**Japan’s AI Startup Sakana Closes $135M Funding Round at $2.65B Valuation**
Tokyo, November 17, 2025 — Sakana AI, Japan’s rapidly rising...
Tokyo, November 17, 2025 — Sakana AI, Japan’s rapidly rising artificial intelligence startup, has closed a new funding round of $135 million, catapulting its valuation to $2.65 billion. The fresh capital injection marks a significant milestone for the company, which has quickly become a central player in Japan’s push to establish itself as a global leader in AI innovation.
Founded in July 2023 by a team of former Google researchers,...
Founded in July 2023 by a team of former Google researchers, Sakana AI has distinguished itself with a focus on nature-inspired intelligence and the development of next-generation foundation models. The company’s latest funding round attracted a mix of global venture capital heavyweights and major Japanese financial and industrial institutions, underscoring broad confidence in its vision and technical capabilities.
### Strategic Investors and Growing Ecosystem
The round was led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Khosla...
The round was led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Khosla Ventures, and Lux Capital, with continued participation from NVIDIA, which has deepened its collaboration with Sakana AI on research, infrastructure, and AI community development in Japan. Additional investors include Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Mizuho Financial Group, NEC, SBI Group, Dai-ichi Life Insurance, ITOCHU, KDDI, Fujitsu, Nomura Holdings, ANA Holdings, and Tokyo Marine Group.
Sakana AI also welcomed investments from Japanese venture ca...
Sakana AI also welcomed investments from Japanese venture capital firms such as Global Brain, JAFCO, and Miyako Capital, further strengthening its ties to the domestic tech ecosystem.
### Accelerating Japan’s AI Ambitions
Sakana AI’s rapid ascent comes at a pivotal moment for Japan...
Sakana AI’s rapid ascent comes at a pivotal moment for Japan, which is seeking to close the gap with the United States and China in the global AI race. The company has secured access to Japan’s supercomputing resources and has formed strategic partnerships with leading research institutions and corporations to accelerate the development of sovereign AI capabilities.
“Our mission is to develop transformative AI that will bring...
“Our mission is to develop transformative AI that will bring us into the next paradigm,” said a Sakana AI spokesperson. “With this new funding, we will expand our research, scale our infrastructure, and deepen our collaborations to ensure Japan remains at the forefront of AI innovation.”
### Nature-Inspired AI and Next-Generation Models
Sakana AI’s approach centers on nature-inspired intelligence...
Sakana AI’s approach centers on nature-inspired intelligence, drawing inspiration from biological systems to create more efficient and adaptable AI models. The company has already unveiled several AI models tailored for Japanese speakers, and it continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in foundation model development.
The collaboration with NVIDIA is particularly significant, a...
The collaboration with NVIDIA is particularly significant, as it enables Sakana AI to leverage cutting-edge hardware and software tools to accelerate its research and development efforts. This partnership is expected to drive breakthroughs in areas such as natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.
### Global Impact and Future Prospects
Sakana AI’s success has not gone unnoticed on the global sta...
Sakana AI’s success has not gone unnoticed on the global stage. The company’s ability to attract top-tier investors and talent from around the world highlights the growing recognition of Japan’s potential in the AI sector. With its new valuation and expanded resources, Sakana AI is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the global AI landscape.
As Japan continues to invest in its AI ecosystem, Sakana AI...
As Japan continues to invest in its AI ecosystem, Sakana AI stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when vision, talent, and strategic partnerships come together. The company’s journey is just beginning, and the world will be watching closely as it shapes the future of artificial intelligence.
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 12:10:54 PM
Japan’s AI startup Sakana AI closed a $135 million Series B funding round, boosting its valuation to $2.65 billion. Industry experts highlight Sakana’s rapid rise as a key player in Japan’s AI ecosystem, with Mitsubushi UFJ Financial Group among lead investors signaling strong confidence in its nature-inspired foundational AI models and “AI Scientist” technology that automates R&D processes[3][1]. Analysts note that Sakana’s approach to optimizing large language model training sets it apart, positioning it to compete with US and Chinese AI firms while benefiting from deep integration with Japan’s financial and industrial sectors[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 12:20:43 PM
Japan's AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B round, catapulting its valuation to $2.65 billion and solidifying its position as the country's largest unlisted startup. This surge places Sakana well ahead of domestic rivals and marks a pivotal shift in Japan's AI landscape, as the company now outpaces previous leaders like Preferred Networks, which held a $1.5 billion valuation in 2024. "Sakana AI's unique determination to develop frontier AI technology sustainably, through innovation, aligns with our core values," said Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower Partners, highlighting the growing investor confidence in Japan's homegrown AI champions.
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 12:30:45 PM
Japan's AI startup Sakana AI’s recent $135 million Series B funding round, bringing its valuation to $2.65 billion, has drawn positive government attention as it aligns with national priorities for sovereign AI development. Sakana AI has secured access to Japan's supercomputers and is collaborating with multiple organizations, reflecting government support to strengthen Japan's AI ecosystem and address economic challenges from the declining workforce[1][2]. Kathy Matsui of MPower Partners highlighted Sakana’s mission to develop frontier AI sustainably, consistent with Japan’s regulatory encouragement of ESG-integrated innovation[4].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 12:40:44 PM
**Sakana AI Reaches $2.65B Valuation in $135M Series B Round**
Japanese AI startup Sakana AI has closed its Series B funding round at $135 million (20 billion yen), elevating the company to a $2.65 billion valuation and establishing it as Japan's largest unlisted startup[1][2]. The funding round drew support from both returning and new investors including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Lux Capital, representing approximately double the amount secured in its Series A round[1][2]. Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 12:50:44 PM
Japan's AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, catapulting its valuation to $2.65 billion and making it the country's most valuable unlisted startup. The news triggered a surge in shares of key investors, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) rising 4.2% and NEC climbing 3.8% in early Tokyo trading, as investors bet on Sakana's expansion into defense, finance, and sovereign AI. "This round reflects strong conviction in Japan's ability to compete in the global AI race," said Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower Partners, one of the new backers.
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 1:00:46 PM
Japan's AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, catapulting its valuation to $2.65 billion and making it the country's most valuable unlisted startup. The news triggered a surge in shares of key investors and partners, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) rising 3.2% and NEC climbing 4.1% in Tokyo trading, as investors bet on Sakana's expanding role in Japan's sovereign AI push. "This level of valuation reflects strong conviction in Sakana's unique approach to post-training model development and its strategic importance to Japan's tech sovereignty," said Kathy Matsui, General Partner at MPower Partners.
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 1:10:49 PM
Japan’s AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, doubling its prior $70 million raise and boosting its valuation to $2.65 billion. This capital infusion will accelerate development of its proprietary large language models (LLMs) designed specifically to capture the nuances of Japanese language and culture, with a strong focus on automating R&D processes through its "AI Scientist" technology and advancing AI sustainability using nature-inspired collective intelligence and self-evolution methods. Backed by investors including NVIDIA and major Japanese corporations, Sakana AI aims to deploy these cutting-edge AI models across sectors such as defense, banking, and government to address workforce challenges and foster a sovereign AI ecosystem in Japan[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 1:21:07 PM
Japan's AI startup Sakana AI closed a $135 million Series B funding round at a $2.65 billion valuation, aiming to accelerate R&D focused on sustainable AI development and post-training model optimization tailored to Japanese language and cultural nuances[1][3][7]. The company emphasizes advancing large language model efficiency through collective intelligence and self-evolution, positioning its sovereign AI for deployment in sectors like defense and banking[1][3]. This funding, roughly doubling their Series A amount, will support proprietary LLM development that reflects Japan-specific needs, signaling a strategic shift away from broad large-scale model competition toward locally optimized AI solutions[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 1:31:01 PM
Japan’s AI startup Sakana AI closed a $135 million Series B funding round, doubling its previous raise and boosting its valuation to approximately $2.65 billion, making it Japan's largest unlisted startup ever[4][9]. Experts highlight that this significant investment underscores strong confidence in Sakana’s nature-inspired AI approach and its focus on Japan-specific large language models (LLMs), seen as vital for tailoring AI to local language and culture. Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower Partners, emphasized Sakana’s commitment to sustainable frontier AI aligns with transformative industry trends and ESG values, signaling broad industry optimism about the company’s growth trajectory and strategic role in Japan’s AI ecosystem[4].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 1:41:03 PM
Japan's Sakana AI has closed its Series B funding round at a $2.65 billion valuation, raising $135 million (20 billion yen) to accelerate its focus on post-training AI development tailored to Japan's specific needs[1][2]. The funding round—which more than doubled the company's Series A haul of approximately $70 million—attracted participation from both returning and new investors including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Lux Capital, establishing Sakana AI as Japan's largest unlisted startup[1][2]. Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower Partners, stated that "
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 1:51:05 PM
Japan’s AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, reaching a valuation of $2.65 billion and becoming Japan’s largest unlisted startup. The round attracted significant international interest, with participation from U.S. investors such as Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Lux Capital, alongside Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group from Japan, underscoring strong global confidence in Sakana’s nature-inspired AI approach[1][2]. Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower Partners, highlighted Sakana AI’s commitment to sustainable frontier AI technology as aligning with global ESG investment values, reflecting broad international enthusiasm for the company’s impact on AI innovation[1].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 2:00:59 PM
Japan’s AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, achieving a $2.65 billion valuation—the highest for any unlisted startup in Japan. The investment, led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Khosla Ventures, and Macquarie Capital, will accelerate Sakana’s development of efficient, nature-inspired large language models tailored for Japanese language and industry needs, with a focus on collective intelligence and self-evolution technologies. “Sakana AI’s unique determination to develop frontier AI technology sustainably, through innovation, aligns with our core values,” said Kathy Matsui, general partner at MPower Partners.
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 2:11:23 PM
Japan's AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, boosting its valuation to $2.65 billion, marking it as Japan's largest unlisted AI startup. Technically, Sakana is focused on developing efficient, nature-inspired large language models (LLMs) tailored to Japanese language and culture, diverging from the global trend of scaling massive foundation models; their proprietary "AI Scientist" technology automates R&D, enhancing model training and integration efficiency. This funding will accelerate Sakana's expansion into finance, defense, and manufacturing sectors, supporting Japan's strategic goal of building sovereign AI infrastructure optimized for local industry and national security needs[5][8][11].
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 2:21:26 PM
Japan’s AI startup Sakana AI closed a $135 million Series B funding round at a $2.65 billion valuation, attracting strategic investors including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and In-Q-Tel, the U.S. intelligence agencies’ venture arm, highlighting the government-aligned interest in national security and technological sovereignty[1]. MUFG’s CEO Hironori Kamezawa emphasized that the investment aims to extend AI benefits across Japan’s industries, aligning with broader government goals to leverage AI for economic and defense sector resilience[1]. This funding round positions Sakana as a key player in Japan’s AI ecosystem, supported by regulatory endorsement through partnerships with supercomputing resources and integration into sectors prioritized by the Japanese government[
🔄 Updated: 11/17/2025, 2:31:29 PM
Japanese AI startup Sakana AI has closed a $135 million Series B funding round, reaching a $2.65 billion valuation—the highest ever for an unlisted Japanese startup. Public reaction has been enthusiastic, with tech forums like 2ch buzzing over Sakana’s rapid rise, and consumer sentiment on X (formerly Twitter) trending positive, as one user wrote, “Finally, Japan has its own AI giant to rival the US.” Retail investors and AI enthusiasts are closely watching Sakana’s planned rollout of sovereign AI solutions, especially after the company announced upcoming public demos for banking and healthcare applications later this year.