Coupang Invests KRW 120 Billion in AI Startups Including Korean Robotic Arm Companies

Coupang Inc., the parent company of Coupang, announced on April 14 (local time) that it has invested $84 million (approximately KRW 120 billion) over the past three years in artificial intelligence (AI) technology startups around the world, including those based in Korea.

Harold Rogers, acting CEO of Coupang, is explaining Coupang's AI startup investment cases at the 'Semaphore World Economy' event held in Washington D.C., USA. Provided by Coupang

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Harold Rogers, Interim CEO of Coupang, attended the 'Semaphore World Economy' event held in Washington D.C., USA, on this day and stated, "As an American technology company serving millions of customers worldwide, Coupang plays a crucial role as a bridge connecting economic and technological cooperation between the United States, Korea, and other countries where we operate." He added, "We are committed to supporting the next generation of innovators who drive economic growth through AI, strengthen national security, and redefine global trade."

The World Economic Summit hosted by U.S.-based Semaphore is often referred to as the 'Davos Forum of America.' In an AI session held at the event, CEO Rogers introduced investment cases in AI startups, including Kontoro, a Korean AI robotics startup. He explained, "Thanks to the suction cup technology attached to the robotic arm, packages that are dented or damaged during delivery can still be accurately picked up and repackaged."

The robotic arm developed by Kontoro is specialized equipment for unloading boxes from global logistics containers and trucks. By combining AI with human intelligence, it allows for remote control and can handle boxes of various sizes and weights, achieving a success rate of up to 99% in unloading operations. Additionally, Kontoro has developed tools that enable large language models (LLMs) to interact directly with the robot, allowing the robot to learn new skills and diagnose changes in its mechanical performance. In early 2025, Coupang participated in Kontoro's Series A funding round, which raised $12 million (approximately KRW 18 billion).

An AI-powered robotic arm developed by the Korean AI robot startup Kontoro is unloading boxes from a truck. Coupang Inc website

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CEO Rogers said, "Coupang is a technology company with a startup DNA, operating businesses ranging from e-commerce to grocery, video streaming, fintech, and cloud computing." He continued, "We operate in 190 regions and countries around the world, with Korea being our largest market." He emphasized, "As the second-largest employer in Korea, it is extremely rare for an American company to hold such a position in a developed country like Korea."

He added, "We utilize AI, automation, and robotics to deliver hundreds of millions of items to millions of customers each day," and continued, "With our demand forecasting AI, we can predict what will be ordered in which neighborhood before customers even place orders, so we pre-position items within about a five-mile (approximately eight-kilometer) radius, thereby optimizing the entire system."

Previously, Coupang invested in Alpha Korea Fund by venture capital firm SBVA in 2023, as well as in Korean AI robotics company CMES and U.S. tech startup Tempo. Last year, Coupang committed KRW 75 billion to the Alpha Korea Sovereign AI Fund under the government's 'Next Unicorn Project,' which aims to nurture domestic AI unicorns, and also established a KRW 150 billion fund together with the government's mother fund. Through these initiatives, Coupang plans to invest more than KRW 10 billion on average in each of 14 domestic AI startups and growth companies.

A Coupang official said, "We have invested billions of dollars across our global operations in AI technology, machine learning, advanced robotics, smart logistics, cloud computing, and other innovation sectors." The official added, "Our investment in AI technology startups is part of our broader efforts to redefine the future of global commerce through advanced technology."

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