SmartNews

SmartNews is a Tokyo-based news aggregation platform founded in June 2012 by Ken Suzuki and Kaisei Hamamoto. The company launched its app in December 2012, aiming to deliver personalized, high-quality news while addressing information overload. SmartNews has expanded globally, launching in the U.S. in 2014, and currently employs over 500 staff, generating approximately $163.8 million in annual revenue. The SmartNews app curates global and local news using AI-driven algorithms, focusing on reliability and relevance. It features offline accessibility, making it suitable for low-connectivity environments, and offers customizable feeds with real-time updates. The platform collaborates with major media outlets to provide diverse and credible content. SmartNews leverages machine learning to analyze user behavior and refine content delivery, promoting a balanced perspective by cross-referencing multiple sources. The company continues to innovate in AI to enhance personalized news delivery and combat misinformation.

Information Technology & Services Shibuya, Japan Founded 2012 ~412 employees Private · Series F

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Employees
412
-0.5% in the 3 months to Jun 2025
Revenue / employee
$272K
Revenue ~$112M
Total funding
$398M
Last round Series F, Sep 2021
12-month attrition
9.1%
Tech: 8%
H1B sponsor
NA
Open jobs
2
Last 30 days

Headcount trend

SmartNews went from 371 employees in Jul 2023 to 412 in Jun 2025. Jan to Jun 2025: 14 people joined, 10 left.

Headcount data through Jun 2025

Org structure

Headcount by department

Engineering156
Other106
Sales41
Operations33
Marketing22
HR20
Product17
Finance8

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Salaries at SmartNews

All salaries

10 salary profiles in the US

Most reported roles

Pay by level, gender and ethnicity

Funding

  • Sep 2021 · Series F · $230M · Princeville Capital, Woodline Partners, JIC Venture Growth Investments
  • Nov 2019 · Series E · $92M · Japan Post Capital Co, ACA Investments, Globis Capital Partners
  • Aug 2019 · Series E · $28M · Japan Post Capital, Development Bank of Japan, SMBC Venture Capital
  • Jul 2016 · Series D · $38M · Development Bank of Japan, SMBC Venture Capital
  • Mar 2015 · Series C · $10M · Gree, Globis Capital Partners, Atomico Partners

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SmartNews FAQ

How many employees does SmartNews have?

SmartNews has about 412 employees, down 0.5% over the 3 months to Jun 2025.

What is SmartNews's revenue per employee?

SmartNews makes about $272K in revenue per employee, based on $112M annual revenue and 412 employees.

How much does SmartNews pay?

6figr has 10 salary profiles for SmartNews in the US, with pay broken down by role, level, gender and ethnicity on the SmartNews salaries page. See SmartNews salaries

How much funding has SmartNews raised?

SmartNews has raised $398M in total funding; its latest round was Series F in Sep 2021.

Data from Company Prospectus, DOL LCA disclosures, WARN notices and 6figr salary profiles.