SORA Technology, a Japanese frontier technology startup applying drones and artificial intelligence to public health and climate challenges, has raised JPY400 million (approximately $2.5 million) in the second close of its late seed funding round. The new capital brings the company’s total funding to about $7.3 million, following an earlier $4.8 million raise in March 2025.
The funding round attracted three new institutional investors—Daiwa House Group Investment Limited Partnership, Central Japan Innovative Research Fund I, and UNERI Capital Fund Series I—signalling growing confidence in SORA Technology’s mission to deploy advanced technology in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, particularly Africa.
At the heart of SORA Technology’s African engagement is SORA Malaria Control, a flagship initiative tackling one of the continent’s most persistent public health challenges. Malaria affects over 200 million people globally each year, with Africa bearing the overwhelming burden, accounting for nearly 600,000 deaths annually. SORA Technology’s approach combines satellite imagery, drones, and AI-driven analytics to deliver data-driven malaria control and infectious disease prediction at scale.
Unlike traditional malaria interventions that rely heavily on manual fieldwork, SORA’s platform enables precise mapping of mosquito breeding sites, predictive modelling of disease outbreaks, and targeted vector control. This technology-enabled approach is particularly relevant for African countries where limited health infrastructure and vast rural geographies complicate disease surveillance.
The company has already achieved on-the-ground deployment in more than 10 African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Kenya, and Mozambique. It has worked closely with national and local governments, universities, research institutions, and international partners. Notably, SORA Technology has collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) to expand sustainable infectious disease control efforts in Mozambique.
Beyond public health, SORA Technology’s drone and AI systems are finding application across other critical African sectors. These include environmental monitoring for mining companies, agricultural productivity optimisation, and reducing environmental impact in farming operations—areas that are increasingly important as African economies balance growth with sustainability.
The newly raised pre-Series A funding will be used to advance AI algorithms for infectious disease prediction, expand field operations across African partner countries, strengthen partnerships with governments and international institutions, and enhance drone systems and local operational capacity. Importantly, the company plans to deepen its local presence, a key factor for sustainable technology adoption in Africa.
Commenting on the raise, Yosuke Kaneko, Founder and CEO of SORA Technology, said the funding reflects strong alignment with the company’s social mission. He emphasised that SORA’s long-term goal is to achieve zero loss of life from infectious diseases, particularly across Africa, by leveraging advanced technology in practical, field-ready ways.
As Africa continues to face intersecting challenges of public health, climate change, and infrastructure gaps, SORA Technology’s work highlights how drone and AI innovation can move beyond pilots into real-world impact, positioning the continent as a critical frontier for applied deep-tech solutions.
