Coupang Invests $84M in AI Startups Over Three Years, Pilots Robotics in Logistics

Gate News message, April 15 — South Korean e-commerce company Coupang invested $84 million in AI startups across South Korea and other markets over the past three years. The company participated in Korean AI robotics startup Contoro's $12 million Series A round and is piloting AI robots at logistics sites in South Korea.

Coupang's investments also include SBVA's Alpha Korea Fund, Korean robotics firm CMES, U.S. startup Tempo, and a 75 billion won (approximately $51 million) commitment last year to the Alpha Korea Sovereign AI Fund.

Coupang operates an end-to-end logistics network with over 100 global fulfillment centers. The company is collaborating with Nvidia to build an "AI factory" for developing proprietary models for warehouse picking and last-mile routing. Contoro specializes in AI-powered robots that automate unloading boxes from shipping containers and truck trailers. Coupang is recovering from a data incident and funding a $1.2 billion customer voucher program; its Developing Offerings segment, covering expansion in Taiwan, is projected to lose $950 million to $1 billion.