SoftBank Group
PublicJapanese technology investor whose Vision Fund has shaped the global humanoid and robotics industry through landmark investments and acquisitions.
About SoftBank Group
SoftBank Group is a Japanese investment and technology conglomerate that has played a defining role in the global robotics industry through acquisitions, venture investing, and long-term capital deployment. Founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son, the company has invested billions of dollars in robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation through its balance sheet and the Vision Fund. SoftBank’s robotics portfolio has included the acquisition of Aldebaran Robotics, creator of Pepper and NAO, ownership of Boston Dynamics, and the acquisition of ABB’s robotics division. Through the Vision Fund, the company has also backed many of the world’s leading AI and robotics businesses, making SoftBank one of the most influential capital allocators in the evolution of humanoid robotics.
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SoftBank Group Team
SoftBank Group History
SoftBank was founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son, who built it from a software distributor into Japan's third-largest company. Early bets on Yahoo and Alibaba ($20M → $100B+) defined Son's investment style.
In 2012, SoftBank acquired Aldebaran (NAO, Pepper) for $100 million. Pepper, unveiled in 2014, sold 1,000 units in 60 seconds at launch. However, production paused in 2021 due to weak demand. SoftBank acquired Boston Dynamics in 2017 but sold 80% to Hyundai in 2021 for $880 million.
Son launched the $100 billion Vision Fund, rebuilding the robotics portfolio through Berkshire Grey, AutoStore, Agile Robots, Fourier, and Skild AI.
On October 8, 2025, SoftBank announced the $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics division (7,000 employees, $2.3 billion revenue). Son declared "SoftBank's next frontier is Physical AI," creating one of the world's most comprehensive robotics ecosystems.