SORA Technology Acquires Majority Stake in Zmart to Accelerate Strategic Partnership
SORA Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan; Founder & CEO: Yosuke Kaneko, “SORA Technology”), a company leveraging AI and aerospace technologies to address global health and climate challenges, today announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Zmart Ltd. (“Zmart”), a satellite analytics company focused on malaria control, making it a subsidiary.
Through this strategic move, SORA Technology will integrate its drone-based data collection and AI-driven field operations with Zmart’s satellite data and AI analytics capabilities, significantly enhancing the efficiency and scalability of malaria control interventions worldwide.
Background of the Partnership
SORA Technology has been advancing malaria control through drone-based surveillance and AI-powered operational optimization in the field. To further improve large-scale risk assessment and optimize intervention prioritization, the integration of satellite data and geospatial analytics has become increasingly important.
Zmart specializes in AI-based analysis of satellite imagery and GIS data to identify high-risk malaria areas and support the design and implementation of targeted intervention strategies. The company has demonstrated strong real-world impact, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa:
- Ghana (Obuasi)
Improved breeding site detection accuracy, resulting in over 60% reduction in mosquito population and significant cost savings. - São Tomé and Príncipe
Government-led project achieving approximately 75% reduction in mosquito population and 52% reduction in malaria incidence. , with a cost per person protected of US$ 0.44 PPP in the urban area and US$ 1.41 PPP in the rural area. - Tanzania (Zanzibar)
Ongoing drone-based detection initiatives are being carried out by Zmart in collaboration with Aberystwyth University and the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme , who are leading a Gates Foundation funded project into the use of drones, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence to map mosquito breeding sites and support larviciding.
These projests demonstrate the practical effectiveness and scalability of Zmart’s technology.
Overview of Zmart
Company Name: Zmart Ltd.
CEO: Arnon Houri Yafin
Business: AI-powered satellite and geospatial data analytics platform for malaria control. Zmart developed the Zzapp platform, which includes a mobile app, dashboard, and planning tool. The team won the global XPRIZE AI for Good competition.
Future Outlook
This transaction represents a strategic integration of SORA Technology and Zmart, accelerating the convergence of drones, satellites, and data analytics in malaria control.
Going forward, SORA Technology aims to:
Expand revenue generation through LSM (Larval Source Management) projects across Africa and World Bank-funded programs
Advance technology validation and pipeline development through grants and partnerships, including with the Gates Foundation
Scale integrated malaria control solutions across multiple regions
The combined platform will enable:
- Integration of Drones and Satellites
Satellite data for large-scale risk mapping
Drone technology for precise, localized detection of breeding sites - Integration of AI and Field Operations
AI-driven prioritization of interventions
Digitization and optimization of field operations - Scalable Malaria Control
Cost-effective, high-impact interventions across urban and peri-urban areas
Malaria remains a critical global health challenge, with over 200 million infections and approximately 600,000 deaths annually, most of them children under five. Climate change, including flooding and drought, is expected to expand mosquito habitats and increase transmission risks.
SORA Technology remains committed to leveraging advanced technologies to address this urgent global issue.
Comments from CEOs
Yosuke Kaneko, Founder & CEO of SORA Technology
“This acquisition marks an important step toward building a truly integrated sky-based infrastructure for global health. By combining Zmart’s satellite intelligence with our drone-powered field operations, we can fundamentally transform how malaria is monitored and controlled at scale.
We are excited to build together with Arnon and the Zmart team as one team and long-term partners, accelerating our impact across Africa and beyond. Together, we aim not only to advance malaria control, but also to expand into broader applications such as climate adaptation and agriculture.”
Arnon Houri Yafin, CEO of Zmart
“Strong partnerships begin with shared values. Zmart was built on two core principles: ambition and precision. We believe that progress toward malaria elimination requires ambitious operations that address the disease from multiple angles.
Precision is just as important. When data and artificial intelligence are integrated into public health operations planning, interventions become more effective, more targeted, and more scalable.
From my first meeting with the SORA team, it was clear that they share these values. Together, we are confident that we can scale our impact and bring smarter, more effective malaria control to the communities that need it most.”
Company Profile
Company Name: SORA Technology Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 2-14-1 Nagono, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Representative: Yosuke Kaneko (Founder & CEO)
Established: 2020
Business: Development and provision of drone- and AI-powered technologies for infectious disease control, agricultural support, and climate adaptation.
Mission: SORA Technology is committed to the mission of “Transforming lives from the sky (SORA).” By leveraging advanced drone and AI technologies, the company aims to help build safe and prosperous societies anywhere in the world. Centered in Africa and other developing regions, SORA provides a wide range of services, from infectious disease surveillance and control to agricultural productivity enhancement and climate adaptation support.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sora-technology/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sora.technology/
