Sakana AI
サカナAI
Business focus
AI, Large Models & AI Chips
Description
Founded in Tokyo in July 2023 by former Google Brain researchers David Ha and Llion Jones (a co-author of "Attention Is All You Need") together with Ren Ito, Sakana AI builds generative models optimized for Japanese language and culture using evolutionary-computation methods. It raised a $135 million Series B round in November 2025 at a $2.65 billion valuation, becoming Japan's fastest unicorn and its most valuable AI startup.