Corporate Development Associate

Sakana AI, a Japan-based AI startup, is hiring a Corporate Development Associate in its corporate-planning team to design capital policy and M&A strategy amid a fast-evolving AI industry and push the company onto the world stage. Responsibilities: capital policy (equity-story construction and finance strategy for enterprise-value growth, leading fundraising rounds); M&A (planning, sourcing and executing M&A and strategic investments); partnerships (driving strategic partnerships with major domestic/overseas companies and research institutions); and IPO preparation (driving the listing process with the corporate team and securities firms). Requirements: experience in one of (i) fundraising/M&A advisory/IPO at a global investment bank, (ii) sourcing and execution at a global PE fund, or (iii) corporate planning at a global tech company's Japan operations (AI a plus); native-level Japanese (around N1) and business English; strong passion for generative AI (LLMs, AI agents); and a bachelor's/master's in finance, business, economics or law (CFA/CPA a plus). The role is full-time and Tokyo-based; CV and cover letter are submitted in English. Full-time, based in Tokyo.