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SmartNews competitors & alternatives
The 12 closest competitors and alternatives to SmartNews among media, news tech companies — ranked by similarity to what SmartNews actually does, not by market-cap band.
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About SmartNews
SmartNews, Inc. is a company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, focused on delivering quality information to people. It has global business operations and office locations worldwide.
SmartNews at a glance
SmartNews is a media, news tech company headquartered in Japan. It has raised at least $358M across the 5 funding rounds on record, 3 of them with a disclosed amount. Its most recent funding round closed in May 2026. Xcout tracks 36 named people at SmartNews, including Kaisei Hamamoto (Chief Executive Officer). Xcout recorded 43 job postings from SmartNews in the last 90 days.
SmartNews leadership
- Kaisei HamamotoChief Executive Officer
- Kaisei HamamotoCo-Founder and CEO
- Ken SuzukiCo-Founder and Executive Chair of the Board
- Atsushi KuroiwaExecutive Officer
- Cads OakleyExecutive Officer
- Chao SongExecutive Officer
30 more named people on record for SmartNews, with roles, board committees and tenure — see the full roster →
SmartNews funding rounds
At least $358M raised across the 5 rounds on record (3 with a disclosed amount). Every round on record:
| Date | Round | Amount | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEC Form D filing | Undisclosed | — | |
| SEC Form D filing | Undisclosed | — | |
| Series F | $230M | 8 named | |
| Series E | $92M | 7 named | |
| Series B | $36M | 2 named |
Who invested in each round, lead investors, valuations and the co-investor graph — open the full funding history →
Hiring at SmartNews
Xcout recorded 43 job postings from SmartNews in the last 90 days, from a hiring record Xcout has kept since May 2026.
The weekly hiring trend, the roles and locations behind it — see SmartNews's hiring signals →
Top 12 SmartNews competitors
Ranked by semantic similarity — how close each company is to SmartNews by what it does, using Xcout's live company graph. Click any company for its full profile, or its competitor set.
News and Media
FocusFeed LLC operates an AI-powered news aggregator that provides concise summaries of news from around the world. The platform allows users to filter content by topics, countries, and custom keywords.
Media & News
News Deliver Limited operates a mobile application providing personalized local, national, and international news content.
Media and News
Informed360 LLC provides an AI-driven, sentiment-aware news filtering platform that delivers unbiased global and Indian news coverage. The company serves individuals and organizations seeking filtered and sentiment-analyzed news content.
Online Publishing
NetAdvance Inc. operates JapanKnowledge, an online database and digital library service that provides subscribers with cross-searchable access to dozens of encyclopedias, dictionaries, historical series, and reference works. The service caters to individuals ranging from enthusiasts to professionals such as educators, translators, researchers, and writers.
Publishing & Media
Nikkei Business Publications is a Japanese publishing and media company providing specialized information on business, technology, and lifestyle.
News & Media
Way2News operates a hyperlocal short news application in India that provides real-time news across multiple local, national, and international categories in eight different languages. The app serves mobile users by delivering personalized short news updates, magazines, polls, and localized stories spanning hundreds of districts.
Media / Technology News
Tech in Asia is a Singapore-based digital media company that publishes news, analysis, and reports about technology startups and venture capital in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. It serves startup founders, investors, technology professionals, and businesses interested in the region’s technology ecosystem.
Media & Publishing
The Juggernaut is a media technology company and community headquartered in New York, NY, that publishes in-depth, nuanced stories about South Asia and the global South Asian diaspora. The company focuses on delivering smart journalism to its subscribers.
Media & Entertainment / Publishing
Blendle is a Dutch digital news platform that gives consumers access to articles from newspapers and magazines through individual article purchases and subscription offerings. It serves readers seeking aggregated access to publisher content and partners with media publishers for digital distribution and monetization.
Publishing & Media
Book Bang is a comprehensive book review and information website operated by Shinchosha Publishing, featuring news, reviews, excerpts, and recommendations from various newspapers and publishers.
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