Softbank
Latest in Softbank
Bankruptcy
WeWork on verge of bankruptcy as massive debt pile grows: Reports
The office-sharing company could file for bankruptcy as early as next week, according to sources
enterprise
SoftBank in talks with Indian startups for next stage of growth and investment
The Tokyo-based investment bank is looking to invest in business-to-consumer (B2C) enterprises and media sectors
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala close to buying Fortress from Softbank in $2 billion deal
No final decisions have been made, and the deal could still fall apart
Rupert Tait
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Every founder dreams of their idea becoming the next Tesla, Amazon or Apple, writes Procurified’s Rupert Tait. But with more startups failing than succeeding, are founders that don’t understand how to scale at fault, or are unrealistic investor expectations driving businesses to the brink
Advertising industry
SoftBank-backed Indian mobile ad provider InMobi eyes 10-fold growth in MENA by 2026
Ambitious MENA expansion plans of the tech major – the first Indian start-up to achieve the unicorn status in terms of venture funding – coincides with projections that mobile ad spend in the region will double by 2025 from the current $5.45bn.
ADQ
Gulf funds back India’s Flipkart as it raises extra funding
Abu Dhabi’s sovereign fund, Qatar Investment Authority and SoftBank Group Corp are among the investors in the online store, mainly owned by US retail giant Walmart
banking industry
Banking tech startup is unicorn with $250 million from SoftBank
Investment by strategic partner Sodexo SA valued the start-up with Indian roots at about $300 million
Adam Neumann
Video: The spectacular rise and fall of WeWork
In less than one year, WeWork went from having a $47 billion valuation and being the darling of the venture capital world to needing an $8 billion infusion to avoid running out of money.
banking and finance
Video: How the WeWork investor got in trouble – Softbank
The disappointing valuation of WeWork and the poor performance of Uber and Slack on the stock market are raising concerns that the world’s largest tech investor could be in trouble
bailout
Video: WeWork said to weigh bailout that hands control to SoftBank
WeWork is considering a bailout that will hand control of the co-working giant to SoftBank Group Corp., according to a person familiar with the matter, one of two main options to rescue the once high-flying startup.
Adam Neumann
Video: WeWork withdraws IPO prospectus to focus on core business
WeWork’s co-chief executive officers Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham said the company will file a request to formally withdraw the prospectus for its proposed initial public offering.
Adam Neumann
WeWork founder Neumann: an unconventional leader steps aside
Adam Neumann, who will stay on as chairman, has faced questions over his perceived self-dealing, as well as the ability of his fast-growing company to become profitable
AI startups
CEO of leading AI startup SenseTime says valuation has passed $7.5bn
Chinese start-up has been hosting regular roadshows around the world to educate investors on a business that now runs the gamut from facial recognition to robot delivery
Capital Markets
Softbank to allow $10 investments in IPOs
One Tap BUY Co. expects to begin sales as early as March 2020 after obtaining regulatory approvals
Alibaba
SoftBank Group triples net profit in first quarter
SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 is the long-mooted successor to its mammoth Saudi-backed Vision Fund, which has taken stakes in leading tech start-ups from Uber to WeWork
co-working spaces
WeWork is said to target September for $3.5 billion IPO
SoftBank Group is WeWork’s largest backer and has valued the unprofitable business at $47 billion