Sakana AI raised 135 million in fresh capital. The raise closed on 17 November 2025. It took place through a large Series B round. The new valuation reached 2.65 billion. The company is based in Tokyo. It builds specialised AI models for Japan. It also builds models for other regions. It now sits among the fastest growing AI companies in the country.
The firm said the raise will support deep research. It said the money will aid model development. It said it will also expand its engineering and sales teams. The company plans new distribution work in Japan. It wants broader reach. It wants faster product delivery. The founders said the team will grow in 2026. They said that expansion will target defence, industry, and government.
The raise drew interest from major investors. MUFG joined the round. Khosla Ventures also took part. In-Q-Tel joined. Macquarie Capital and NEA joined. Lux Capital took part. These funds came from Japan. They also came from global venture firms. The round brought the companys total funding to 379 million. This sum puts the firm among the most capitalised AI startups in Asia.
