Japan-based health tech startup SORA Technology has secured $7.3 million in a late seed funding round, marking a significant step in its mission to combat malaria across Africa using drones, satellite data, and artificial intelligence. The latest $2.5 million second close brings the total raise to $7.3 million, following an earlier $4.8 million first close in 2025. New investors in the round include Daiwa House Group, Central Japan Innovation Fund, and UNERI Capital, reflecting growing confidence in technology-led public health solutions.
Founded in 2018 by CEO Yosuke Kaneko, SORA Technology has positioned itself at the intersection of aerospace innovation and global health. The company deploys drones combined with satellite imagery and AI-powered analytics to identify malaria hotspots, predict outbreaks, and support targeted interventions. This approach allows governments and health agencies to move from reactive treatment to proactive prevention—an especially critical shift in regions where malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death.
SORA is already operating in more than 10 African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Mozambique, working closely with national governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and research institutions. Its technology enables large-scale environmental surveillance, helping public health officials monitor mosquito breeding areas and deploy resources with greater precision and speed than traditional methods allow.
With the new funding, the company plans to strengthen its disease-prediction algorithms, expand its footprint across additional African markets, and invest in building local drone and AI expertise. This emphasis on local capacity development is particularly notable, as it aligns technological innovation with long-term sustainability and skills transfer on the continent.
Looking ahead, SORA Technology is also laying the groundwork for a future Series A round, signaling ambitions to scale its impact even further. As Africa continues to adopt advanced technologies to address structural health challenges, SORA’s model highlights how cross-border innovation—when paired with local partnerships—can play a transformative role in tackling some of the continent’s most persistent public health issues.
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