Wasabi Sushi & Bento has raised a total of £55 million across multiple funding rounds, with HSBC as the lead investor. Known for its fresh, Japanese-inspired menu, the restaurant chain combines dine-in, takeout, and grocery services with a customer loyalty program to enhance the dining experience.
What Is Wasabi and What Does It Do?
Wasabi Sushi & Bento, headquartered in the UK, is a restaurant chain specializing in Japanese cuisine, including sushi, hot bento boxes, and noodle dishes. The company emphasizes fresh, daily-prepared meals and offers a rewards program that allows customers to earn points redeemable for food and beverages.
With a team of 167 employees, Wasabi operates multiple locations across the UK and also provides grocery and delivery services, ensuring customers can enjoy their favorite dishes at home. The company leverages technology through a user-friendly app for order management and rewards tracking, while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability across its operations.
How Much Funding Has Wasabi Raised?
1. Seed Round
- Amount Raised: $1.94M
- Date: May 2016
- Lead Investors: Not disclosed
- Motivation: To develop the initial product and validate market fit.
2. Series A
- Amount Raised: $6.26M
- Date: December 2016
- Lead Investors: Not disclosed
- Motivation: To launch the platform and initial operations.
3. Conventional Debt
- Amount Raised: $10.8M
- Date: July 2017
- Lead Investors: Not disclosed
- Motivation: To finance operational expansion.
4. Grant (Prize Money)
- Amount Raised: $371K
- Date: February 2018
- Lead Investors: European Union
- Motivation: To support innovation and early-stage research.
5. Series B
- Amount Raised: $68M
- Date: September 2018
- Lead Investors: Forestay Capital, Ernesto Bertarelli, DVI Equity Partners
- Motivation: To grow product portfolio and enhance market presence.
6. Series B
- Amount Raised: Undisclosed
- Date: September 2019
- Lead Investors: Ntt Docomo Ventures
- Motivation: To expand technology and service offerings.
7. Grant (Prize Money)
- Amount Raised: $333K
- Date: December 2019
- Lead Investors: European Union
- Motivation: To support innovation and early-stage development.
8. Series B
- Amount Raised: $30M
- Date: May 2020
- Lead Investors: Forestay Capital
- Motivation: To scale operations and accelerate growth.
9. Series B
- Amount Raised: $31.2M
- Date: January 2021
- Lead Investors: Not disclosed
- Motivation: To strengthen infrastructure and expand service reach.
10. Conventional Debt
- Amount Raised: $27.5M
- Date: January 2021
- Lead Investors: MGG Investment Group
- Motivation: To support short-term liquidity needs and business growth.
11. Series C
- Amount Raised: $112M
- Date: April 2021
- Lead Investors: Fidelity Investments, North Atlantic Capital
- Motivation: To enhance technology and operational capabilities.
12. Series C
- Amount Raised: $25M
- Date: May 2021
- Lead Investors: Prosperity7 Ventures, Western Digital
- Motivation: To fuel product development and market expansion.
13. Series D
- Amount Raised: $125M
- Date: September 2022
- Lead Investors: L2 Point, Cedar Pine, Fidelity Investments, Forestay, MGG Investment Group
- Motivation: To strengthen market position and support strategic initiatives.
14. Series D
- Amount Raised: $15M
- Date: December 2022
- Lead Investors: Azura, SIS Global, Prosperity7 Ventures
- Motivation: To scale operations and enhance product offerings.
15. Series E
- Amount Raised: $32.5M
- Date: September 2025
- Lead Investors: Not disclosed
- Motivation: To support expansion and operational growth.
Total Funding Raised: $494.64 Million+
Current Valuation: $1.1 Billion (as of September, 2022)
Latest Funding Date: September 2025
Key Investors
1. HSBC
- Details: One of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations, headquartered in London, serving over 40 million customers across 64 countries.
- Investment Focus Areas: Banking, financial services, wealth management.
- Notable Investments: Zolve, FIA Tech, Elliptic.
2. Azura
- Details: Venture capital firm based in London, UK.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software.
- Notable Investments: Crabi, GC AI, and Imprint.
3. SIS Global
- Details: Investment firm located in South Africa.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, cloud services, and global tech ventures.
- Notable Investments: Fusion, EduVault, Verge AI.
4. Prosperity7 Ventures
- Details: Investment arm of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, energy, digital transformation, and consumer services.
- Notable Investments: SUNRATE, TensorWave, Together AI, Insilico Medicine.
5. MGG Investment Group
- Details: Private investment firm specializing in both equity and debt financing for high-growth companies, based in New York City, USA.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, financial services, and growth-stage startups.
- Notable Investments: United Medical Systems, Sightpath Medical, Figo Pet Insurance, Sunpro Solar.
6. Forestay Capital
- Details: Investment firm based in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, and consumer services.
- Notable Investments: Datavations, Buynomics, Luminance, Convelio.
7. NTT Docomo Ventures
- Details: Venture capital arm of NTT Docomo, based in Minato, Japan.
- Investment Focus Areas: Mobility, technology, and digital services.
- Notable Investments: Realeyes, Wiliot, VDOO, Seemplicity.
8. DVI Equity Partners
- Details: Investment firm located in Tucson, USA.
- Investment Focus Areas: Technology, healthcare, and consumer services.
- Notable Investments: Luminar Technologies, Wasabi, Section, TalentReef.
Where Is Wasabi’s Headquarters?
Wasabi is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, strategically located to support its network of restaurant locations, delivery services, and grocery operations. The central location allows for efficient supply chain management and seamless customer service across its outlets.
What’s Next for Wasabi?
Wasabi continues to expand its footprint in the UK, with plans to grow its restaurant network and enhance its digital ordering and loyalty platform. The company is exploring new delivery partnerships and sustainability initiatives to meet the evolving expectations of customers. With strong backing from HSBC and from other investors and a focus on operational excellence,
Wasabi is well-positioned to strengthen its brand presence and continue delivering high-quality Japanese cuisine to a wider audience.
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