If you’re someone who takes a keen interest in knowing about startups and their funding, one name you may have come across innumerable times would be SoftBank. The company is an investor in just about all major startups with interests in everything from robotics to satellites, artificial intelligence to computerized enhancements for human bodies.
Who is SoftBank?
SoftBank is a Tokyo-based Telecom Company. Started in 1981 the company now expanded in an array of ares which include e-commerce, finance, broadband, marketing, and others. The company has a portfolio including SoftBank BB, GungHo Online Entertainment, IDC Frontier, and more.
The company lately has become an aggressive investor on a spending spree who is buying numbers smaller companies and initiating investments in many others. For instance, the company in July 2016 purchased UK-based chip manufacturer ARM for £24 billion, with an eye toward continuing to develop the Internet of Things and it is only last week, it announced that it would buy two additional robotics companies from Alphabet after its earlier purchase of Boston Dynamics, the developer of the iconic Big Dog robot, and Schaft, a less well-known robotics outfit.
Masayoshi Son
SoftBank is headed by chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son. Son has established himself as an assertive and confident player in the international tech scene. With about $100 billion to invest on companies developing the technology of the future, Son has ample room to explore a variety of new areas. According to The Economic Times, Son has strong opinions about the future of SoftBank and has put forth a conception of a 300-year plan for the company, with the end goal being to build the most valuable firm in the world. The key to Son’s future investments is SoftBank’s Vision Fund, dedicated to M&A deals like those listed above.
The list of acquisitions continues to grow. Back in April of this year, Son was behind the $5.5-billion venture into Didi Chuxing, the massive ride-sharing company out of China. Describing the acquisition as a “big bang,” Son went on to say that he believes “the next big bang is going to be even bigger. To be ready for that, we need to set the foundation, and that foundation is SoftBank Vision Fund.”
Given the vast amounts of capital that Son already has at his disposal, some outsiders are wondering what he aims to do. Some analysts have concerns that Son’s investments may flood capital into the tech sector, prompting inflated valuations, excessive lists of competitors, and ultimately hindering the process of technological development.
