About SmartNews
SmartNews is a company based in San Francisco (United States) founded in 2012 by Ken Suzuki and Kaisei Hamamoto.. SmartNews has raised $410.2 million across 8 funding rounds from investors including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, MIXI and Dentsu. SmartNews offers products and services including SmartNews App. SmartNews operates in a competitive market with competitors including Toutiao, News Break, DailyHunt, VerSe and Yahoo Japan, among others.
- Headquarter San Francisco, United States
- Founders Ken Suzuki, Kaisei Hamamoto
- Stage Unicorn
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Sectors
Media & Entertainment
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Email
***********
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Phone
*********
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Website
*********
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Social
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- Legal Name Smartnews, Inc.
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Annual Revenue
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Net Profit
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EBITDA
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Total Equity Funding
$410.2 M (USD)
in 8 rounds
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Latest Funding Round
$69.29 M (USD), Debt – Venture
Jan 09, 2024
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Investors
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
& 18 more
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Employee Count
Employee Count
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Products & Services of SmartNews
SmartNews offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including SmartNews App. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.
Delivers curated news from trusted sources based on user preferences.
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Funding Insights of SmartNews
SmartNews has successfully raised a total of $410.2M across 8 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Debt – Venture round of $69.29 million completed in January 2024. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.
- Total Funding Total Funding
- Total Rounds 8
- Last Round Debt – Venture — $69.3M
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First Round
First Round
(14 Aug 2013)
- Investors Count 19
| Date | Amount | Transaction Name | Valuation | Lead Investors | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan, 2024 | Amount | Debt – Venture - SmartNews | Valuation |
investors |
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| Sep, 2021 | Amount | Series F - SmartNews | Valuation | Princeville Capital , Woodline Partners | |
| Aug, 2019 | Amount | Series E - SmartNews | Valuation | Japan Post Capital , ACA Investments |
| Date | Amount | Transaction Name | Valuation | Lead Investors | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Jan, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
Investors in SmartNews
SmartNews has secured backing from 19 investors, including institutional and venture fund investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, MIXI and Dentsu. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.
| Investor | Description | Founded Year | Domain | Location |
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Tech companies are funded through venture capital by Princeville Capital.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Venture capital fund focused on growth stage companies
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Private equity investment firm focused on growth stage companies
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Founded Year | Domain | Location |
| Investor | Description | Founded Year | Domain | Location |
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Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location |
Investments & Acquisitions by SmartNews
| Company Name | Description | Domain | Location | Founded Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Bionic investment advisor platform
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2016 | ||||
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Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
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2016 | ||||
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Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
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2014 | ||||
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Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
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2016 |
Financial Statements - SmartNews
| Date | Amount | Transaction Name | Valuation | Lead Investors | Investors |
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| Jul, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Jan, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
Smartnews Comparisons
Competitors of SmartNews
SmartNews operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Toutiao, News Break, DailyHunt, VerSe and Yahoo Japan, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.
| Company Name | Domain | Founded year | HQ Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Personalized news aggregator app
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Multi-category news is aggregated online by News Break.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Multi-category news is curated and delivered in multiple languages.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Developer of a short-video platform and technology infrastructure
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Online media portal
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| Company Name | Domain | Founded year | HQ Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.
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Latest news on Smartnews
Frequently Asked Questions about SmartNews
When was SmartNews founded?
SmartNews was founded in 2012 and raised its 1st funding round 1 year after it was founded.
Where is SmartNews located?
SmartNews is headquartered in San Francisco, United States. It is registered at San Francisco, California, United States.
Who is the current CEO of SmartNews?
Kaisei Hamamoto is the current CEO of SmartNews. They have also founded this company.
Is SmartNews a funded company?
SmartNews is a funded company, having raised a total of $410.2M across 8 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Series E of $92M, raised on Aug 14, 2013.
What does SmartNews do?
SmartNews was founded in 2012 in San Francisco, United States, as a technology company focused on news discovery. Machine learning algorithms are employed to analyze millions of articles, user behaviors, and social interactions, enabling the delivery of relevant stories on a global scale. Operations center on a mobile application available for Android and iOS platforms, supporting personalized content curation for users worldwide.
Who are the top competitors of SmartNews?
SmartNews's top competitors include DailyHunt, Toutiao and News Break.
What products or services does SmartNews offer?
SmartNews offers SmartNews App.
Who are SmartNews's investors?
SmartNews has 19 investors. Key investors include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, MIXI, Dentsu, Atomico, and Development Bank of Japan.
What is SmartNews's valuation?
The valuation of SmartNews is $2B as of Sep 2021.
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