct purchase/직구); e-commerce platforms and sellers wanting to expand internationally (reverse direct purchase/역직구); creators and IP owners seeking global distribution
Industries served
E-commerce, Cross-border logistics, Retail (fashion, cosmetics, collectibles, secondhand goods)
Technology advantage
Proprietary AI models for shipping/customs duty prediction with ~95% accuracy; DOM-LLM for product sourcing across markets; AI agent automation of translation, pricing, payment, and customs clearance; self-operated logistics hubs in Japan (Tokyo, Fukuoka)
How they differentiate
Full-stack agentic AI approach vs traditional proxy buying services — end-to-end automation from product discovery to delivery; operates as a two-way platform (both direct purchase and reverse direct purchase); proprietary cost prediction AI with 95% accuracy; self-built logistics infrastructure
Main competitors
Traditional cross-border proxy buying services (e.g., Delivery Korea, Malltail, etc.), Global platforms like Shopee and Amazon's cross-border offerings, Local direct purchase aggregation platforms
Key partnerships
Mercari (Japan's largest C2C marketplace), Rakuten Group / Rakuma (Japan's largest e-commerce group), Bungaejangter (Korean C2C marketplace), Japan Post Capital / Japan Post Group (logistics infrastructure), Naver Shopping (discussing collaboration), J-Startup Central (Japanese government startup program)
Notable customers
Mercari (Japan's largest flea market app, partnership), Rakuten/Rakuma (partnership), Bungaejangter (Korean flea market platform, partnership)
Major milestones
Oct 2023: Company founded in Japan, Oct 2023: ₩5억 Seed round raised, Jun 2024: SAZO service launched in Japan (Korea→Japan direct purchase), Won Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at Campus Venture Grand Prix, May 2025: ¥7.1억 Pre-Series A led by Japan Post Capital, Sep 2025: Korean service launched (Japan→Korea reverse direct purchase), Dec 2025: Mercari partnership announced, Feb 2026: Gavin Jung (ex-BCG/Krafton/Amazon) hired as CFO, Mar 2026: J-Startup Central selection, May 2026: US service launched with Rakuten & Mercari integration, Jun 2026: Naver D2SF investment announced
Growth metrics
Monthly transaction volume grew ~7x over 6 months (by Jun 2026); 1,290% transaction growth over 10 months; 180% monthly revenue growth; Team grew from 2 to 50+ in 2 years
Market positioning
Early-stage but fast-growing cross-border commerce platform connecting Korea and Japan with expansion to the US; positioned as an "agentic commerce" pioneer using AI to eliminate friction in international shopping
Geographic focus
Korea-Japan corridor (primary); US (launched May 2026); planning expansion to English-speaking markets and Europe
Patents and IP
Proprietary DOM-LLM for AI product sourcing; AI customs/shipping duty prediction model with ~95% accuracy
About Maro Gil (길마로)
Ex-student at Nagoya Institute of Technology (government scholarship); Incheon Science and Arts High School graduate; Served military service in Korea
Official website: https://career.sazo.kr/