SoftBank Group

SoftBank Group Corp. is a Japanese multinational investment holding company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. Founded by Masayoshi Son in 1981, it began as a distributor and publisher of computer software and technology magazines before evolving into one of the world’s most prominent technology investors. The group’s activities have included telecommunications, broadband, internet services, e-commerce, semiconductors, robotics, artificial intelligence, logistics, transportation, financial technology, real estate and shared offices. The company’s early expansion was built around technology media and strategic investments. It became a public company in 1994, acquired Ziff Davis’s publishing operations in the United States, and formed a joint venture with Yahoo that became Yahoo Japan, now part of LY Corporation. SoftBank’s early internet investments gave it exposure to the growth of the Asian digital economy, most notably through its investment in Alibaba. That holding later became one of the most valuable technology investments in corporate history and helped finance further expansion. SoftBank entered Japanese mobile telecommunications through the 2006 acquisition of Vodafone Japan. The business was renamed SoftBank Mobile and became the foundation of the modern SoftBank telecommunications operation. The group subsequently expanded internationally through the acquisition of stakes in Sprint in the United States, Arm Holdings in the United Kingdom, and a range of consumer-internet and technology companies. It also acquired or supported businesses such as Supercell, WeWork, Uber, Coupang, DoorDash, Grab, Flipkart, Paytm, OYO and other high-growth companies. The group’s investment profile changed substantially after the creation of the SoftBank Vision Fund in 2017. Capital from SoftBank and external investors, including Middle Eastern sovereign wealth institutions and major technology companies, was deployed into late-stage technology companies at unprecedented scale. The strategy emphasized companies expected to benefit from network effects, artificial intelligence, automation and the digitization of consumer and business services. The fund’s size and investment pace made SoftBank a defining force in global venture and growth investing, while also exposing the group to substantial valuation volatility and losses when high-growth technology markets weakened. SoftBank Group is distinct from SoftBank Corp., the separately listed Japanese telecommunications company that was spun out through an initial public offering in 2018. SoftBank Group remains the parent investment holding company and retains exposure to telecommunications through its ownership of SoftBank Corp., while its broader portfolio is managed through investment subsidiaries and funds. Arm, acquired in 2016 and later listed again in the United States, is one of the group’s most strategically important semiconductor assets. The company is strongly associated with Son, who has served as its dominant strategic leader and largest shareholder. His approach combines telecommunications ownership, concentrated technology investments and long-term bets on artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure. This approach has produced both exceptional gains and highly visible setbacks, including losses connected with WeWork and other portfolio companies. In 2025, SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle and MGX announced Stargate, a proposed large-scale artificial-intelligence infrastructure initiative in the United States. The announcement reflected SoftBank’s continuing shift toward AI infrastructure, advanced computing and semiconductor-related opportunities. Today, SoftBank Group’s principal identity is that of a technology-focused investment platform rather than a conventional telecom operator. Its portfolio and fund commitments span multiple regions and sectors, and its reported results can vary significantly with public-market prices, private-company valuations, asset sales and inve…

SoftBank was founded on 3 September 1981 by Masayoshi Son, initially operating as a software distributor. It entered technology publishing in 1982 with computer magazines covering NEC and Sharp platforms. The publishing business became an important source of influence in Japan’s personal-computer industry, and SoftBank later expanded into trade shows and international technology media. The company went public in 1994 and soon accelerated its overseas expansion. It acquired Ziff Davis publishing assets in 1995 and purchased COMDEX, a major computer trade show, in 1995. During the second half of the decade, Son shifted the company toward internet businesses and strategic equity investments. SoftBank created a joint venture with Yahoo in 1996 that became Yahoo Japan, and it acquired a large stake in Kingston Technology before later selling the business back to its founders. In 2000, SoftBank invested in Alibaba, then a young Chinese internet company. The investment became the group’s most important historic financial success. SoftBank reorganized as a holding company in 1999 and continued building a portfolio across communications, internet services and entertainment. It acquired the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks baseball team in 2005, later known as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. In 2006, it agreed to acquire Vodafone Japan. The transaction gave SoftBank a nationwide mobile telecommunications platform, which was rebranded SoftBank Mobile in October of that year. During the 2010s, SoftBank pursued international scale. It acquired eAccess and integrated related mobile operations with Willcom and Ymobile. In 2013, it agreed to acquire control of Sprint in the United States, completing the transaction after regulatory approval in 2013. SoftBank also invested in mobile games, Indian e-commerce and ride-hailing companies, and acquired control of French robotics company Aldebaran Robotics, which became SoftBank Robotics. SoftBank and Aldebaran developed Pepper, a humanoid robot marketed for commercial and customer-service settings. In 2016, SoftBank sold its stake in Supercell to Tencent and completed the acquisition of Arm Holdings for more than $30 billion. Arm gave the group control of a globally important semiconductor architecture and strengthened its exposure to mobile computing, embedded systems and energy-efficient processors. That year, SoftBank also announced a proposed investment in United States businesses following a meeting between Son and the incoming U.S. president. The group’s most consequential transformation came in 2017 with the creation of the SoftBank Vision Fund. Backed principally by SoftBank and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, with participation from other investors, the fund pursued large investments in late-stage technology companies. It invested in businesses including WeWork, Uber, DoorDash, Auto1, Opendoor and numerous companies in India, China and Southeast Asia. SoftBank also acquired Boston Dynamics from Alphabet and expanded its interests in robotics and automation. The investment strategy generated major gains in some holdings but also substantial losses and criticism. The collapse in the valuation of several highly funded technology companies exposed the risks of aggressive growth investing, concentrated positions and private-market valuations. The WeWork investment became especially problematic after the company’s failed 2019 public offering and subsequent financial distress. SoftBank launched plans for a second Vision Fund in 2019, although the scale and availability of outside capital were affected by changing market conditions. In 2018, SoftBank listed SoftBank Corp., its Japanese telecommunications subsidiary, while retaining the investment-group identity at the parent level. The group’s name was changed from SoftBank Corp. to SoftBank Group Corp. in 2015, while the operating telecom company adopted the SoftBank Corp. name. Subsequent years focused on portfolio management, asset sales, balance-sheet protection and the repositioning of the group around artificial intelligence and computing. Arm was transferred into the public markets through a 2023 listing in the United States, although SoftBank retained a controlling interest. The listing reinforced Arm’s importance to the group and gave SoftBank a liquid strategic asset linked to the growth of AI-enabled computing. In January 2025, SoftBank joined OpenAI, Oracle and MGX in announcing Stargate, a proposed U.S. AI infrastructure project. The announcement illustrated the group’s continuing effort to move from venture investing toward large-scale AI infrastructure, semiconductors and computing capacity.

1. 2025Stargate AI infrastructure initiative announced

   SoftBank joins OpenAI, Oracle and MGX in announcing a proposed large-scale U.S. AI infrastructure project.

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2. 2023Arm returns to public markets

   Arm is listed in the United States while remaining controlled by SoftBank.

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3. 2018SoftBank Corp. IPO

   The Japanese telecommunications subsidiary is separately listed, distinguishing it from SoftBank Group’s investment-holding structure.

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4. 2017SoftBank Vision Fund launches

   SoftBank and international institutional investors establish a very large technology-focused investment fund.

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5. 2016Arm Holdings acquisition

   SoftBank completes its acquisition of British semiconductor-design company Arm Holdings.

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6. 2013Sprint acquisition

   SoftBank acquires control of U.S. wireless carrier Sprint.

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7. 2006Vodafone Japan acquisition

   SoftBank acquires Vodafone’s Japanese mobile operation and rebrands it SoftBank Mobile.

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8. 2000Investment in Alibaba

   SoftBank invests in Alibaba during the company’s early development.

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9. 1996Yahoo Japan joint venture

   SoftBank and Yahoo create the Japanese internet venture that becomes Yahoo Japan.

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10. 1994Initial public offering

    SoftBank becomes a publicly traded company.

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11. 1982Technology publishing begins

    SoftBank launches computer magazines covering NEC and Sharp systems.

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12. 1981SoftBank is founded

    Masayoshi Son establishes SoftBank as a software-distribution company in Japan.

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A global technology investment group pursuing large-scale, long-horizon positions in artificial intelligence, computing, telecommunications and digital platforms.

• SoftBank Vision FundTechnology investment fund2017

  SoftBank’s flagship technology investment platform, created to provide very large amounts of growth capital to companies in artificial intelligence, communications, software, logistics, financial technology, mobility and other digital sectors. Its portfolio approach made SoftBank one of the most influential investors in late-stage technology companies, while its exposure to private valuations also produced significant volatility.

• Arm HoldingsSemiconductor technology

  Arm designs processor architectures and related technology licensed by semiconductor manufacturers and technology companies. Its designs are widely used in mobile devices, embedded systems and increasingly in data-center and AI applications. SoftBank acquired Arm in 2016 and retained control after Arm returned to public markets in 2023.

• SoftBank telecommunications operationsTelecommunications2006

  SoftBank Group’s telecommunications exposure is centered on SoftBank Corp., the separately listed Japanese operating company formed from the group’s domestic mobile and broadband businesses. The operation provides mobile, broadband and related digital services in Japan and traces its corporate origins to SoftBank’s acquisition of Vodafone Japan.

• PepperRobotics2014

  Pepper is a humanoid robot developed by SoftBank Robotics and Aldebaran Robotics for interaction with people in commercial, educational and customer-service environments. It was presented as a platform for human-robot communication rather than a general-purpose industrial machine.

• StargateArtificial-intelligence infrastructure2025

  Stargate is a proposed AI infrastructure initiative announced by SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle and MGX. The project is intended to support large-scale computing and data-center capacity in the United States and reflects SoftBank’s strategic emphasis on AI infrastructure.

• 2010SoftBank mobile brand campaign featuring Ayumi Hamasaki

  Japan

  SoftBank used Japanese pop artist Ayumi Hamasaki as a commercial spokesperson in a high-profile campaign for its mobile telecommunications brand.

  Outcome. Brand-building campaign for the Japanese mobile business.

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• 2025Announce Stargate AI infrastructure initiativeStrategy

  SoftBank increasingly emphasized artificial intelligence, computing capacity and infrastructure rather than only consumer internet investments.

  What changed. SoftBank joined OpenAI, Oracle and MGX in announcing a proposed U.S. AI infrastructure system.

  Aftermath. The announcement positioned SoftBank as a prospective financier and strategic participant in large-scale AI infrastructure.

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• 2018List SoftBank Corp.Strategy

  The group sought to separate its mature Japanese telecommunications business from its investment activities and raise capital.

  What changed. SoftBank Corp. was listed separately in Japan.

  Aftermath. SoftBank Group continued as the parent investment holding company while SoftBank Corp. operated as a separately listed affiliate.

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• 2017Launch the SoftBank Vision FundStrategy

  Son sought to deploy capital at a scale suited to rapidly expanding technology companies.

  What changed. SoftBank created a large technology investment fund with institutional and sovereign investors.

  Aftermath. The fund made SoftBank a dominant global technology investor but exposed it to significant portfolio and valuation losses.

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• 2016Acquire Arm HoldingsM&A

  SoftBank identified semiconductor architecture as a strategic foundation for mobile, connected and future computing.

  What changed. The group acquired Arm Holdings and made it a core technology asset.

  Aftermath. Arm became central to SoftBank’s semiconductor and AI strategy and was later relisted while remaining controlled by SoftBank.

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• 2013Take control of SprintM&A

  SoftBank pursued international telecommunications scale through the U.S. wireless market.

  What changed. It acquired a controlling interest in Sprint after U.S. regulatory approval.

  Aftermath. Sprint later became part of T-Mobile US, ending SoftBank’s direct control of the U.S. carrier.

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• 2006Acquire Vodafone JapanM&A

  SoftBank sought a major entry into Japan’s mobile communications market.

  What changed. The group acquired Vodafone’s Japanese operation and rebranded it SoftBank Mobile.

  Aftermath. The transaction established the telecommunications platform that later became SoftBank Corp.

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• 2023WeWork bankruptcyControversy

  WeWork’s bankruptcy filing highlighted the substantial risks of SoftBank’s earlier investment strategy in highly valued, loss-making technology companies.

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• 2019WeWork investment and failed public offeringControversy

  SoftBank became closely associated with WeWork’s unsuccessful attempt to go public after concerns about governance, losses, valuation and the company’s business model led to the withdrawal of its offering. SoftBank subsequently provided further financial support and became central to the company’s restructuring.

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• 2025SoftBank announces Stargate artificial-intelligence infrastructure project

  SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle and MGX announced a proposed AI infrastructure initiative in the United States, with construction and investment planned over multiple years.

  Product launch
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• 2023WeWork files for bankruptcy protection

  WeWork, a major SoftBank-backed shared-office company, entered bankruptcy proceedings after years of losses and financial restructuring.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2018SoftBank lists SoftBank Corp. in Japan

  The telecommunications subsidiary SoftBank Corp. was separated from the investment group through a major Japanese initial public offering.

  M&AOther
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• 2017SoftBank Vision Fund is established

  SoftBank and external investors created a technology-focused investment fund with capital commitments exceeding $90 billion at launch.

  M&A
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• 2016SoftBank completes Arm Holdings acquisition

  SoftBank completed its acquisition of British semiconductor-design company Arm Holdings.

  M&A
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1. SoftBank Group
2. SoftBank Group corporate website
3. SoftBank Group officers
4. Arm Holdings
5. WeWork