Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based startup specializing in generative AI tailored to Japanese language and culture, has raised ¥20 billion ($135 million) in a Series B funding round, bringing its post-money valuation to $2.65 billion. Founded in 2023 by former Google researchers Llion Jones, Ren Ito, and David Ha, the company focuses on affordable models designed to work with small datasets for enterprise applications.
The funding round attracted both domestic and global investors, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Khosla Ventures, Macquarie Capital, NEA, Lux Capital, and In-Q-Tel (IQT). Sakana plans to use the capital to expand R&D, strengthen its engineering, sales, and distribution teams in Japan, and grow partnerships with leading local enterprises such as Daiwa and MUFG.
Looking ahead, Sakana AI aims to broaden its enterprise focus into industrial, manufacturing, government, and defense sectors by 2026. The startup emphasizes the growing demand for sovereign AI solutions that reflect national cultures and values, differentiating its approach from global large-scale AI model developers. The Series B brings Sakana’s total funding to approximately $379 million.
