Softbank Group

ActiveVenture Capital

Updated: Dec 5, 2025 ·

Recent News & Mentions

Jan 26, 2026Acquisitiondigi Acquired by SoftBank Group

Financial History

Total Raised

N/A

Valuation

N/A

Investments Made

Date	Company	Round	Lead Investor(s)	Co-Investor(s)
Sep 1, 2025	Prorata.AI	$40.0M Series B	—	Alumni Ventures
Sep 1, 2025	Inbox Health	$20.0M Venture Round	—	Adverb Ventures, Chloe Sladden, C2 Investment, Catapult Capital, Commerce Ventures, Connecticut Innovations, Convective Capital, Expa, Greylock, Healthy Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Kleiner Perkins, Quiet Capital, Thrive Capital, TY, Aaron Levie, Bradley Horowitz, Jim Pitkow, Marc Benioff
Jul 1, 2025	Replit	$250.0M Series C	—	Afore Capital, Alumni Ventures, Amino Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bond, Bora&Sons, BoxOne Ventures, Craft Ventures, Founders Fund, Gaingels, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Harpoon, Hitachi Ventures, McCarthy Capital, Aaron Jacobson, Polychain Capital, Streamlined Ventures, SV Angel, Mike Kerns, The Hit Forge, Trajectory Ventures, UpHonest Capital, VU Venture Partners, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Y Combinator, Audrey Gelman, Conor Bronsdon, Emmett Shear, Hari Lakshmanan, Jeff Bezos, Joshua Webster, Kenji Niwa, Madhu Chamarty, Mark Pincus, Mattia Astori, Matt Mazzeo, Paul Graham, Richard Branson, Sam Altman, Sathvik Bilakanti, Sue Xu, Vinay Hiremath
Jun 1, 2025	Kognitos	$25.0M Series B	—	Alumni Ventures, Clear Ventures, Engineering Capital, FPV Fund, Insight Partners, Khosla Ventures, Operator Stack, Prosperity7 Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Zacua Ventures, Cherian Mathew
May 1, 2025	Ravio	$12.0M Series A	—	Andreessen Horowitz, Bora&Sons, Founder Collective, Founders Fund, Gaingels, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Jett Fein, Hitachi Ventures, Spark Capital, Streamlined Ventures, SV Angel, Tenaya Capital, Trajectory Ventures, UpHonest Capital, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Y Combinator, Paul Graham, Richard Branson, Sam Altman
May 1, 2025	EnduroSat	$49.0M Series B	—	Andreessen Horowitz, Bora&Sons, Founders Fund, Gaingels, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Hitachi Ventures, Humba Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, SV Angel, Trajectory Ventures, UpHonest Capital, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Y Combinator, Adrian Aoun, Jeff Bezos, Paul Graham, Richard Branson, Sam Altman
Apr 1, 2025	Exowatt	$35.0M Series A	—	8VC, Abstract Ventures, Afore Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Atomic, Bora&Sons, Caffeinated Capital, Cubit Capital, Felicis Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, Founders Fund, Gaingels, General Catalyst, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Hitachi Ventures, iNovia Capital, Maniv Mobility, NightDragon, Scribble Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Streamlined Ventures, SV Angel, The Hit Forge, Thrive Capital, Toyota Ventures, Trajectory Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, Uncork Capital, UpHonest Capital, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Y Combinator, Austin Ogilvie, Chris Bennett, Dylan Field, Elad Gil, Jacob Kerzner, Jeff Bezos, Justin Mateen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Graham, Prescott Watson, Richard Branson, Sam Altman, Thomas Tull
Jan 1, 2025	Safely You	$43.0M Series C	—	Adverb Ventures, AirAngels, AngelCube, ATX Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, CP Ventures, Engineering Capital, Forerunner Ventures, Foundation Capital, Greylock, Insight Partners, Inspired Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Klossy, Offline Ventures, Operator Stack, Otherwise Fund, Pantera Capital, Pioneer Fund, RevTech Ventures, Sound Ventures, Stage 2 Capital, Torch Capital, Upfront Ventures, Evan Williams, Jeffrey Wilke, Jonathan Widawski, Marissa Mayer, Mathilde Collin
Dec 1, 2024	Evinced	$55.0M Series C	—	Blumberg Capital, Celesta, Correlation Ventures, Engineering Capital, Industry Ventures, Insight Partners, Operator Stack, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Storm Ventures, Anshu Sharma
Oct 1, 2024	Pacific Fusion	$900.0M Series A	—	Addition, Adverb Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Chloe Sladden, Bond, C2 Investment, Catapult Capital, Commerce Ventures, Contrary Capital, DST Global, Expa, Floodgate, gener8tor, General Catalyst, Gradient Ventures, Greylock, Haystack, Idealab, Infinite Niches, Initialized Capital, Innovation Endeavors, Jetstream, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Lakestar, LGF, Long Journey Ventures, Lux Capital, Matrix, Mohamad Makhzoumi, Next Level Ventures, Quiet Capital, Rethink Education, Saga, Sherpalo Ventures, Sound Ventures, SV Angel, The Hit Forge, Thrive Capital, Tribe Capital, Venture Highway, Aaron Levie, Anne Wojcicki, Bradley Horowitz, Dylan Field, Elad Gil, Emil Michael, Gokul Rajaram, Henry Kravis, Immad Akhund, Jim Pitkow, Kunal Shah, Mandeep Singh, Manik Gupta, Marc Benioff, Mato Peric, Max Mullen, Nico Rosberg, Omid Ashtari, Scott Banister, Tony Xu
Apr 1, 2024	Exowatt	$20.0M Seed	—	8VC, Abstract Ventures, Afore Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Atomic, Bora&Sons, Caffeinated Capital, Cubit Capital, Felicis Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, Founders Fund, Gaingels, General Catalyst, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Hitachi Ventures, iNovia Capital, Maniv Mobility, NightDragon, Scribble Ventures, Seven Seven Six, Streamlined Ventures, SV Angel, The Hit Forge, Thrive Capital, Toyota Ventures, Trajectory Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, Uncork Capital, UpHonest Capital, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Y Combinator, Austin Ogilvie, Chris Bennett, Dylan Field, Elad Gil, Jacob Kerzner, Jeff Bezos, Justin Mateen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Graham, Prescott Watson, Richard Branson, Sam Altman, Thomas Tull
Apr 1, 2024	Zeck	$8.0M Series A	—	Airtree Ventures, Amasia, Cedar Capital Group, Five Sigma, Madrona Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Tiger Global Management
Apr 1, 2024	Auradine	$80.0M Series B	—	8VC, AIX Ventures, Celesta, Mayfield, Modern Venture Partners, NEO, Andrew Schoen, Greg Papadopoulos, Paradigm, SoftBank Investment Advisers, TriplePoint Capital, Arash Ferdowsi, Ron Pragides
Mar 1, 2024	IO River	$5.0M Seed	—	Andreessen Horowitz, Cyberstarts VC, Grove Ventures, M12, Race Capital, S Capital VC, Viola Ventures, Aryeh Mergi, Tony Jamous
Mar 1, 2024	Applied Intuition	$250.0M Series E	—	10100, 1confirmation, Abstract Ventures, Kevin Hartz, Adverb Ventures, AirAngels, Amplo, Andreessen Horowitz, Chloe Sladden, Anti fund, Atomico, Base Partners, Bond, BoxGroup, Brainchild, C2 Investment, Catapult Capital, Coatue, Collab Capital, Commerce Ventures, Construct Capital, Daffy, Divergence Ventures, Dynamo Ventures, Electric Capital, Entrepreneur First, Expa, Founders Fund, Fuel Capital, General Catalyst, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Greylock, Haystack, Hersh Interactive Group, Index Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, InterWest, IVP, Kleiner Perkins, LGF, Liquid 2 Ventures, Lux Capital, MaC Venture Capital, Menlo Ventures, Rick Yang, New Form Capital, Next Play Ventures, No Label Ventures, Otherwise Fund, Outcast Ventures, Polychain Capital, Quiet Capital, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Robot Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Sound Ventures, SparkLabs Group, The Hit Forge, Thrive Capital, UpHonest Capital, Visionaire Ventures, Aaron Levie, Aston Motes, Balaji Srinivasan, Bradley Horowitz, Carmelo Anthony (Melo7 Tech Partners), Diego Berdakin, DJ Patil, Dylan Field, Erik Moore, Gokul Rajaram, Jim Pitkow, John Legend, Justin Mateen, Kevin Colas, Marc Benioff, Mark Pincus, Mike Krieger, Rick Wagoner, Sahin Boydas, Stani Kulechov, Thomas Tull, Vitalik Buterin
Mar 1, 2024	Foundation Health	$6.0M Seed	—	Andreessen Horowitz, Bora&Sons, Calm/Storm Ventures, Founders Fund, Gaingels, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Hitachi Ventures, sequel, Streamlined Ventures, SV Angel, Trajectory Ventures, UpHonest Capital, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Y Combinator, Jeff Bezos, Paul Graham, Richard Branson, Sam Altman
Jan 1, 2024	Rune Labs	$12.0M Venture Round	—	Eclipse Ventures, Foundation Capital, Pathbreaker Ventures
Nov 1, 2023	Kognitos	$20.0M Series A	—	Clear Ventures, DN Capital, Engineering Capital, Insight Partners, Khosla Ventures, Operator Stack, Zacua Ventures, Harel Kodesh
Nov 1, 2023	Forward	$100.0M Series E	—	11, Adverb Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Chloe Sladden, C2 Investment, Catapult Capital, Commerce Ventures, DBL Partners, DTCP, Expa, Greylock, ICONIQ Capital, Innovation Endeavors, Kleiner Perkins, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Quiet Capital, sequel, SOSV, Thrive Capital, Aaron Levie, Anjney Midha, Bartek Pucek, Bradley Horowitz, Brendan Iribe, Jim Pitkow, Marc Benioff, Mattia Astori, Mike Krieger, Rob Theis, Siqi Chen
Oct 1, 2023	Circular	$8.0M Seed	—	Airtree Ventures, Amasia, Cedar Capital Group, eFounders, Five Sigma, iNovia Capital, LGF, LocalGlobe, Madrona Ventures, Partech Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, SoftBank Investment Advisers, The Yield Lab LATAM, Tiger Global Management, Y Combinator, Kunal Shah, Marc Benioff, Sam Altman
Sep 1, 2023	Pixis	$85.0M Series C	—	Airtree Ventures, Amasia, Amplify Partners, Audrey Capital, Avalon Ventures, Cedar Capital Group, Celesta, Dell Technologies Capital, Five Sigma, Fuel Capital, Genoa Ventures, Heavybit, IDG Ventures, Madrona Ventures, Alexander Rosen, Gil Penchina, Salesforce Ventures, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Tiger Global Management, Vertex Ventures, Alex Payne, Eric Ries, Jeremy LaTrasse, Kyle York, Mark Williamson
May 1, 2023	Inbox Health	$23.0M Series B	—	Adverb Ventures, Chloe Sladden, C2 Investment, Catapult Capital, Commerce Ventures, Connecticut Innovations, Convective Capital, Expa, Greylock, Healthy Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Kleiner Perkins, Quiet Capital, Thrive Capital, TY, Aaron Levie, Bradley Horowitz, Jim Pitkow, Marc Benioff
May 1, 2023	Auradine	$71.0M Series A	—	Celesta, Mayfield, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Ron Pragides
Apr 1, 2023	Bobsled, Inc.	$17.0M Series A	—	Airtree Ventures, Amasia, Cedar Capital Group, Five Sigma, Foundamental, Greycroft, Madrona Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Tiger Global Management
Apr 1, 2023	Quantum Source	$12.0M Seed	—	Andreessen Horowitz, Cyberstarts VC, Dell Technologies Capital, Eclipse Ventures, Grove Ventures, M12, Pitango Venture Capital, Race Capital, Viola Ventures, Aryeh Mergi, Tony Jamous

Financial History

Total Raised

N/A

Valuation

N/A

Leadership Team

Key people at Softbank Group.

Leadership Team

Key people at Softbank Group.

Deep Dive

SoftBank Group Corp. is a multinational conglomerate and technology investment firm founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son. It began as a software distributor in Japan and evolved into a global leader in telecommunications, internet services, and technology investments, with a strong focus on emerging sectors such as AI, IoT, and smart robotics. SoftBank’s mission centers on leveraging technology to build the infrastructure of the information society and driving innovation through strategic investments. Its investment philosophy emphasizes identifying transformative tech companies early, exemplified by its early stake in Alibaba and the creation of the Vision Fund, which targets high-growth startups globally. SoftBank’s impact on the startup ecosystem is profound, providing capital, strategic support, and a vast network that accelerates growth and innovation across key sectors like telecommunications, e-commerce, and AI[1][2][3].

SoftBank was founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son, who was inspired by the potential of personal computers after seeing a microchip image in a science magazine during his studies in the U.S. Initially, SoftBank distributed PC software in Japan, addressing a market gap between hardware manufacturers and software developers. The company quickly expanded into publishing computer magazines to promote its software offerings, creating synergies across its business units. In the 1990s, SoftBank shifted focus toward internet-related businesses, establishing Yahoo Japan in partnership with Yahoo! Inc. and going public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1999. Over time, it diversified into telecommunications, acquiring Vodafone Japan in 2006, and launched the Vision Fund in 2017 to invest in cutting-edge technology startups worldwide[1][2][3].

Core Differentiators

Unique Investment Model: SoftBank combines direct investments with large-scale funds like the Vision Fund, enabling it to back disruptive technologies at scale.
Network Strength: Its global network spans telecommunications, internet, and AI sectors, providing portfolio companies with unparalleled market access and partnerships.
Track Record: Early investments in Alibaba and other tech giants demonstrate its ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups.
Operating Support: SoftBank offers strategic guidance and operational resources, helping startups scale rapidly and navigate complex markets[1][2][3].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

SoftBank rides the wave of digital transformation driven by AI, IoT, and mobile connectivity. Its timing aligns with the global acceleration of technology adoption and the rise of platform-based business models. Market forces such as increasing data availability, cloud computing, and demand for smart devices favor SoftBank’s investment focus. By fueling innovation through capital and strategic partnerships, SoftBank shapes the broader ecosystem, influencing trends in telecommunications, e-commerce, and AI development worldwide[1][3].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, SoftBank is likely to deepen its focus on AI, robotics, and next-generation telecommunications infrastructure, leveraging its Vision Fund to back frontier technologies. Trends such as AI democratization, 5G/6G rollout, and smart automation will shape its investment strategy. SoftBank’s influence may grow as it continues to integrate its portfolio companies into a cohesive ecosystem, driving innovation and creating new market opportunities. Its founder Masayoshi Son’s long-term vision suggests a sustained commitment to pioneering technologies that redefine industries and society[1][3].

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Softbank Group?

Softbank Group was founded by Masayoshi Son (founder).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Softbank Group?

Softbank Group was founded by Masayoshi Son (founder).

Core Differentiators

Unique Investment Model: SoftBank combines direct investments with large-scale funds like the Vision Fund, enabling it to back disruptive technologies at scale.
Network Strength: Its global network spans telecommunications, internet, and AI sectors, providing portfolio companies with unparalleled market access and partnerships.
Track Record: Early investments in Alibaba and other tech giants demonstrate its ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups.
Operating Support: SoftBank offers strategic guidance and operational resources, helping startups scale rapidly and navigate complex markets[1][2][3].