Tokyo-based AI startup Sakana AI has significantly expanded its Series A funding round to approximately ¥30 billion (about $200 million), bolstered by investments from leading Japanese corporations. This development comes just weeks after the company's initial announcement of over $100 million in funding.
The expanded round now includes investments from Japan's three largest banking groups: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), and Mizuho Financial Group. Other notable Japanese investors include NEC, SBI Group, Dai-ichi Life Insurance, ITOCHU, KDDI, Fujitsu, and Nomura Holdings.
Sakana AI, founded in 2023 by former Google AI leaders Llion Jones and David Ha, focuses on developing nature-inspired artificial intelligence systems. The company's approach diverges from traditional transformer-based architectures, instead drawing inspiration from natural phenomena such as evolution and collective intelligence.
Hiroki Kamezawa, President and Group CEO of MUFG, expressed confidence in Sakana AI's potential: "Sakana AI is creating new value for the world from Japan with unprecedented ideas, such as 'evolutionary model merge' and 'AI scientist.'"
The substantial funding increase and support from major Japanese corporations underscore growing interest in AI development within Japan. Sakana AI plans to use the funds to accelerate collaborations with its strategic partners and address challenges facing Japanese industry and society.
As AI continues to reshape industries globally, Sakana AI's expanded funding and partnerships position it to play a significant role in Japan's AI landscape. The company remains committed to developing AI technologies that could help address Japan's pressing issues, including its aging population and economic challenges.