SoftBank Group is a multinational telecommunications and internet corporation based in Japan. It operates through four segments: mobile communications, Sprint, fixed-line telecommunications, and internet. The company provides a wide range of services, including mobile and fixed-line voice and data transmission services, broadband services, internet advertising, e-commerce, and digital television. SoftBank Group also invests in various technologies through its venture capital arms, such as SoftBank Investment Advisers and SoftBank Vision Fund, focusing on areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things. One of its notable subsidiaries, SoftBank Robotics, designs and manufactures humanoid robots for various applications, including education, healthcare, and business.
Chief Business Officer and Executive Vice President
Linda Yu
Vice President, Vision Fund
Andrew Zloto
Investment Director
Tim Yap
Director, EMEA
Past deals in Open Source
The Stargate Project
Corporate Round in 2025
The Stargate Project operates as an artificial intelligence(AI) joint venture created by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle and investment firm MGX.
Perplexity
Series D in 2024
Perplexity is an artificial intelligence-based search engine platform that combines large language models with traditional search engines. It leverages natural language processing and generative AI technologies to deliver conversational responses to user queries, aiming to enhance the search experience beyond standard results. The platform is designed to facilitate the development of safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence, offering an open-source environment accessible to the public. This allows clients to acquire skills and knowledge in software development, positioning Perplexity as a bridge between conventional search capabilities and advanced AI-driven assistance.
Fantom Foundation
Venture Round in 2024
Fantom Foundation is a developer of an open-source smart contract platform that aims to create a scalable blockchain ecosystem. The platform is designed to facilitate the development and deployment of decentralized applications (dApps) by combining scalability, decentralization, and security. It enables instant transfers and offers compatibility with Ethereum, allowing developers to easily migrate their existing Ethereum dApps to the Fantom ecosystem. By providing out-of-the-box security and financing solutions, Fantom abstracts many technical complexities associated with running dApps, thereby promoting wider adoption of its technology. The foundation collaborates with various partners to enhance the overall utility and reach of its platform.
MinIO
Series B in 2022
MinIO, Inc. is a developer of a high-performance, open-source object storage server that is compatible with Amazon S3 APIs. Founded in 2014 and based in Palo Alto, California, the company specializes in providing a Kubernetes-native object store optimized for cloud-native workloads. MinIO's platform is designed to support the growing demands of unstructured data, allowing enterprises to manage various workloads such as machine learning, analytics, and data backup from a single solution. It enables application developers to create their own cloud storage systems for diverse data types, including images, videos, and log files, while ensuring portability across both public and private cloud environments. Additionally, MinIO offers a public play server that allows developers and system administrators to familiarize themselves with S3-compatible object storage.
OpenTrons
Series C in 2021
Opentrons is a company that specializes in the development of pipetting robot technology aimed at automating laboratory experiments. By utilizing open-source principles, Opentrons provides a range of lab automation solutions, including robots, workstations, hardware modules, consumables, reagents, and labware. Their technology leverages the Python programming language to streamline experimental processes, making them faster and reducing the likelihood of human error. This focus on automation allows scientific researchers to enhance efficiency and accuracy in their work, ultimately advancing their research capabilities.
Redis
Series G in 2021
Redis is a leading provider of an open-source, in-memory data structure platform that serves as a database, cache, and message broker. Founded in 2011, the company has gained recognition for its ability to enhance application performance through its fast data platform, which offers a variety of data structures, including strings, hashes, lists, and geospatial indexes. Redis's technology enables high availability and efficient data management through built-in replication, Lua scripting, and various persistence options. With a strong international presence across cities such as San Francisco, Austin, London, and Tel Aviv, Redis has supported over 10,000 customers in building and scaling applications. The company is committed to maintaining its open-source roots while providing both cloud and on-premises solutions, thereby setting a new standard for application speed in the digital business landscape.
Nexenta Systems
Corporate Round in 2017
Nexenta Systems, Inc. specializes in software-defined storage solutions, providing a comprehensive suite of products designed for cloud and virtualization environments. The company's flagship offerings include NexentaStor, which delivers file and block storage services for enterprise applications, NexentaCloud for optimizing virtual desktop infrastructure deployments, and NexentaEdge, an object storage platform that facilitates data retrieval without knowledge of its physical location. Additionally, NexentaFusion offers analytics and orchestration capabilities, enhancing the management of complex compute systems and data stores. With a focus on open-source driven software-defined storage, Nexenta serves over 6,000 customers and collaborates with a global network of partners, including major technology firms. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Nexenta operates as a subsidiary of DataDirect Networks, Inc., continuing to innovate in the storage industry while providing organizations with flexible, vendor-neutral solutions.
Boxee
Series C in 2011
Boxee is a media player software platform that combines locally stored personal media with internet streaming content and social networking features. The platform allows users to share their viewing habits with friends and other Boxee users on various social networks. It is partially open-source, enabling users to develop their own applications, plug-ins, and skins. The foundation of Boxee is derived from the Xbox Media Center project, originally created by home theater PC enthusiasts. In addition to software, Boxee has also developed an electronic device that connects smartphones to televisions, allowing users to discover and watch shows and movies from the internet directly on their TVs. This integration of personal media, streaming services, and social interaction positions Boxee as a versatile solution for media consumption.
Turbolinux
Series C in 2000
Turbolinux, founded in 1995, specializes in the development and support of open source software, particularly focusing on the Linux operating system. The company also engages in middleware and application development, aiming to enhance business utility through its offerings. To further promote the use of open source software in the business sector, Turbolinux actively pursues partnerships and alliances with various companies, thereby expanding its market reach and strengthening its position in the industry.
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