2025-12-22
Big Tech's dominance of AI infrastructure is shrinking as a host of new players invest in the data center gold rush By @Leonardonclt @Lynnmdoan @dinabass https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
How the global AI boom is driven by thousands of newcomers, diluting Big Tech's infrastructure dominance; US data center credit deals hit $178.5B in 2025 so far
In the golden hills of Puglia, a southern region of Italy known today for its olive trees, white cliffs and turquoise mediterranean coves …
2025-11-17
Japanese AI startups Sakana and Turing each raised about $100 million in their latest funding rounds. While modest by global standards, the amounts rank among the largest in Japan this year https://www.bloomberg.com/... [image]
Nikkei Asia
Tokyo-based Sakana AI raised a ~$135M Series B from MUFG, Khosla, Macquarie, NEA, Lux, and others at a ~$2.6B valuation, becoming Japan's most valuable unicorn
At present, we are seeing a record amount of capital pouring … eWeek : Sakana AI Becomes Japan's Most Valuable Unicorn Maija Palmer / Global Corporate Venturing : ‘Big in Japan’ is...
2023-10-13
China's ride-hailing giant Didi plans a HK listing next year, sources say; a comeback from an ill-fated New York IPO in 2021. It'll be a chance for SoftBank to recoup some of its losses from an estimated $11B investment Scoop w/ Dong Cao @_szheng & team https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
Sources: Didi plans a 2024 Hong Kong IPO, after delisting from the NYSE in 2022, and is valued at ~$16B, down from $80B when Chinese regulators opened a probe
- Ride-hailing pioneer has market share of about 70% in China — Business improving in China and abroad in places like Brazil
2023-10-08
Seen to be next in billionaire Masa Son's IPO pipeline, PayPay is hunting growth with help from other SoftBank portfolio companies. It now has 60 million users in Japan, aiming to capture all of the country's 90 million smartphone users in coming years https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
A look at SoftBank-owned PayPay, which holds a two-thirds share of the QR-code payments market in Japan and could be next in the conglomerate's IPO pipeline
- Firm chases gross merchant value growth of over 30% this year — PayPay seen to be next in SoftBank's arsenal of possible IPOs X: @japantimes , @naveenathresh , and @leeminjeong8...
2023-10-07
Seen to be next in billionaire Masa Son's IPO pipeline, PayPay is hunting growth with help from other SoftBank portfolio companies. It now has 60 million users in Japan, aiming to capture all of the country's 90 million smartphone users in coming years https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
A look at SoftBank-owned PayPay, which holds a two-thirds share of the QR-code payments market in Japan and could be next in the conglomerate's IPO pipeline
- Firm chases gross merchant value growth of over 30% this year — PayPay seen to be next in SoftBank's arsenal of possible IPOs
2023-06-21
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son said the world's largest tech investor is ready to go on the offensive soon, ending more than a year of relative dormancy in startup investments. He says, they now have more than 5T yen in cash to spend! So let's see.. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Financial Times
Masayoshi Son says SoftBank plans to go on the “counteroffensive” soon by resuming AI investments; the group has $35B+ after halting investments in recent years
Billionaire chief talks up AI and reveals he had breakdown in October where he questioned his achievements as an entrepreneur
2023-03-02
SoftBank-owned chip designer Arm has decided against selling shares on the London Stock Exchange for now and will instead focus on a sole listing in New York. Arm is keeping its headquarters in Cambridge, England Latest from @athomson6 & @RuthsDavid https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Financial Times
Sources: Chinese officials have declined to process Arm China's transfer to a new Vision Fund entity, holding up Arm's plan to exit the joint venture
Unresolved restructuring looms over SoftBank's plans for blockbuster listing of UK chip designer — China is holding up Arm's plan …
SoftBank-owned chip designer Arm has decided against selling shares on the London Stock Exchange for now and will instead focus on a sole listing in New York. Arm is keeping its headquarters in Cambridge, England Latest from @athomson6 & @RuthsDavid https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
Sources: Arm decided against a London listing for now to focus on a sole NYC listing later in 2023; in 2022, SoftBank was aiming for a $60B+ valuation for Arm
2023-01-26
The Vision Fund unit's total investments came below $350 million for the quarter, according to a source. This compares with an average of more than $6 billion per quarter over the past five-and-a-half years.
Bloomberg
Analysis: SoftBank's new startup bets hit a record low in Q4 2022, with eight investments totaling $2.1B; a source says Vision Fund investments were below $350M
Bloomberg :
It's not just SoftBank. PE and VC investments in Asia-Pacific ex-Japan continued to fall in 2022, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Deals totaled $5.39 billion across 42 announced and completed transactions in the December quarter vs $20.07 billion across 79 deals y/y
Bloomberg
Analysis: SoftBank's new startup bets hit a record low in Q4 2022, with eight investments totaling $2.1B; a source says Vision Fund investments were below $350M
Bloomberg :
2022-12-08
Masayoshi Son may no longer be doing earnings calls, but he has quietly tightened his grip on SoftBank, taking a step closer to the point where he could bid to take it private. He now owns 34% of SBG Exclusive w/ Taka Hyuga, Pei Yi Mak @meiyume @pelstrom https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
Filings: Masayoshi Son grew his SoftBank stake from 26.7% in March 2019 to 34.2% now, increasing his rights over asset sales, some buybacks, mergers, and more
Bloomberg :
2022-10-19
Virtual YouTube stars are gaining traction in Japan. A talent agency, Anycolor, managing the humans behind the avatars has made one of the country's youngest billionaires: @riku_tazumi (26) Story w/ Masatsugu Horie, Pei Yi Mak & @vladsavov https://www.bloomberg.com/... @technology
Bloomberg
Anycolor, a talent agency managing ~140 creators behind virtual YouTube stars, has seen its stock jump 8x since its June IPO in Tokyo and is valued at ~$2.5B
Bloomberg : Tweets: @leeminjeong83 and @bloombergasia Tweets: Min-Jeong Lee / @leeminjeong83 : Virtual YouTube stars are gaining traction in Japan. A talent agency, Anycolor, mana...
2022-06-27
South Korea's car-sharing leader Socar, backed by SoftBank, will seek at least $119 million in an IPO, selling shares at a maximum 50% discount, set to test investor appetite for tech stocks in a tough market Exclusive w/ @soheefication @meiyume https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Bloomberg
Filing: South Korea's largest car sharing startup Socar files for an IPO in Seoul on August 18, seeking to raise at least ~$119M and pricing shares at ~$26-$35
Bloomberg : Tweets: @leeminjeong83 and @honam Tweets: Min-Jeong Lee / @leeminjeong83 : South Korea's car-sharing leader Socar, backed by SoftBank, will seek at least $119 million ...