Startale Group announced a $13 million follow-on investment from Sony Innovation Fund at the first close of its Series A round, announced in Tokyo on January 29, 2026. The funding deepens a partnership that began in September 2023 and supports joint work undertaken via Sony Block Solutions Labs and the Soneium Ethereum Layer 2 network. Startale’s vertically integrated strategy — covering infrastructure, IP and AI — secured Sony’s renewed confidence.
Funding Details and Joint Ventures
The new capital flows into Soneium, the L2 that went live in January 2025. By the time of announcement, Soneium had processed over 500 million transactions, accumulated 5.4 million active wallets, and hosted more than 250 live dApps. CEO Sota Watanabe said Sony’s continued support “strengthens our ability to deliver the infrastructure required to realize that vision.” The total size of the Series A first close was not disclosed.
Use of Funds and Product Roadmap
The funds will accelerate development of entertainment-native onchain infrastructure: the Startale App, the Startale USD (USDSC) settlement layer, and creator-centric IP models. Startale and Sony also plan to advance pilot projects and ecosystem expansion through the Soneium joint venture, subject to jurisdictional considerations. Watanabe noted that Sony’s dual heritage in entertainment and technology positions the team to scale globally.
The investment signals Sony’s continued push into Web3 for fan economies, digital collectibles, and in-game asset settlement — all built on a dedicated blockchain entertainment layer.