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SmartNews is a news aggregation and discovery platform that uses machine learning algorithms to curate news articles from various sources. The company was founded in 2012 in Japan and has since expanded its operations to the United States. SmartNews aims to provide its users with a personalized and relevant news experience by analyzing user behavior and interests to deliver stories that are most likely to be of interest to them. The platform is free to use and generates revenue through advertising. As of 2021, SmartNews has over 20 million monthly active users worldwide and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing news apps in the United States.
Last updated
In 2025, SmartNews's revenue reached $104.5M. The company previously reported $23.2M in 2021. Since its launch in 2012, SmartNews has shown consistent revenue growth.
SmartNews reached a $2B valuation in 2021, set during its Series F round.
SmartNews has raised $427.8M in total funding across 6 rounds, most recently a $230M Series F round in 2021.
| Year | Round | Amount | Valuation | % Sold | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Series F | $230M | $2B | 12% |
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SmartNews serves 20M customers.
SmartNews employs approximately 519 people as of 2026, down from 592 in 2023, including 6 sales reps that carry a quota. It serves 20M customers that rely on its solutions.
SmartNews generates an estimated $104.5M in annual revenue.
SmartNews was founded by Ken Suzuki.
The CEO of SmartNews is Ken Suzuki.
SmartNews raised $427.8M across 6 rounds.
SmartNews has 519 employees.
SmartNews is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
SmartNews operates across multiple industries. Browse revenue, funding, and growth data for SmartNews in each sector below.
All figures on this page are taken directly from interviews or are estimates from public sources and proprietary models. Not financial advice. Read full disclaimer.
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Valuation
$2B
2025 Revenue
$104.5M(Est.)
Customers
20M
Funding
$427.8M
Avg ACV
$5
Team · 2024
519
Founded
2012
| Year | Milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | SmartNews Hit $104.5m revenue in June 2025 | Estimated |
| 2021 | SmartNews Hit $23.2m revenue in April 2021 | |
| 2012 | Launched with $0 revenue |
| 2019 | Series E | $92M | $1.2B | 8% | about.smartnews.com |
| 2019 | Series E | $28M | - | - | techcrunch.com |
| 2016 | Series D | $38M | - | - | prweb.com |
| 2014 | Series B | $36M | - | - | business.smartnews.com |
| 2013 | None | $3.8M | - | - |
| Year | Milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Reached 519 employees (December 2024) | |
| 2024 | Reached 592 employees (October 2024) | |
| 2023 | Reached 592 employees (December 2023) | |
| 2023 | Reached 592 employees (July 2023) | |
| 2022 | Reached 685 employees (December 2022) | |
| 2021 | Reached 578 employees (December 2021) | |
| 2021 | Reached 351 employees (April 2021) |
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