Preferred Networks — Valuation, Funding & Investors

Preferred Networks is a Japanese company building deep learning technology across the AI value chain, from its own AI chips and computing infrastructure to generative AI foundation models and applications. It was spun off in 2014 from Preferred Infrastructure, a search and natural language processing venture founded in 2006 by University of Tokyo students including Toru Nishikawa and Daisuke Okanohara.

Headquartered in Tokyo, the company focuses on transportation, manufacturing and bio-healthcare, and developed the open-source Chainer deep learning framework before ceasing it in 2019. Preferred Networks has partnered with Toyota, FANUC and National Cancer Center Japan, and formed a 2026 alliance with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on mission-critical AI technologies.

Listed funds carry late-stage private names. A fund's latest schedule of investments shows whether it holds Preferred Networks.

Often trade at a premium or discount to NAV.

Platforms match existing holders with buyers. Preferred Networks availability at any moment is set by the holders.

High minimums, transfer approval, company right-of-first-refusal.

Valuations, rounds and IPO status for every company in the directory — Preferred Networks included.

The routes section explains what is realistically available for a company at this stage.

No. Preferred Networks is a private company; its shares do not trade on a public exchange.

The last valuation is $3.3B.

Lead investors for each round are in the funding timeline.