SORA Technology Raises $2.5M to Scale AI-Powered Malaria Fight Across Africa
Japanese healthtech startup brings total funding to $7.3 million as it expands drone-based disease control in Nigeria and 14 other African countries
SORA Technology, a Japan-headquartered drone and artificial intelligence startup, has closed the second tranche of its late seed funding round with an additional $2.5 million, bringing the company's total capital raised to approximately $7.3 million. The fresh investment will accelerate the company's mission to eliminate malaria across Africa through precision technology and data-driven interventions.
The latest funding round, completed in November 2025, attracted three new investors: Daiwa House Group Investment Limited Partnership, Central Japan Innovative Research Fund I, and UNERI Capital Fund Series I. These backers join existing shareholders including Nissay Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, DRONE FUND, and Rheos Capital Partners, who participated in the company's initial $4.8 million seed round announced in March 2025.
Fighting a Disease That Claims 600,000 Lives Annually
Malaria remains one of Africa's most persistent public health challenges, affecting more than 200 million people each year and causing nearly 600,000 deaths globallyâthe vast majority occurring on the African continent. Nigeria alone accounts for approximately 27% of all global malaria cases and 30.9% of deaths, making it the epicentre of the global crisis.
SORA's flagship initiative, SORA Malaria Control, combines satellite imagery, drone-based field data, and AI-powered analytics to predict disease outbreaks, identify high-risk areas, and deploy targeted vector control interventions. This precision approach represents a significant departure from traditional wide-area spraying campaigns that can waste up to 70% of chemicals on areas without mosquito breeding sites.
"We've always shown interest in drone technology, but never had the means to implement it. That's the gap we are helping to close," said Yosuke Kaneko, SORA's founder and CEO, speaking about the company's engagement with African governments.
Proven Impact Across 10+ African Countries
Since its launch in 2018, following early groundwork in 2015, SORA has deployed its technology across more than 10 African countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Kenya, Mozambique, and Nigeria. The company works directly with national and local governments, universities, and research institutions to integrate its technology into existing public health systems.
In Mozambique, SORA has launched a collaborative initiative with Unitaid and the World Health Organization (WHO) to advance wide-area, high-frequency monitoring infrastructure that enables more precise, scalable, and data-driven decision-making in malaria control.
The company's approach focuses on Larval Source Management (LSM), using fixed-wing drones to identify mosquito breeding sites and spray larvicides with precision. According to SORA, this method can reduce chemical use by 70% and cut operational costs in half compared to traditional methods.
Nigeria as a Strategic Priority
For SORA, Nigeria represents a critical frontier in the battle against malaria. The company has been in active discussions with Nigeria's National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and has hired a local representative to coordinate planned pilot programs.
"We want to start in January 2026," confirmed Mary Yeboah Asantewaa, SORA's African Business Lead, in a recent interview. The company is working with Nigerian health authorities to determine the best locations to begin operationsâwhether in high-transmission rural zones or densely populated urban areas.
With an estimated 68 million malaria cases and 194,000 malaria-related deaths recorded in Nigeria in 2021, the potential impact of SORA's technology could be transformative for the country's public health infrastructure.
Beyond Malaria: Expanding Applications
While malaria remains SORA's primary focus, the company is expanding its technology applications to other critical sectors on the continent. SORA's drone and satellite systems are now being deployed for environmental monitoring in mining operations and productivity optimization in agriculture.
The company has completed contracts on cocoa and rice farms in Ghana, including waterlogging detection and soil nutrient analysis. Two new spraying drones are scheduled to enter Ghana in January 2026, with Nigeria and Benin on the expansion roadmap.
SORA has also developed an "Agri-Intelligence Room" that uses satellite data and AI to predict outbreaks of other diseases including cholera, dengue, and Zika, positioning the company as a comprehensive health and environmental monitoring solution.
Scaling Toward Series A
The newly raised capital will be deployed across several strategic priorities, according to CEO Kaneko:
- Advancing AI algorithms for infectious disease prediction and environmental analysis
- Expanding field operations across African partner countries
- Strengthening partnerships with international institutions and governments
- Enhancing drone systems and local operational capabilities
- Building an assembly plant in Africa to improve deployment efficiency
"SORA Technology has been working to address critical healthcare infrastructure challenges primarily across Africa with the goal of achieving zero loss of life due to infectious diseases by leveraging the power of drones and AI," Kaneko stated in the funding announcement.
The company plans to deepen its presence across partner countries while preparing for a future Series A funding round. By year-end 2026, SORA aims to reach 100,000 people across the continent through its various interventions.
As SORA prepares to scale its operations in 2026, the company's success or failure will serve as a crucial test case for whether frontier technology can deliver sustainable solutions to Africa's most entrenched public health challenges.
