SORA Technology Co. Ltd., a frontier technology startup addressing infectious diseases and climate change through drones and AI, today announces the first close of its late seed funding round.
The round includes participation from several leading institutional investors, notably including Nissay Capital’s Sustainability Challenge Fund, which invested in strong support of SORA’s mission to tackle global health inequities and climate-related challenges through advanced technology. Other participants include SMBC Venture Capital, DRONE FUND, Central Japan Seed Fund, and Rheos Capital Works, bringing the company’s cumulative funding to approximately JPY 670 million (approx. USD 4.8 million), including debt financing.
This funding underscores growing international recognition of SORA’s mission to build resilient, technology-enabled infrastructure for global health and climate resilience. The company is currently active in six African countries—including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin, DRC, Senegal, and Kenya—where it collaborates with governments, academic institutions, and international organizations to implement drone-based malaria control and AI-powered disease forecasting systems.
SORA’s efforts have gained increasing international attention as the intersection of public health, climate action, and technology becomes a key priority in sustainable development.
In September 2023, the company joined the Triple I (Impact Investment Initiative) for Global Health, an initiative endorsed at the G7 Hiroshima Summit to raise awareness and share best practices of impact investment with a view to contributing to Global Health.
The participation of a sustainability-focused investor like Nissay Capital not only reflects financial support but also deep alignment with SORA’s values and long-term vision. This latest funding round represents strong validation from both the public and private sectors of the company’s potential to drive meaningful impact in underserved regions.
The newly raised capital will be used to advance AI algorithms for infectious disease prediction, expand field operations across African partner countries, strengthen partnerships with international institutions and governments, and enhance drone systems and local deployment capabilities.
Yosuke Kaneko, founder & CEO of SORA Technology, said, “I am deeply encouraged by the support we’ve received through this fundraising. It affirms that our vision and mission—to eliminate preventable deaths from infectious diseases—resonate with many who share our commitment to global health. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the investors who have placed their trust in us.
“With the power of drones and AI, we’ve been tackling medical infrastructure challenges in Africa and beyond, aiming to build a future where no one loses their life to a treatable disease. This funding will allow us to accelerate product development, scale local operations, and bring new talent on board. Together, these efforts will strengthen our foundation and help us expand our impact to more communities in need. We remain committed to creating life-saving social infrastructure through technology—always grounded in the realities and needs of the regions we serve.”
About SORA Technology
SORA Technology Co., Ltd. is a Japanese startup leveraging drones and AI to address global challenges in public health, agriculture, and disaster response. Its flagship project, SORA Malaria Control, integrates drone-based vector control and AI-driven disease forecasting to support malaria elimination efforts across Africa.
