Sakana AI, the Tokyo-based startup known for its evolutionary model discovery—a method that automates the creation of new models by merging existing ones—has secured a strategic investment from Citigroup. This move represents Citi’s inaugural strategic investment in a Japanese firm, signaling a significant vote of confidence in Japan’s burgeoning AI ecosystem and Sakana AI’s specialized research capabilities.

The partnership aims to integrate Sakana AI’s advanced technical stack into the global financial sector. By leveraging the startup's ability to bridge high-level research with practical business applications, Citi intends to accelerate its digital transformation and operational efficiency. This collaboration follows Sakana AI’s previous successes in 2025, where they established key partnerships with major financial institutions like Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Daiwa Securities Group to build custom models for niche financial domains.

The investment also underscores Sakana AI’s rapid international expansion. Following a Series B round that saw participation from Spain’s Santander Group, the addition of Citi provides the startup with a powerful global network. CEO David Ha emphasizes that this backing will allow them to apply frontier AI techniques to specialized financial domains, potentially reshaping how global markets and banking operations function in an increasingly automated landscape.

Sakana AI, the Tokyo-based startup known for its evolutionary model discovery—a method that automates the creation of new models by merging existing ones—has secured a strategic investment from Citigroup. This move represents Citi’s inaugural strategic investment in a Japanese firm, signaling a significant vote of confidence in Japan’s burgeoning AI ecosystem and Sakana AI’s specialized research capabilities.

The partnership aims to integrate Sakana AI’s advanced technical stack into the global financial sector. By leveraging the startup's ability to bridge high-level research with practical business applications, Citi intends to accelerate its digital transformation and operational efficiency. This collaboration follows Sakana AI’s previous successes in 2025, where they established key partnerships with major financial institutions like Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Daiwa Securities Group to build custom models for niche financial domains.

The investment also underscores Sakana AI’s rapid international expansion. Following a Series B round that saw participation from Spain’s Santander Group, the addition of Citi provides the startup with a powerful global network. CEO David Ha emphasizes that this backing will allow them to apply frontier AI techniques to specialized financial domains, potentially reshaping how global markets and banking operations function in an increasingly automated landscape.