速递｜日本AI独角兽Sakana AI，以26.5亿美元估值完成1.35亿美元B轮融资

Core Insights - The article discusses the competitive landscape of AI development, highlighting how startups like Sakana AI are carving out niche markets with specialized models tailored for specific regions and industries, contrasting with major players like Google and OpenAI [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Sakana AI, founded in 2023 by former Google researchers, focuses on developing cost-effective generative AI models optimized for small datasets and Japanese culture [1][4] - The company has successfully raised 20 billion JPY (approximately 135 million USD) in Series B funding, increasing its post-money valuation to 2.65 billion USD from 2.5 billion USD [1][4] Group 2: Funding and Financials - The recent funding round attracted both new and existing investors, including major financial institutions like Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and global venture capital firms such as Khosla Ventures and NEA [1][2] - Following this round, Sakana AI's total funding raised to date will reach approximately 379 million USD, having previously raised around 244 million USD by March 2025 [4] Group 3: Strategic Plans - The new funds will be allocated towards R&D, expanding the engineering, sales, and distribution teams in Japan, and developing AI solutions in collaboration with leading Japanese companies [2][4] - Sakana AI plans to expand its enterprise business beyond finance into industrial, manufacturing, and government sectors by 2026, focusing on areas like defense and intelligence [4]