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SmartNews has raised $46.0M across 2 funding rounds.
SmartNews has raised $46.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
SmartNews has raised $46.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
SmartNews's investors include Founders Fund, Idealab, Henry Kravis, AAF Management Ltd., Deep Fork Capital, IVP, Social Starts, What If Ventures, Jarl Mohn.
SmartNews is a technology company that builds a mobile news aggregator app powered by machine learning, delivering personalized, high-quality news from over 3,000 global publisher partners to millions of users worldwide.[1][2][3] It serves everyday smartphone users seeking reliable information on current events and practical insights, solving the problem of information overload by using AI to curate relevant stories while combating issues like doomscrolling through features such as uplifting content selections and AI summaries.[1][2][5] With over 50 million downloads, 20 million monthly active users, and strong growth in Japan (Japan's largest news app) and the US (partnerships with 300+ publishers like CBS and National Geographic), SmartNews has raised $438.2 million in funding, including a $230 million Series F at a $2 billion valuation, achieving unicorn status.[1][2][5]
The company generates revenue through its core app, a premium subscription service (SmartNews+ for in-depth economy and business content), and advertising solutions (SmartNews Ads reaching millions of engaged users).[3][4] Recent innovations include AI-driven features like NewsArc, SmartNews AI Matome for news summaries, Self-Serve Ads, and the Trustmark Award for trusted journalism, underscoring its momentum in AI-enhanced news delivery.[3]
Founded in 2012 in Tokyo, Japan, SmartNews emerged from the vision of co-founders including an engineer who instilled an engineering-driven culture from the start.[1][2] The idea stemmed from a mission to discover and deliver quality stories globally using machine learning, addressing the need for accessible, unbiased news in a fragmented media landscape.[1][3] Early traction came swiftly in Japan, where it became one of the most popular smartphone apps with over 50 million downloads and 20+ million monthly users; expansion to the US followed, bolstered by partnerships with major publishers and offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Shanghai, and Beijing.[1][2]
Pivotal moments include its 2021 Series F funding of $230 million at $2 billion valuation, fueling US growth, and a 2023 brand repositioning to emphasize diverse perspectives and well-being, aligning with global audience needs.[1][5] This engineering-focused approach, with a diverse team of world-class hires maintaining a strict technical bar, has sustained its rise as Japan's latest tech unicorn.[1]
SmartNews rides the wave of AI-driven media personalization and the fight against misinformation/doomscrolling in a post-pandemic era of news fatigue, where users demand trustworthy, balanced content amid fragmented sources.[2][5][7] Timing is ideal as generative AI advances (e.g., its 2025 AI Matome and NewsArc launches) coincide with rising demand for ethical AI in news, positioning it ahead of competitors reliant solely on algorithms.[3] Market forces like smartphone ubiquity, ad tech growth, and premium subscriptions favor its model, especially in Japan (top news app) and expanding US markets.[1][4]
It influences the ecosystem through the SmartNews Media Research Institute (promoting media literacy), SlowNews (sustaining investigative journalism), and tools empowering publishers/advertisers, fostering a healthier information infrastructure.[3]
SmartNews is poised to deepen AI integration for empathetic, multidimensional news delivery, expanding features like generative AI summaries and self-serve ads while growing its 3,000+ partner network and premium offerings.[3][7] Trends such as AI ethics, subscription fatigue solutions, and global news trust crises will shape its path, potentially elevating its unicorn status through US dominance and new markets. Its influence may evolve into a broader media infrastructure leader, blending tech with social good to ensure quality information sparks understanding worldwide—delivering on its founding mission in an increasingly polarized landscape.[1][3][7]
SmartNews has raised $46.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series C in March 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2015 | $10.0M Series C | Founders Fund, Idealab, Henry Kravis | |
| Aug 1, 2014 | $36.0M Series B | AAF Management Ltd., Deep Fork Capital, Founders Fund, Idealab, IVP, Social Starts, What If Ventures, Henry Kravis, Jarl Mohn |
