The Full List of 13 Unicorn Startups in Tokyo (2026)
Tokyo is home to 13 unicorn startups, with companies active in media, finance, and artificial intelligence. The most valuable among them is the messaging application Kakao Japan, with a valuation of $7B.
The city's tech scene also features rapid growth from newcomers like Sakana AI, which achieved a $2B valuation just one year after its founding.
Below is the full list of 13 Tokyo unicorn startups at this time.
Top 10 Most Valuable Tokyo Unicorns
Kakao Japan develops and operates mobile applications, including the KakaoTalk messenger and the Piccoma digital comics platform. They are known for providing both communication tools and a massive library of entertainment content like webtoons and novels to the Japanese market.
| Valuation | $7B |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $651.6M |
| Company Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | Kakao Corp, Podotree, Anchor Equity Partners, Yahoo! Japan |
Rakuten Securities runs a major online securities platform focused on individual investors. They offer a full suite of financial products, from domestic and foreign stock trading to investment trusts and FX services.
| Valuation | $3B |
| Year Founded | 1999 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | ¥80B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | — |
| Top Investors | Mizuho Financial Group |
Sakana AI develops generative foundation models that create novel text, images, code, and other multimedia content. Their work explores new AI architectures inspired by collective intelligence, drawing from natural systems like evolution and schools of fish.
| Valuation | $2B (Joined June 2024) |
| Year Founded | 2023 |
| Founders | David Ha, Llion Jones, Ren Ito |
| Funding Amount | $100M |
| Company Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | 500 Global, NVIDIA, Basis Set Ventures, Lux Capital, Khosla Ventures |
SmartNews offers a news discovery app that uses AI to find and organize stories from a wide array of publishers. The platform is designed to help users find quality journalism and break free from personalized filter bubbles.
| Valuation | $2B (Joined August 2019) |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Kaisei Hamamoto, Ken Suzuki |
| Funding Amount | $410.3M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series F |
| Top Investors | SMBC Venture Capital, Dentsu, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Globis Capital Partners, Atomico |
HashKey Group offers a full suite of financial services for the digital asset economy. The group provides institutional clients with services ranging from asset management to consulting on blockchain infrastructure.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $130M |
| Company Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Gaorong Capital, OKX Ventures |
Preferred Networks develops real-world applications for deep learning, robotics, and other advanced technologies. They are recognized for their work in diverse fields, from biotechnology and industrial automation to personal robotics.
| Valuation | $2B (Joined May 2018) |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Daisuke Okanohara, Morikawa Hiroyuki, Nishitoba Jiro, Toru Nishikawa |
| Funding Amount | ¥44.6B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation |
SmartHR develops a cloud-based HR platform designed to automate administrative tasks for Japanese businesses. Their system centralizes everything from employee onboarding to year-end tax adjustments, simplifying complex labor procedures.
| Valuation | $2B (Joined June 2021) |
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Kensuke Naito, Shoji Miyata |
| Funding Amount | ¥42.6B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | Light Street Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts Japan, East Ventures, World Innovation Lab, Coral Capital |
JOLED manufactures and sells medium-sized, high-resolution OLED displays created with a proprietary printing method. Their technology enables the efficient production of panels for specialized uses, including medical monitors and automotive displays.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Ishibashi Tadashi |
| Funding Amount | ¥92.5B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Sony, Denso, Toyota Tsusho, Sumitomo Chemical, Panasonic |
Opn develops a full-featured payment management platform that delivers fintech solutions to both individuals and companies. They are known for their one-stop payment products and services that support blockchain and crypto transactions.
| Valuation | $1B (Joined May 2022) |
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Jun Hasegawa |
| Funding Amount | $260.4M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | SMBC Venture Capital, SBI Investment, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Global Brain Corporation, 500 Global |
Playco builds instant play games that let people connect and play together without any downloads. They create seamless, social gaming experiences designed to reach billions of players on any device.
| Valuation | $1B (Joined September 2020) |
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Justin Waldron, Michael Carter, Takeshi Otsuka, Teddy Cross |
| Funding Amount | $143.5M |
| Company Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | SV Angel, Sequoia Capital, Caffeinated Capital, Meta, Sozo Ventures |
The Remaining 3 Unicorns Founded in Tokyo
Tokyo's most valuable unicorns are just one part of a much bigger story. Other founders are building billion-dollar companies across the city, often just out of the spotlight.
They are tackling big challenges in areas from manufacturing to mobility and the environment, raising nearly ¥40 billion to do it. Here’s a look at the other startups that make Tokyo’s scene so exciting.
| Unicorn Startup | Main Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 GO | Mobility | 1977 | ¥14B | $1B |
 TBM | Manufacturing | 2011 | ¥22.6B | $1B |
 Clean Planet | Environment | 2012 | ¥2B | $1B |
