Bio-AI Startup Craif Raises ¥5.3 Billion to Accelerate US Expansion and Regulatory Approval for Pancreatic Cancer Diagnostic
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Funding Overview
Craif Inc., a Tokyo-based bio-AI startup, has announced that it secured approximately ¥5.3 billion (approx. $35 million) in a Series D funding round. This global financing round comprises a mix of third-party share allotment (equity), secondary transactions, and debt financing from financial institutions. With this latest injection of capital, Craif's cumulative funding since inception has reached approximately ¥14.2 billion.
About Craif
Founded in 2018 with the vision of "realizing a society where people can live out their natural lifespan," Craif develops non-invasive disease detection technologies powered by artificial intelligence. At the core of its innovation is "NANO IP®," a proprietary technology that captures and analyzes urinary microRNAs. Leveraging this platform, Craif offers "miSignal® Scan," a screening test capable of assessing the risk of 10 types of cancer—including pancreatic cancer—from Stage 1. The company has been actively expanding adoption across medical institutions and pharmacies in Japan.
Use of Funds and Strategic Roadmap
The newly raised capital will be deployed to strengthen R&D infrastructure at Craif's in-house Bio-AI Laboratory in San Diego, support the commercial rollout of its products in the US market, and advance clinical trials aimed at obtaining regulatory approval for its pancreatic cancer Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) in Japan. Craif aims to accelerate its global footprint by establishing a comprehensive "urine analysis platform" for early multi-disease detection.
Participating Investors
The Series D round was co-led by Granite Integral Capital Pte. Ltd. and Towns Co., Ltd. Additional participants include US-based venture firm Unreasonable Group, alongside existing investors such as X&KSK, Kodomonomori Co., Ltd., Hokuyo Startup No. 1 Fund, and Nagase Future Fund No. 1 Investment LPS, encompassing a total of seven institutional investors and several individual angel investors.