KDDI Open Innovation Fund III Makes Additional Investment in Sakana AI, Developer of Generative AI Foundation Models
―Supporting the Research and Development of Generative AI Foundation Models Utilizing KDDI Assets―

September 18, 2024

KDDI CORPORATION

On September 18, 2024, KDDI made an additional investment in Sakana AI Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yamauchi Building 3F, 3-24-8 Nishi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: David Ha; hereinafter "Sakana AI"), a company that is researching and developing foundation models in the generative AI field, through KDDI Open Innovation Fund III (operated by Global Brain Corporation; hereinafter "KOIF III"), which aims to invest in promising venture startups.

Sakana AI is a Japan-based startup that develops cutting-edge foundation models with an approach that draws inspiration from natural phenomena such as evolution and collective intelligence. The company was established by Llion Jones, author of the paper "Attention Is All You Need" published by Google in 2017, which has been credited with sparking the generative AI revolution, and David Ha, author of the "World Models" paper. In March 2024, Sakana AI announced the development of "Evolutionary Model Merge," a method to automate the integration of multiple foundation models, including large language models (LLMs). In June, the company discovered a way to use LLMs to train LLMs more efficiently. As a Japan-based startup, Sakana AI aims to support the advancement of AI technology in Japan and improve Japan's global competitiveness.

Through this investment, KDDI will support Sakana AI's generative AI research and development by providing unique assets such as data and computational resources.

As "the company that customers feel closest to," KDDI will continue to promote business co-creation through investment in promising startup companies, and create new business models together with customers and partners.

MUGENLABO Magazine

• https://mugenlabo-magazine.kddi.com/list/2023-sakanaai (in Japanese only)
• https://mugenlabo-magazine.kddi.com/list/sakanaai_2402/ (in Japanese only)

(Reference)

• ■Overview of Sakana AI

  • (1)

    • Company name

      : Sakana AI Co., Ltd.

  • (2)

    • Headquarters

      : Yamauchi Building 3F, 3-24-8 Nishi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

  • (3)

    • Date founded

      : July 7, 2023

  • (4)

    • Business activities

      : Research and development of generative AI platform models

  • (5)

    • CEO

      : David Ha

  • (6)

    • URL

      : https://sakana.ai/

• ■About KDDI Open Innovation Fund

  KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture fund that supports a broad range of venture companies. The currently active KDDI Open Innovation Fund III focuses on the areas of AI, IoT, data marketing, fintech, B2B SaaS, and entertainment with a total operating fund of 30 billion yen.