SmartNews operates a global news discovery and aggregation platform founded in 2012. The company develops a smartphone-optimized mobile app that combines algorithmic recommendation with human editorial curation to deliver news from over 3,000 media partners and 200+ local news sites. The platform serves more than 40 million readers worldwide and delivers over 400,000 articles daily.
The company maintains offices across Tokyo (headquarters), Osaka, Palo Alto, New York, and Singapore. Its technical capabilities span mobile app development, news aggregation, recommendation algorithms, human editorial oversight, and advertising technology. The platform has received multiple awards including the Prime Minister's Award at the Japan Startup Awards 2023 and recognition from Google Play and the App Store.
SmartNews operates three primary business lines: the core news aggregation app, SmartNews Ads (offering advertising solutions to brands), and SmartNews+ (a subscription service featuring curated content from premium media partners). The company maintains SlowNews, Inc., a subsidiary dedicated to supporting investigative journalism. Its stated mission is delivering quality information to people worldwide through a combination of intelligent algorithms and expert curation.
