SAZO Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture; CEO: Maro Gil), a developer and operator of AI-driven cross-border e-commerce platforms, announced on March 6 that it has been selected for "J-Startup CENTRAL," the Chubu regional edition of the startup support program promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
"J-Startup CENTRAL" is a project implemented by the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium in collaboration with the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry. It provides intensive support to promising startups headquartered in Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka prefectures to boost their breakthrough growth. To date, over 43 companies have been selected for the program.
Until now, the cross-border EC market has faced significant hurdles for users, such as "unexpected customs duties billed later," "complex shipping arrangements," and "language barriers."
SAZO provides a shopping experience where AI instantaneously calculates exchange rates, customs duties, shipping costs, and fees, allowing users to purchase international products with the exact same ease as using a domestic EC site. Furthermore, for complex purchasing processes on platforms like C2C marketplace sites, SAZO's AI agents support translation and negotiation, enabling seamless transactions across borders.
Since the official service launch in May 2024, the company's transaction volume has recorded rapid growth of over 150% quarter-on-quarter. In 2025, the company raised a total of 710 million yen in funding, with Japan Post Capital among the investors.
CEO Maro Gil, who studied at the Nagoya Institute of Technology as a government-sponsored international student, expressed his gratitude: "It is an incredible encouragement to receive such strong support from the people of the Chubu region, with whom I share a deep connection." Looking ahead, SAZO aims to establish an "Agentic Cross-Border EC Platform" and plans to aggressively push forward the development of AI translation, negotiation, and logistics infrastructure for global markets, including the US and Europe.
■ ICT Startup League
This support program was launched in FY2023, sparked by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Project for Supporting Seed-stage Research and Development for Startup Creation."
The ICT Startup League supports startups through four main pillars:
1. R&D Funding / Hands-on Support
R&D expenses of up to 20 million yen are provided in the form of subsidies. In terms of hands-on support, the selection committee members continue to provide guidance after the selection process to accelerate growth. For companies that committee members evaluate as "must-adopt," the members themselves provide ongoing support, such as advice on business plans and providing growth opportunities—a support system akin to "fandom-style" mentorship.
2. Discovery & Nurturing
The league provides opportunities for learning and networking to promote the business growth of its members. It also works to discover aspiring entrepreneurs to expand the startup ecosystem.
3. Competition & Co-creation
The league functions as a positive competitive arena, similar to a sports league, where startups learn together and strive to win the necessary funding (up to 20 million yen). It also provides a space for "co-creation," where league members can collaborate and expand their businesses through various opportunities, including sessions with selection committee members.
4. Communication
The league collaborates with the media to broadcast the initiatives of its members. By increasing public awareness of these businesses, the program aims to broaden the scope for new matching and business opportunities.
■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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SAZO Inc. (Official Site)
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SAZO Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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Original Press Release (Japanese)
For more details on STARTUP LEAGUE's startup support, please see here.
