Who Owns Smart News?
Updated: March 12, 2023
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Smart News is a news aggregation mobile application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to provide users with personalized news articles based on their interests. It was founded in 2012 by Kaisei Hamamoto and Ken Suzuki, and it is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company has since expanded and has offices in San Francisco and New York City.
The app aggregates news articles from various sources, including CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among others. Smart News’ AI algorithms analyze and classify articles, making it possible to personalize news feeds for individual users. The app also offers a wide range of news categories, including sports, technology, entertainment, and politics.
Smart News’ unique algorithm aims to provide users with a balanced and diverse news feed, including perspectives from various sources, both liberal and conservative. It also prioritizes quality and reputable sources, ensuring that the news articles presented to users are reliable and fact-checked.
Smart News has been recognized for its innovation and user-friendliness, winning multiple awards and being featured in prominent media outlets, including Forbes, TechCrunch, and The New York Times. As of 2021, the app has over 20 million active users worldwide and has been downloaded over 50 million times. Smart News’ mission is to make it easier for people to access quality news and stay informed about the world around them.
What Is Smart News?
Smart News is a news aggregation mobile application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to provide users with personalized news articles based on their interests. The app aggregates news articles from various sources, including reputable news outlets such as CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Smart News’ AI algorithms analyze and classify articles, making it possible to personalize news feeds for individual users. The app also offers a wide range of news categories, including sports, technology, entertainment, and politics.
One of the unique features of Smart News is its algorithm that aims to provide users with a balanced and diverse news feed, including perspectives from various sources, both liberal and conservative. The app prioritizes quality and reputable sources, ensuring that the news articles presented to users are reliable and fact-checked.
Smart News has won multiple awards and has been recognized for its innovation and user-friendliness. As of 2021, the app has over 20 million active users worldwide and has been downloaded over 50 million times. Smart News’ mission is to make it easier for people to access quality news and stay informed about the world around them.
Who owns Smart News?
Smart News is owned by SmartNews, Inc., a privately held company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 2012 by Kaisei Hamamoto and Ken Suzuki, and it has since expanded with offices in San Francisco and New York City. The company is funded by various investors, including the Development Bank of Japan, SMBC Venture Capital, and Japan Co-Invest Limited Partnership. As of 2021, Smart News has raised over $230 million in funding.
History of Smart News
Smart News was founded in 2012 by Kaisei Hamamoto and Ken Suzuki, two entrepreneurs based in Japan who wanted to create a news app that would use artificial intelligence (AI) to curate personalized news feeds for users. The app launched in Japan in 2013 and quickly gained popularity, reaching over 1 million downloads in its first year.
In 2014, Smart News expanded to the United States, launching its English-language version and opening an office in San Francisco. The app continued to grow, attracting users with its personalized news feeds and emphasis on quality and reputable sources.
In 2016, Smart News raised $38 million in a funding round led by Japan’s Development Bank of Japan, bringing its total funding to $50 million. The company also expanded to New York City, opening an office in the city’s tech hub in 2017.
In the years that followed, Smart News continued to expand its reach, adding more news categories and features, such as a dedicated COVID-19 news section in 2020. The app has also won several awards for its innovation and user-friendliness, including being named one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2013 by Time magazine.
As of 2021, Smart News has over 20 million active users worldwide and has been downloaded over 50 million times. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with offices in San Francisco and New York City, and it is funded by various investors, including the Development Bank of Japan and SMBC Venture Capital.
Founders of Smart News
Smart News was founded in 2012 by two entrepreneurs based in Japan, Kaisei Hamamoto and Ken Suzuki. Kaisei Hamamoto, co-founder and CEO of Smart News, is a graduate of Keio University in Tokyo and began his career at a Japanese advertising agency before co-founding Smart News. Hamamoto is known for his innovative approach to using artificial intelligence to curate personalized news feeds for users.
Ken Suzuki, co-founder and Chief Content Officer of Smart News, is a graduate of the University of Tokyo and worked as a journalist and editor at various media companies, including Reuters, The Asahi Shimbun, and The Japan Times. Suzuki is known for his expertise in news curation and his emphasis on quality and reputable sources.
Together, Hamamoto and Suzuki have built Smart News into a leading news aggregation app, with a focus on using AI to provide personalized news feeds that prioritize quality and balance. Smart News has won several awards for its innovation and user-friendliness, and as of 2021, it has over 20 million active users worldwide.
Investors of Smart News
Smart News has been funded by various investors, including venture capital firms and corporate investors. Some of the notable investors in Smart News include:
- Japan Co-Invest Limited Partnership
- Development Bank of Japan
- Globis Capital Partners
- Jafco Co., Ltd.
- SMBC Venture Capital
- Japan Post Capital
- D.A. Consortium Inc.
- Atomico
- Sequoia Capital
- ACA Investments
As of 2021, Smart News has raised over $230 million in funding, with its latest funding round in September 2020 raising $230 million, led by Japan Post Capital and ACA Investments. The company plans to use the funding to expand its user base and improve its technology.
Ownership Structure of Smart News
Smart News is a privately held company, and the ownership structure is not publicly available. However, it is known that Smart News, Inc., the parent company of the Smart News app, is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and has offices in San Francisco and New York City. The company was founded in 2012 by Kaisei Hamamoto and Ken Suzuki, and it is funded by various investors, including venture capital firms and corporate investors. As of 2021, Smart News has raised over $230 million in funding and has over 20 million active users worldwide. The company’s mission is to provide personalized and high-quality news feeds to its users using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Smart News is a privately held company.
Smart News aims to provide personalized and high-quality news feeds to its users using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. The company’s mission is to provide users with a balanced and informative news experience.
Smart News is a privately held company, and the ownership structure is not publicly available.
Smart News has been funded by various investors, including venture capital firms and corporate investors. Some of the notable investors include Japan Co-Invest Limited Partnership, Development Bank of Japan, and SMBC Venture Capital.
Conclusion
Smart News, a news aggregation app that uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized news feeds to its users, is owned by SmartNews, Inc., a privately held company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 2012 by Kaisei Hamamoto and Ken Suzuki, and it is funded by various investors, including venture capital firms and corporate investors. As of 2021, Smart News has raised over $230 million in funding and has over 20 million active users worldwide. Although the ownership structure of Smart News is not publicly available, the company is known for its innovative approach to news curation and its focus on quality and reputable sources.
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