It was announced in Japan's PR TIMES that SAZO was selected as a "J-Startup CENTRAL" for the Chubu region of "J-Startup", a startup support program promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Summary of Selection.
which operates the cross-border EC shopping service "SAZO", has been selected as a "J-Startup CENTRAL "** for the Chubu region of "J-Startup", a startup support program** promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This is an important milestone for SAZO, which is accelerating its global expansion from Japan and Korea to the world, in its quest for dramatic growth.
About "J-Startup CENTRAL "
- Positioning: As one of the activities of the "Startup Ecosystem Global Hub Cities (Greater Tokyo Area Type)" selected by the Cabinet Office, the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium in collaboration with the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry will implement this startup support Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium* in cooperation with the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.
- Target: Promising startups headquartered in Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka Prefectures will be selected and provided with preferential government policies and intensive support by private supporters.
- Achievements: A cumulative total of over 43 companies have been selected since the first phase in 2021.
Representative Comments.
Gil Malo, President and CEO of SAZO Corporation, said "The Chubu region is a region with which I have a deep personal connection, beginning with my time as a government-sponsored international student at the Nagoya Institute of Technology and continuing with the support of the region's local governments, investors, and many supporters, " and added *"As we aim for global growth I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the Chubu region for their continued support of SAZO, especially those who are involved in the J-Startup CENTRAL program. We look forward to your continued support.
About SAZO.
SAZO is a startup that develops and operates the AI-based cross-border EC platform "SAZO. In response to the problems that existed in conventional cross-border EC, such as "not being able to find a service site for a product," "having to arrange a shipping company yourself," and "being charged customs fees afterwards," AI instantly calculates exchange rates, customs fees, shipping fees, and handling fees, providing a shopping experience that allows users to purchase overseas products just as if they were on a domestic EC site. The system provides a shopping experience that is similar to that of a domestic e-commerce site. Since the official launch of the service in May 2024, transaction volume has grown by more than 150% every quarter, and in 2025, the service is expected to be acquired by Japan Post Capital in a pre-series A round. In 2025, the company raised a total of 710 million yen in a pre-series A round of financing with Japan Post Capital as lead investor.
Future Outlook.
We will continue to build an environment that allows consumers around the world to freely use EC sites, flea market sites, and other shopping channels across borders in order to realize the *Agentic Cross-border EC Platform. Specifically, the platform will be used in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Specifically, we will develop AI translation, negotiation, and logistics infrastructure for the U.S., Europe, and other countries.