Naomi Osaka’s Media Arm Hana Kuma Receives $5M in Funding

Hana Kuma, a media company started by Naomi Osaka has raised a $5 million funding round.

In June 2022, Osaka teamed up with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company to launch her media company, Hana Kuma.

SpringHill, Epic Games, Fenway Sports Group (owner of the Boston Red Sox), The Kinoshita Group, and Disruptive (a technology investment firm) were among the participants in the investment for Hana Kuma. SpringHill will spin off from the investment as part of the arrangement.

“We really want to see her build her own version of SpringHill,” Carter told the outlet. “We’ve worked really hard to get SpringHill where it is, but now we want to help others to do the same, and to do it different than as we have done at SpringHill, and to do it in their own way and their own voice.”

Hana Kuma was founded by Osaka and Stuart Duguid with a mission to create culturally specific stories that address prevalent issues, particularly those affecting people of color and women. Their aim is to use the power of media to bring these important topics to the forefront and promote greater understanding and inclusivity.

The race to create sports production arms is on.