Amazon Buys Stake in Latin American Delivery Startup Rappi

Amazon.com Inc. has taken a stake in the Colombian delivery company Rappi Inc., a strategic partnership that pairs the e-commerce giant’s retail and technology infrastructure with one of Latin America’s best-known last-mile delivery outfits.

Getting access to Rappi’s logistics network could help Amazon compete with regional e-commerce heavyweight MercadoLibre Inc. For Rappi, the partnership brings an endorsement from North America’s biggest online retailer and opportunities to tap into its logistics and cloud-computing networks.

The initial investment — a $25 million convertible note, according to a person familiar with the transaction — is small for Amazon. But the deal entitles ...