• Rakuten's Ukraine support activities led it to partner with German defense-AI company Helsing, prompting several sellers to leave its marketplace.
  • Rakuten aims to bridge overseas defense startups and Japan's market, navigating complex procurement barriers facing foreign entrants.
  • Helsing, founded in 2021, raised $1.8 billion in July at an $18 billion valuation, growing rapidly through its Ukraine-tested technology.