MPower Partners Fund, a Japan-based global venture capital fund, has invested in EdgeCortix Inc., a fabless semiconductor company pioneering energy-efficient AI processing at the edge, headquartered in Tokyo. 

As AI becomes embedded in every layer of critical infrastructure — from defense systems and robotics to industrial automation — the demand for processors that can deliver high-performance inference at ultra-low power is accelerating. Edge AI, which processes data directly on devices rather than relying on centralized cloud servers, has become essential for real-time decision-making in environments where size, latency, power, and security constraints make cloud-dependent architectures impractical.

EdgeCortix has developed a proprietary AI accelerator hardware and software platform that delivers industry-leading performance-per-watt for edge inference workloads. Its flagship SAKURA-II AI co-processor handles real-time generative AI inference on multi-billion-parameter models within an approximately 8-watt power envelope, achieving up to five times greater energy efficiency than conventional edge GPUs. Paired with the company's MERA compiler and software framework, the platform enables rapid deployment of advanced AI models across embedded systems, enterprise servers, and edge devices. The company is also advancing its next-generation SAKURA-X chiplet platform, for scalable high-performance applications.

By enabling powerful AI inference at a fraction of the power and cost of existing solutions, EdgeCortix's technology has the potential to reshape how intelligence is deployed at the edge globally.

Founded by CEO Dr. Sakyasingha Dasgupta, EdgeCortix brings together world-class expertise in AI, semiconductor design, and software engineering built over two decades of research at institutions including Max Planck Institute, RIKEN, Microsoft, and IBM Research. The team's patented hardware-software co-design methodology sets it apart as one of the rare global deeptech semiconductor leaders headquartered in Japan.

EdgeCortix's energy-efficient AI semiconductor technology directly contributes to "Japan Dynamism," one of MPower Partners Fund II's core investment themes, by strengthening Japan's sovereign capability in AI hardware, enabling dual-use applications across commercial and defense sectors, and positioning the country at the forefront of the global edge AI infrastructure race. While Japan's semiconductor resurgence has largely focused on fabrication, the country remains underrepresented in frontier AI chip design. EdgeCortix, with its R&D headquarters and core engineering team based in Tokyo, is building proprietary AI processor architecture from the ground up, addressing a critical gap in Japan's semiconductor value chain. This strategic importance has been recognized both domestically and internationally: EdgeCortix has been awarded a cumulative ¥7 billion in government-backed projects from NEDO since 2024 to develop a next-generation low-power AI inference and learning chiplet platform, and was selected by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit, the only Japanese and the only semiconductor company to receive such an award. 

Through this investment, we will work closely with EdgeCortix to accelerate its commercial traction in Japan by leveraging MPower's deep relationships with domestic telcos, industrial conglomerates, and defense primes to open new channels for its SAKURA AI accelerator platform. We will also support EdgeCortix in navigating Japan's evolving dual-usage application landscape and policy environment, helping the company position its technology within government-led initiatives to strengthen the nation's AI and semiconductor infrastructure.

Comment from Dr. Sakyasingha Dasgupta, Founder and CEO, EdgeCortix

“Japan is exceptionally well-positioned to lead the next generation of AI infrastructure, not only through advanced fabrication, but through fundamental innovation across the fabless design ecosystem,” said Dr. Sakyasingha Dasgupta. “MPower’s deep engagement across Japan’s industrial and policy ecosystem, combined with their global perspective, aligns closely with our mission to build energy-efficient AI platforms that can scale both within Japan and worldwide.”

Comment from Kathy Matsui, General Partner at MPower Partners

EdgeCortix develops innovative and energy-efficient AI inference processors for edge computing in defense, aerospace, and robotics — sectors core to MPower's “Japan Dynamism” thesis. Its Dynamic Neural Accelerator delivers up to 240 TOPS within a minimal power envelope, addressing a critical gap as AI workloads migrate from data centers to resource-constrained devices. The software-first architecture reduces deployment friction and extends product longevity across diverse environments. MPower is excited to partner with the EdgeCortix team to support their growth in Japan as well as expansion into global markets.

About EdgeCortix

• CEO: Dr. Sakyasingha Dasgupta

• Established: 2019

• Location: KDX Musashi Kosugi Bldg 10F, 3-1200, Shin-Maruko Higashi, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 211-0004, Japan

• Corporate URL: www.edgecortix.com

• Press release by company: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260414508226/en/EdgeCortix-Announces-New-Inves[…]ower-Partners-to-Advance-Next-Generation-Edge-AI-Platforms

About MPower Partners

MPower Partners is a Japan-based venture capital fund with a mission to empower visionary gamechangers and unlock transformative growth. With our diverse investment team and deep global networks, we identify and support high-potential ventures both in Japan and internationally. We go beyond capital investments by helping drive true and sustainable growth among our portfolio startups via our proprietary ESG framework. On a broader level, as bridge-builders and ecosystem shapers, we hope to leave the Japanese venture capital ecosystem better than we found it, one with more diversity and scale.

Fund website: https://www.mpower-partners.com

For inquiries, please contact: info@mpower-partners.com

This press release has been prepared for the purpose of providing information to qualified institutional investors and potential portfolio companies of the Fund, and is not a disclosure document pursuant to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, and does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation to purchase the Fund.