- SoftBank has invested hundred of millions of dollars in technology-forward companies since 2008.
- The telecommunication company's portfolio includes acquisitions of big names like Boston Dynamics and ARM, and big investments in companies like Slack, SoFi, and the We Company.
- Here's a list of SoftBank's technology investments over the years.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Japanese tech giant SoftBank has billions of dollars at its disposal to fund and acquire high-profile companies.
The massive corporation — led by Masayoshi Son, Japan's richest man — makes investments through the SoftBank Group and its $100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund. SoftBank has also announced commitments of $108 billion for its second Vision Fund, with backing from Apple, Microsoft, and a number of Japanese banks, and sovereign wealth funds.
SoftBank has backed or bought a long list of established tech firms such as Nvidia, the We Company, Slack, Uber, and ARM. It's also backed less well-known startups, like satellite internet firm OneWeb, Indian e-commerce company Paytm, and farming startup Plenty. Most of the money has gone to companies in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Here's a running list of SoftBank's investments, based on how much the firm has put into in each company:
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Ola Electric — $250 million
What it does: Electric vehicles arm of Ola
Founded: 2017
Most recent valuation: Reported $1.1 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $250 million
- July 2019— Participated in $250 million round
Total funding raised: $306.4 million (PitchBook)
Gympass — $300 million
What it does: Discounted gym access for employees
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: Reported $1 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Unknown
- June 2019— Participated in $300 million round
Total funding raised: $300 million (PitchBook)
Grofers — $471 million
What it does: Online supermarket
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $1 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Unknown
- May 2019— led $200 million round
- March 2018— led $60 million round
- November 2015— participated in $120 million round
Total funding raised: $471 million
Talkspace — estimated $20 million to $50 million
What it does: Online therapy platform
Founded: 2011
Most recent valuation: $310 million
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $20 million to $50 million
- August 2017— Participated in $31 million round
- May 2016— Participated in $15 million round
- May 2015— Led $9.5 million round
- May 2014— Led $2.37 million round
Total funding raised: $110 million (PitchBook)
Globality — $100 million
What it does: B2B matching marketplace
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $800 million
SoftBank's total investment: $100 million
- January 2019— Invested $100 million
Total funding raised: $172.2 million (PitchBook)
Boston Dynamics — acquired for estimated $100 million
What it does: Robotics development
Founded: 1992
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $100 million
- June 2017— Undisclosed amount to acquire Boston Dynamics, though deal is estimated to be worth $100 million.
Alibaba — $102 million
What it does: E-commerce platform in China
Founded: 1999
Market cap: $428.2 billion at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $102 million
- June 2016— Sold back $7.9 billion worth of shares to reduce its stake to 26% (and made $11.1 billion from the sale)
- February 2004— Led $82 million venture capital round
- January 2000— Invested $20 million
Brain Corp — $114 million
What it does: AI technology for autonomous robots and machines
Founded: 2009
Most recent valuation: $240 million
SoftBank's total investment: $114 million
- July 2017— Led $114 million round
Total funding raised: $123 million (PitchBook)
Light — $121 million
What it does: Ultra-zoom digital photography cameras
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $396 million
SoftBank's total investment: $121 million
- July 2018— Led $121 million round
Total funding raised: $206 million (PitchBook)
Cybereason — $150 million
What it does: Israeli security software provider
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $850 million
SoftBank's total investment: $150 million
- June 2017— Led $100 million round
- October 2015— Invested $50 million
Total funding raised: $189 million (PitchBook)
Nauto — $159 million
What it does: Self-driving car technology
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $1 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $159 million
- July 2017— Led $159 million round
Total funding raised: $174.2 million (PitchBook)
Mapbox — $164 million
What it does: Customized maps on open-source platform
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $385 million
SoftBank's total investment: $164 million
- October 2017— Led $164 million round
Total funding raised: $229.4 million (PitchBook)
Clutter — $200 million
What it does: On-demand storage services and platform
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $600 million
SoftBank's total investment: $200 million
- March 2019— Led $200 million round
Total funding raised: $297.2 million (PitchBook)
Plenty — $200 million
What it does: Indoor vertical farming
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $500 million
SoftBank's total investment: $200 million
- September 2017— Led $200 million round
Total funding raised: $260 million (PitchBook)
Brandless — $240 million
What it does: E-commerce platform
Founded: 2014
Most recent valuation: $235.3 million
SoftBank's total investment: $240 million
- September 2018: Led $240 million round
Total funding raised: $292.5 million (PitchBook)
Slack — $250 million
What it does: E-commerce platform
Founded: 2014
Market cap: $235.3 million at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $240 million
- September 2018: Led $240 million round
Total funding raised: $292.5 million (PitchBook)
Automation Anywhere — $300 million
What it does: Software for robotic process automation (RPA)
Founded: 2003
Most recent valuation: $2.6 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $300 million
- November 2018— Invested $300 million
Total funding raised: $550 million (PitchBook)
Getaround — $300 million
What it does: Peer-to-peer car sharing e-marketplace
Founded: 2011
Most recent valuation: $850 million
SoftBank's total investment: $300 million
- August 2018— Led $300 million round
Total funding raised: $410 million (PitchBook)
Kabbage — $300 million
What it does: Online loan lending platform
Founded: 2008
Most recent valuation: $1.2 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $300 million
- August 2017— Invested $250 million
- May 2014— Led $50 million round
Total funding raised: $989.5 million (PitchBook)
Wag — $300 million
What it does: Dog walking app
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $610 million
SoftBank's total investment: $300 million
- January 2018— Invested $300 million
Total funding raised: $321.5 million (PitchBook)
Zume — $375 million
What it does: Robot-powered pizza delivery service
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $1.5 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $375 million
- November 2018— Led $375 million round
Total funding raised: $445.7 million (PitchBook)
Fair — $385 billion
What it does: Car borrowing platform
Founded: 2016
Most recent valuation: $1.2 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $385 million
- December 2018— Led $385 million round
Total funding raised: $1.6 billion (PitchBook)
Paytm Mall — $400 million
What it does: Online shopping platform in India
Founded: 2016
Most recent valuation: Reported $3 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $400 million
- April 2018— Invested $400 million
Total funding raised: $795 million (Crunchbase)
Guardant Health — $401 million
What it does: 'Liquid biopsy' blood testing for cancer treatment
Founded: 2013
Market cap: $8.72 billion at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $401 million
Lemonade — $420 million
What it does: Insurance e-platform for renters and homeowners
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $2 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $420 million
- April 2019— Led $300 million round
- March 2018— Led $120 million round
Total funding raised: $479.8 million (PitchBook)
Opendoor — Estimated $500 million
What it does: Online real estate marketplace
Founded: 2014
Most recent valuation: $3.8 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $500 million
- March 2019— Participated in $300 million round
- September 2018— Invested $400 million
Total funding raised: $4.4 billion (PitchBook)
Cambridge Mobile Telematics — $500 million
What it does: Mobile analytics provider
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $24.5 million
SoftBank's total investment: $500 million
- December 2018— Invested $500 million
Total funding raised: $502.5 million (PitchBook)
Improbable — $502 million
What it does: Virtual gaming developer
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $2 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $502 million
- May 2017— Led $502 million round
Total funding raised: $608.2 million (PitchBook)
Auto1 — $561 million
What it does: German-based platform for buying and selling used cars
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $3.5 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $560 million
- January 2018— Led $560 million round
Total funding raised: $1.3 billion (PitchBook)
ZhongAn — $600 million
What it does: Online-only insurance services
Founded: 2013
Market cap: $32 billion at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $600 million
- August 2018— Invested $100 million toward joint venture
- September 2017— Invested $500 million for 5% stake
DoorDash — estimated $600 million to $900 million
What it does: Food delivery platform
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $12.6 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $600 million to $900 million
- May 2019— Participated in $600 million round
- February 2019— Participated in $400 million round
- August 2018— Participated in $250 million round
- March 2018— Led $535 million round
Total funding raised: $2 billion (PitchBook)
OSIsoft — estimated "high hundreds of millions"
What it does: Software for industrial companies
Founded: 1980
Most recent valuation: "Several billion dollars" (May 2017)
SoftBank's total investment: Undisclosed
- May 2017— Not disclosed, but sources told Reuters that SoftBank bought its stake from other existing investors for "high hundreds of millions."
Total funding raised: $135 million (PitchBook)
Compass — $850 million
What it does: Online real estate marketplace
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $4.4 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $850 million
- September 2018 — Led $400 million round
- December 2017 — Invested $450 million
Total funding raised: $1.1 billion (PitchBook)
Katerra — $865 million
What it does: One-stop construction and building platform
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $4 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $865 million
- January 2018— Led $865 million round
Total funding raised: $1.2 billion (PitchBook)
ParkJockey — $900 million
What it does: Smart parking app
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $1 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $900 million
- December 2018— Led $900 million round
Total funding raised: About $1 billion (PitchBook)
Ola — estimated $800 million to $1 billion
What it does: Ride-hailing service in India
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $5.3 billion (January 2019)
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $800 million to $1 billion
- October 2017— Led $1.1 billion round
- February 2017— Invested $250 million
- November 2015— Participated in $500 million round
- April 2015— Participated in $400 million round
- October 2014— Led $210 million round
Total funding raised: $3.4 billion (PitchBook)
Nuro — $940 million
What it does: AI technology for self-driving cars
Founded: 2016
Most recent valuation: $2.7 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $940 million
- February 2019— Invested $940 million
Total funding raised: $1 billion (PitchBook)
Flexport — $1 billion
What it does: Freight forwarding
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $3.2 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $1 billion
- May 2019— Led $1 billion round
Total funding raised: $1.4 billion (PitchBook)
Fanatics — estimated $1 billion to $1.2 billion
What it does: Online platform for sports merchandise
Founded: 1995
Most recent valuation: $4.5 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $1 billion to $1.2 billion
- September 2017— Led $1 billion round
- August 2015 — Participated in $300 million round
Total funding raised: $1.6 billion (PitchBook)
SoFi — estimated $1.1 billion
What it does: US-based "alt-lender" for student refinancing loans
Founded: 2011
Most recent valuation: $4.8 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $1.1 billion
- February 2017— Participated in $500 million round
- August 2015— Led $1 billion round
Total funding raised: $2.42 billion (PitchBook)
Snapdeal — estimated $1.2 billion
What it does: Online shopping marketplace in India
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $950 million (July 2017)
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $1.2 billion
- August 2015— Led $500 million round
- October 2014— Led $627 million round
- February 2014— Participated in $133.8 million round
- August 2013— Invested $75 million
Total funding raised: $1.5 billion (PitchBook)
Tokopedia — $1.3 billion
What it does: Online shopping site in Indonesia
Founded: 2009
Most recent valuation: $7 billion (November 2018)
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $1.3 billion
- November 2018— Led $1.1 billion round
- October 2014— Led $100 million round
- June 2013— Led undisclosed round
Total funding raised: $2.5 billion (PitchBook)
Paytm — $1.4 billion
What it does: Digital payments wallet in India
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $10 billion to $12 billion (August 2018)
SoftBank's total investment: $1.4 billion
- May 2017— Invested $1.4 billion
Total funding raised: $3.6 billion (PitchBook)
Chehaoduo — $1.5 billion
What it does: Used car trading platform
Founded: 2014
Most recent valuation: $8.5 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $1.5 billion
- February 2019— Invested $1.5 billion
Total funding raised: $3.3 billion (PitchBook)
ByteDance — estimated $1.8 billion
What it does: Chinese internet company running apps like TikTok, Toutiao
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $75 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $1.8 billion (Bloomberg)
- October 2018— Participated in $3 billion round
Total funding raised: $7.4 billion (PitchBook)
Brightstar — acquired for $2.2 billion
What it does: Cell phone distributor
Founded: 1997
SoftBank's total investment: $2.2 billion
- August 2014— $2.2 billion to acquire Brightstar
YMobile (formerly eAccess) — acquired for $2.3 billion
What it does: Mobile telecommunications provider in Japan
Founded: 1999
SoftBank's total investment: $2.3 billion
- April 2015— Undisclosed amount for merger of Ymobile to form SoftBank Corp., the company's mobile unit.
- January 2013— $2.3 billion to acquire broadband provider eAccess
Flipkart — $2.5 billion, but has since sold off stake
What it does: E-commerce platform in India
Founded: 2007
Most recent valuation: $20 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $2.5 billion, but has since sold off stake
- August 2017— Invested $2.5 billion
Total funding raised: $7.7 billion (PitchBook)
Cruise — estimated $2.5 billion to $3 billion
What it does: Self-driving car developer
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $19 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $2.5 billion to $3 billion
Total funding raised: $7.3 billion (PitchBook)
OneWeb — $2.8 billion
What it does: Broadband internet access via satellites
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $14 billion (February 2017 before failed merger)
SoftBank's total investment: $2.8 billion
- March 2019— Led $1.25 billion round
- December 2017— Invested $500 million
- December 2016— Invested $1 billion
Total funding raised: $3.4 billion (PitchBook)
Coupang — $3 billion
What it does: E-commerce platform in South Korea
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $9 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $3 billion
- November 2018— Invested $2 billion
- June 2015— Led $1 billion round
Total funding raised: $3.5 billion (PitchBook)
Ele.me — $3 billion
What it does: Food delivery platform in China (bought by Alibaba in April 2018)
Founded: 2008
SoftBank's total investment: $3 billion
- August 2018— Estimated $3 billion
Nvidia — $4 billion, but has since sold stake
What it does: US-based graphics chip maker for gaming
Founded: 1993
Market cap: $93.1 billion at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $4 billion, but sold off stake for $3.6 billion in January 2019
- May 2017— $4 billion
Grab — estimated $5.5 billion
What it does: Taxi-hailing company in southeast Asia
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $14 billion (March 2019)
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $5.5 billion
- March 2019— Invested $1.5 billion
- January 2018— Led $2.5 billion round
- September 2016— Led $750 million round
- August 2015— Participated in $350 million round
- December 2014 — Invested $250 million
Total funding raised: $9.1 billion (PitchBook)
The We Company — $10.5 billion
What it does: Provides collaborative office space for companies
Founded: 2010
Most recent valuation: $47 billion (January 2019)
SoftBank's total investment: $10.5 billion
- January 2019— Invested $5 billion, and bought $1 billion worth of shares from investors
- August 2017— Invested $3.1 billion, and bought $1.3 billion worth of shares from investors
Total funding raised: $12.1 billion (Crunchbase)
Uber — $9.3 billion
What it does: Ride-hailing platform
Founded: 2009
Market cap: $74.6 billion at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $9.3 billion
- January 2018— Led $1.3 billion round
- January 2018— Invested $8 billion by buying shares from existing shareholders for a 15% stake
Didi Chuxing — estimated $11 billion to $15 billion
What it does: Ride-hailing platform in China
Founded: 2012
Most recent valuation: $57.6 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Estimated $11 billion to $15 billion
- February 2018— Led $4.6 billion round
- April 2017— Invested $5 billion as lead in $5.5 billion round
- June 2016— Participated in $4.5 billion equity in $7.3 billion round
- September 2015— Participated in $3 billion round
- January 2015— Participated in $600 million round for Kuaidi Dache (merged to become Didi)
Total funding raised: $22.7 billion (PitchBook)
Sprint — $21.7 billion
What it does: Phone and wireless services provider
Founded: 1899 (as Brown Telephone Company)
Market cap: $31.66 billion at time of writing
SoftBank's total investment: $21.7 billion
- April 2018— Ownership decreased to 27% with T-Mobile-Sprint merger
- August 2015— $87 million
- July 2013— $21.6 billion to acquire majority ownership of Sprint
ARM — acquired for $32 billion
What it does: UK-based chip designer for smartphones, including iPhones
Founded: 1990
SoftBank's total investment: $32 billion
- September 2016— $32 billion to acquire ARM
- June 2018— sold 51% stake in Arm's Chinese operations for $775 million
What it does: Franchised budget hotels
Founded: 2013
Most recent valuation: $5 billion
SoftBank's total investment: Unknown
- September 2018 — led $1 billion round
- September 2017 — led $250 million round
- August 2016 — led $50 million round
- August 2015 — invested $100 million
Total funding raised: $1.7 billion (PitchBook)
Fungible — $200 million
What it does: Hardware and software for data centers.
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: Unknown
SoftBank's total investment: $200 million
- June 2019 — led $200 million round
Total funding raised: $292.5 million (Crunchbase)
Oaknorth — $390 million
What it does: Business lending
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $2.3 billion (September 2018)
SoftBank's total investment: $390 million (CNBC)
- February 2019— participated in $440 million round
Total funding raised: $1 billion (Crunchbase)
Rappi — $1 billion
What it does: Colombian food delivery startup
Founded: 2015
Most recent valuation: $1.5 billion
SoftBank's total investment: $1 billion
- April 2019— participated in $1 billion round
Total funding raised: $1.46 billion (Pitchbook)