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Sakana AI raises about $200m in a Series A round that includes NVIDIA and Japan’s three megabanks

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Source: Sakana AIAlso reported by GIGAZINE

Tokyo-based Sakana AI said on 4 September 2024 that it had raised about $200 million in a Series A round led by New Enterprise Associates, Khosla Ventures and Lux Capital, with NVIDIA, MUFG, SMBC and Mizuho taking part. Corporate investors included NEC, KDDI, Fujitsu, ITOCHU, Nomura Holdings and Dai-ichi Life. The company said it would spend the money on hiring and on computing infrastructure for energy-efficient AI as it builds a research lab in Japan.

Why it matters

A Japanese AI lab drew US venture money and backing from Japan’s largest banks and industrial groups, which became potential customers for its models.

When
4 Sep 2024
ID
WTA-N-2024-0179
Where
Japan
Who
Sakana AI, New Enterprise Associates, Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, NVIDIA, MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho Financial Group

Summary by wheresthe.ai, from Sakana AI and the reporting credited above. Checked against the source on 9 Oct 2026.

Read the original at Sakana AI

Source copy: download the page as saved on 18 Oct 2026 (PDF). Also held by the Internet Archive.

Next stop on this Storyline: Led toSakana AI raises ¥20bn at a valuation of about $2.65bn

Cite this story

WTA-N-2024-0179: “Sakana AI raises about $200m in a Series A round that includes NVIDIA and Japan’s three megabanks.” wheresthe.ai, 4 Sep 2024. https://wheresthe.ai/d/jp-sakana-ai-series-a-2024-09/ (source: Sakana AI).

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