
SoftBank Capital has invested in over 100 portfolio companies across various industries, including technology, finance, and healthcare.
SoftBank's investments have ranged from $10 million to $100 million, with some notable investments including Uber, Slack, and WeWork.
SoftBank's portfolio companies have generated significant returns, with some companies experiencing growth of over 10x their initial investment.
SoftBank's investment strategy focuses on identifying high-growth companies with innovative technologies and business models.
History
SoftBank Capital was established by four partners: Ron Fisher, Eric Hippeau, Steve Murray, and Michael Perlis. They initially led the investment branch of the Japanese telecom company, SoftBank Corp.
In November 2011, Mike Perlis stepped down as general partner at SoftBank Capital to become CEO of Forbes Media. This move marked a significant change in the leadership of SoftBank Capital.
In 2013, SoftBank Capital created a $250 million growth fund for companies such as Alibaba and MediaTek. This fund was a significant investment in the tech industry.

SoftBank Capital was closed by SoftBank in 2015, but it continued to oversee its prior portfolio. This decision allowed SoftBank to focus on other investment opportunities.
Here are some key dates in the history of SoftBank Capital:
SoftBank's investment arm has a long history of innovation and growth. Its decision to close SoftBank Capital in 2015 marked a significant shift in its investment strategy.
Investments
SoftBank Capital has made a significant number of investments, with 295 investments under their belt. Their latest investment was in Alto Pharmacy as part of their Series E - II on September 25, 2023.
One notable investment was made in 2013, when SoftBank Capital raised US$250 million in growth fund for companies including MediaTek and Alibaba. This investment was a significant boost to the company's portfolio.
SoftBank's Vision Fund has also made some impressive investments, including a US$450 million investment into the real estate technology company Compass. They also acquired a 20% equity in GM Cruise for US$2.25 billion made over two payments.

Here are some of the notable investments made by SoftBank's Vision Fund:
- A US$450 million investment into the real estate technology company Compass
- The acquisition of a 20% equity in GM Cruise for US$2.25 billion made over two payments
- A US$353 million investment in DoorDash, a food delivery company
- A 45% stake in Wag, a dog walking service
- Funding of US$865 million for Katerra, a construction company
- An additional investment of US$9.3 billion in Uber, which made SoftBank Uber’s largest shareholder
Investments
Softbank Capital has made a significant number of investments, with a total of 295 investments to date.
Their latest investment was in Alto Pharmacy as part of their Series E - II on September 25, 2023.
SoftBank's Vision Fund has made some massive investments, including a $1.4 billion acquisition of a third of Travis Kalanick's stake in Uber in March 2018.
The Vision Fund has also invested in companies like Compass, DoorDash, and GM Cruise, among others.
Here are some of the notable investments made by the Vision Fund:
SoftBank's Vision Fund was created in 2017 to invest in emerging technologies like AI and robotics. It aimed to develop a portfolio of 125 AI companies.
Business Units
SoftBank has a diverse range of business units, from telecommunications to publishing. SoftBank BB is a Japanese broadband company, while IDC Frontier focuses on data center services.

SoftBank also operates SB Creative, a publishing company that produces various content. SBI Group is a financial services company that was founded in 1999 as a branch of SoftBank.
SoftBank has a significant presence in the telecommunications industry through its subsidiary Ymobile Corporation, established in 2014. Wireless City Planning, founded in 2010, is responsible for planning TD-LTE networks throughout Japan.
SoftBank's venture capital arm is called SoftBank Capital, and it's based in the US. The company also owns the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks professional baseball team.
SoftBank has partnerships with various Japanese subsidiaries of foreign companies, including Yahoo!, E-Trade, and Ustream.tv. It also has stakes in Alibaba Group and Sprint Corporation.
Portfolio
SoftBank Capital has invested in several notable companies, including Slack, which was valued at $20 billion after its funding round in 2015.
Their investment in Uber helped the company expand its services to more cities worldwide.
SoftBank's investment in WeWork, a shared office space provider, has enabled the company to expand its presence globally.
Portfolio Exits

As you consider your portfolio's performance, you'll eventually reach a point where you need to exit your investments. This can be a difficult decision, but understanding your options is key.
A common exit strategy is to sell your shares, which can be done through a brokerage account. This is often the most straightforward option, but it may not be the most tax-efficient.
Tax-loss harvesting can be a useful strategy for offsetting gains with losses, but it's essential to understand the rules and limitations. For example, you can only use up to $3,000 in losses to offset gains each year.
Regularly reviewing your portfolio and re-balancing your investments can also help you identify opportunities to exit underperforming holdings. This can help you avoid significant losses and maintain a healthy portfolio.
Ultimately, the decision to exit a particular investment depends on your individual financial goals and risk tolerance.
104 Portfolio Exits
Softbank Capital has a notable track record of portfolio exits, with a total of 104 such exits.

The company's latest portfolio exit was Contagious Communications, which was acquired by Ascential on August 11, 2023, for an undisclosed valuation of $XXM.
The acquisition of Contagious Communications is just one of many recent exits for Softbank Capital. Here are some of the company's most recent portfolio exits:
These exits demonstrate Softbank Capital's ability to identify and support successful companies, ultimately leading to significant returns for investors.
3 Acquisitions
SoftBank Capital has made some significant moves in the past. They acquired National Leisure Group on May 12, 2000, for a valuation of $XXM.
The acquisition was a notable one, marking a major milestone for the company. SoftBank Capital has a history of strategic investments.
Here are the details of SoftBank Capital's three acquisitions:
We can see that SoftBank Capital has a history of investing in various companies, but the details of some of these investments are not publicly available.
Fund
SoftBank Capital's fund is a significant aspect of its operations. SoftBank Capital was established in 2011, led by four partners: Ron Fisher, Eric Hippeau, Steve Murray, and Michael Perlis.

The company created a $250 million growth fund in 2013, which invested in companies such as Alibaba and MediaTek. This fund was a notable investment move by SoftBank Capital.
SoftBank Capital closed its operations in 2015, but it continued to oversee its prior portfolio. In 2017, SoftBank launched Vision Fund 1 and 2, with plans to raise $100 billion for each fund, investing about $50 billion a year in startups.
2 Fund Histories
Softbank Capital has two funds, SB Capital '14 and SoftBank PrinceVille Investments Annex Fund. These funds are part of their investment portfolio.
The closing date for both funds was September 8, 2014. This is a notable date for investors who were involved in the fund-raising process.
The SB Capital '14 fund is a $100 million fund, which is a significant amount of capital. This fund was likely used to invest in various companies and projects.
Here's a breakdown of the two funds:
Note that the SoftBank PrinceVille Investments Annex Fund does not have an amount listed, which may indicate that the information is not publicly available.
Technology New York Fund Overview

The Softbank Capital Technology New York Fund L.P. is a venture capital fund with a total of $77.3 million in assets.
It was registered in Delaware, United States, indicating that it operates within a favorable regulatory environment for private investments.
The fund manager is Scp Management Llc, a company with a CRD number of 163854.
Scp Management Llc also manages 10 other private funds, showcasing their experience and expertise in the field of venture capital.
The fund relies on the Reg D exemption, a common provision for private funds to offer exemptions from certain securities regulations.
Technology Fund Details
Technology funds often have a complex ownership structure. A good example of this is Softbank Capital Technology New York Fund L.P., which has 9 beneficial owners.
The management team holds a relatively small percentage of ownership, at 2%. This suggests that the fund is likely to be professionally managed, with a focus on long-term investment rather than short-term gains.

The fund has a non-US ownership percentage of 0%, indicating that it is primarily invested in US-based companies. This could be a deliberate strategy to focus on the US market.
Softbank Capital Technology New York Fund L.P. uses Freed Maxick Cpas, P.C. as its auditor. This ensures that the fund's financial statements are accurate and compliant with relevant regulations.
The fund's custodian is J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, a reputable financial institution. This provides an added layer of security and oversight for the fund's assets.
News and Updates
SoftBank Capital has been making waves in the startup world, and one of the latest developments is the significant funding raised by EdCast Inc.
EdCast Inc, an online learning startup, has raised $16 million in Series B round of funding led by G.E. Asset Management, with participation from SoftBank Capital, Cervin Ventures, Stanford StartX Fund and Penta Global.
This funding will help EdCast Inc expand its knowledge network to collaborate with educational institutions, educators, enterprises, and governments worldwide.

The company plans to use the funding to help with daily relevant insights, and has recently tied up with HP’s online Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs termed as HP LIFE.
The list of Fortune 500 companies using EdCast is impressive, with the company on its way to defining and leading a new category in enterprise knowledge and intelligence.
Prior to this, EdCast had raised $6 Mn in Series A round of funding led by Softbank Capital in late 2014.
Ownership and Structure
SoftBank Capital is a venture capital arm of SoftBank Group, a Japanese multinational conglomerate.
SoftBank Capital was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in other major cities around the world.
The firm focuses on investing in technology startups in the United States, Europe, and Asia, with a particular emphasis on the internet, mobile, and software sectors.
SoftBank Capital has a significant presence in the venture capital industry, with a team of experienced investors and a global network of partners.
Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, plays a key role in the firm's investment decisions and strategy.
SoftBank Capital's investment approach is characterized by a long-term perspective and a willingness to take calculated risks on innovative startups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much capital does SoftBank have?
SoftBank's Vision Fund started with over $100 billion in capital. This massive investment makes it the world's largest technology-focused venture capital fund.
Sources
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