According to BlockBeats, Japanese artificial intelligence company Sakana AI has raised approximately 300 billion yen (around $2.14 billion) in its Series A funding round, bringing the company's valuation to $1.5 billion. Founded in July 2023 by former Google researchers, Sakana AI has quickly gained significant financial backing from major institutions and corporations.
The funding round saw investments from prominent financial groups such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Nomura Holdings. Additionally, well-known companies including NEC, Itochu Corporation, KDDI, and Fujitsu also participated in the investment.
Sakana AI has secured processing time on Japan's supercomputers and is collaborating with various organizations to bolster Japan's AI ecosystem. This initiative aligns with NVIDIA's recent efforts to support Japan's sovereign AI projects.