SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 27 May 2020 - Sentient.io, AI (artificial intelligence) and Data Platform backed by the national technology research institution in Singapore, A*STAR and the global technology venture capital, BEENEXT, has announced that it has closed Series A funding from Singapore and Japanese investors. This round was led by Digital Garage Group together with ABC Dream Ventures which is a corporate venture capital firm of Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation, a major Japanese TV station, and Leave a Nest Group, the global deep-tech innovation accelerator. To-date, the Company has raised more than USD$5 million investment since its inception in May 2017.

Sentient.io has built a unique AI and Data Platform which empowers software developers to pick from its pre-trained AI microservices that can help them to create smart applications which are powered by AI and for big data owners, like telcos, manufacturers, government and mass media companies to generate the new values from their data asset.

The new fund is used for scaling the platform to the global market, especially to fulfil the surging demand for the Digital Transformation from Japanese corporations.

Mr Christopher Yeo, Founder and CEO of Sentient.io, said: "We are pleased that during this Covid-19 pandemic, we have major Japanese Corporations to participate in our Series A funding round and we believe that our collaboration will accelerate innovative solutions and bring these to the market at a quicker pace. This will also help to fulfil our vision of benefiting humanity with augmented intelligence."

Mr Naoto Obama, CEO, ABC Dream Ventures, Inc. said: "The proactive use of AI and Data to create content and non-broadcast-based content reinforces and complements our broadcasting business. This generates synergies with ABC Group of companies to achieve new business value, which has always been one of our strategic objectives. Investing in Sentient.io is aligned with our strategic initiatives."

Dr Yukihiro Maru, founder and Group CEO of Leave a Nest Group, said: "We want to promote the collaboration between Japan and Singapore's start-ups in terms of technology, support and connect them to our network with private companies, government agencies and universities to enter into Japan market. Sentient.io is an AI company which we believe will bring much value and knowledge to our partner companies in Japan."

Mr Yeo added, "Sentient.io will continue to raise funds from the international financial markets to enable us to expand our talent in research, sales and engineering with a strategic focus on developing businesses in the Urban Living, Digital Economy and Next Generation Wellness industries as an AI service provider.  We will also scale up our presence locally as well as overseas with sales offices starting in Japan this year. Expansion into Indonesia and the U.S. are being planned."