SORA Technology raises $4.8m to expand across Africa

Lezeth Khoza
By Lezeth Khoza, Intern portals journalist
Johannesburg, 10 Jun 2025
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Yosuke Kaneko, founder and CEO of SORA Technology.

SORA Technology, Japan-based start-up focusing on solving infectious diseases and climate change with drones and artificial intelligence (AI), has completed the first close of late seed round to advance climate and health solutions in Africa, raising $4.8 million.

Several notable institutional investors participated in the round, including Nissay Capital Sustainability Challenge Fund, SMBC Venture Capital, DRONE FUND, Central Japan Seed Fund, and Rheos Capital Works. The obtained funds also include debt funding, according to the company.

According to SORA Technology, the newly raised funds will be used to advance AI algorithms for infectious disease prediction, expand field operations in African partner countries, strengthen partnerships with international institutions and governments, and improve drone systems and local deployment capability.

The funding, according to the company, underscores growing international recognition of its desire to build resilient, technology-enabled infrastructure for global health and climate resilience, which includes collaborating with governments, academic institutions, and international organisations to implement drone-based malaria control and AI-powered disease forecasting systems.

Yosuke Kaneko, founder and CEO of SORA Technology, commented: “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.”

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