スマートニュース株式会社

Market position

Described by investors as holding a dominant position in the Japanese news app market, with the app cited as having the highest average monthly time spent per user among major US news apps as of July 2021 according to App Annie data. Combined Japan and US downloads have been reported at over 50 million.

Investors cite a discovery-oriented algorithm that surfaces content able to broaden a user's interests rather than only matching existing preferences, offline readability, and US-specific features such as "News From All Sides," which presents political news from conservative through liberal perspectives. Revenue sharing with publishers is positioned as aligning the company with media partners.

Technology

Algorithms that continuously analyze large volumes of online information and select content intended to broaden rather than narrow user interests, combined with an interface optimized for smart devices and offline reading. The company applies AI to news summarization ("スマニューAI" summaries), to converting creator video into articles with partners, and to new product areas such as the Wanderland map app.

Go-to-market

Consumer acquisition through app stores and mass-market television advertising in Japan featuring well-known talent, alongside content partnerships with publishers, broadcasters and platforms. Recent partnerships include NTT Docomo (2023), dely, Fastview and Nordot USA, NewsPicks, KADOKAWA, UUUM and the J.League. Advertising is sold directly and through an agency partner program with ranked partner tiers.

Consumers in Japan and the United States who read news on smartphones, media companies and publishers seeking distribution and revenue share, and advertisers and agencies buying app-based advertising.

Geography

Headquartered in Tokyo (Shibuya-ku, Jingumae); operates the app in Japan and the United States, with US hiring focused on Silicon Valley, New York and San Francisco. Investors participating in its financing span Japan, the US, Europe and Asia.

History

Founded 2012-06-15 as 株式会社ゴクロ by Kaisei Hamamoto (representative director) and Ken Suzuki (director); the SmartNews app launched in December 2012 and the company renamed itself スマートニュース株式会社 on 2013-10-01. Ken Suzuki became representative director, chairman and co-CEO in June 2014; a US version launched October 2014; headquarters moved to Jingumae, Shibuya in February 2015. Funding rounds followed from Series A (2013) through Series F (2021). In January 2023 the company cut total personnel costs by about 40% via layoffs and voluntary retirement affecting roughly two hundred employees. In November 2023 Ken Suzuki moved from chairman/president CEO to representative director and chairman while Kaisei Hamamoto became representative director, president and CEO; Suzuki stepped down as representative director on 2025-03-27, leaving Hamamoto as sole representative director.

Risks & controversies

The company reported a net loss of ¥3.268 billion for the fiscal year ended December 2024. In January 2023 it reduced total personnel costs by about 40%, with layoffs and voluntary retirement affecting several hundred employees; the incoming president characterized the prior expansion as having pressed the accelerator too hard. In July 2021 the company drew criticism after securing 5,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses under the workplace vaccination scheme despite having about 400 insured employees and extending vaccinations to Shibuya residents and workers, with some reservations later cancelled due to supply shortages.