SoftBank Group

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.

Karim Abouzahr

Director, SoftBank Europe Ventures

Kristin Bannon

Investment Director, SoftBank Investment Advisers

Jonathan Bullock

COO and Managing Director

John Cassidy

Investment Director, Life Sciences and HealthTech

Tom Cheung

Partner, Americas

Rodrigo Costa

Partner

Serena Dayal

Partner, Americas

Angela Du

Partner, Americas

Colin Fan

Managing Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisers

Ted Fike

Director, Americas

Ronald Fisher

Vice Chairman

Navneet Govil

Managing Partner, CFO

Ayush Jain

Investment Vice President

Lydia Jett

Partner

Sumer Juneja

Managing Partner and Head of EMEA and India Investing

Robert Kaplan

Investment Director

Chris Lee

Partner, Asia

Anna Lo

Director, Americas

Amit Lubovsky

Director, Americas

Jimi Macdonald

Director

Kentaro Matsui

Managing Partner, Asia

Ken Miyauchi

Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President

Greg Moon

Executive Managing Partner

Karol Niewiadomski

Partner

Shu Nyatta

Managing Partner

Max Ohrstrand

Partner, EMEA

Vikas Parekh

Managing Partner, Americas

Ben Parton

Director of Deals and Transactions

Yanni Pipilis

Managing Partner

Narendra Rathi

Director, Asia

Brett Rochkind

Managing Partner

Masayoshi Son

Founder

Ram Trichur

Partner

Ervin Tu

Partner, Americas

Aaron Wong

Vice President

Kenichi Yoshida

Chief Business Officer and Executive Vice President

Linda Yu

Vice President, Vision Fund

Andrew Zloto

Partner, Americas

Tim Yap

Director, EMEA

Past deals in Self-driving

Wayve

Series C in 2024
Wayve is a company focused on developing a fully autonomous driving system for vehicles, utilizing end-to-end deep learning technology. This approach enables the creation of artificial intelligence capable of navigating complex driving scenarios across various urban environments. The company operates a fleet of electric vehicles equipped for autonomous operation, which facilitates technology development and real-world testing. Headquartered in London, Wayve aims to provide a scalable solution for autonomous driving that can adapt quickly and safely to new driving conditions globally.

Stack AV

Venture Round in 2023
Stack AV is a transportation technology company that designs and manufactures autonomous truck systems. Leveraging advanced AI, robotics, machine learning, and cloud technologies, Stack AV develops innovative solutions to enhance safety and efficiency in the trucking industry.

Robotic Research

Series A in 2021
Robotic Research, LLC, is a small engineering firm founded by Alberto Lacaze and Karl Murphy in 2002. Both worked together in the Intelligent Systems Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg, MD) when they decided to make the move (across the street as it turned out) to pursue focused interest in unmanned vehicles.

Gaussian Robot

Series C in 2021
Gaussian Robot, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, specializes in the development of commercial automatic sweeping robots. The company offers a range of products including automatic cleaning robots, unmanned sanitation vehicles, security robot solutions, and building distribution robots. Additionally, Gaussian Robot incorporates advanced autonomous positioning navigation modules into its offerings, aiming to enhance operational efficiency in various commercial settings.

Nuro

Series D in 2021
Nuro, Inc. is a technology company based in Mountain View, California, that specializes in the development of self-driving vehicles specifically designed for local goods transportation. Incorporated in 2016, Nuro aims to transform local commerce through its fleet of fully autonomous, electric vehicles that facilitate the delivery of a wide range of products, including food and pharmaceuticals. By enabling retailers to efficiently and safely deliver goods to customers, Nuro enhances the convenience of local commerce and meets the growing demand for autonomous delivery solutions.

Standard Cognition

Series C in 2021
Standard Cognition is an artificial intelligence platform that allows buyers to grab what they want without having to go to a cashier. It empowers consumers to shop and pay without waiting in line, scanning or stopping to check out. Available to any retailer, the solution helps reduce labor costs, improve the customer experience, and improve profit margins. It also helps small-size retailers to compete with larger chains and online offerings. Standard Cognition was founded in 2017 and is based in San Francisco, California.

Nuro

Series C in 2020
Nuro, Inc. is a technology company based in Mountain View, California, that specializes in the development of self-driving vehicles specifically designed for local goods transportation. Incorporated in 2016, Nuro aims to transform local commerce through its fleet of fully autonomous, electric vehicles that facilitate the delivery of a wide range of products, including food and pharmaceuticals. By enabling retailers to efficiently and safely deliver goods to customers, Nuro enhances the convenience of local commerce and meets the growing demand for autonomous delivery solutions.

Brain Corp

Series D in 2020
Brain Corp is a San Diego-based AI company creating transformative core technology for the robotics industry. Brain Corp’s comprehensive solutions support the builders of today’s autonomous machines in successfully producing, deploying, and supporting robots across commercial industries and applications. It was named the world’s top autonomy solution provider by ABI Research. Brain Corp was founded in 2009 and is based in San Diego, California.

Goggo Network

Series A in 2019
Goggo Network is a Berlin-based company focused on developing autonomous driverless cars and creating autonomous mobility networks. The company aims to address contemporary transportation challenges, such as heavy traffic and pollution, by providing autonomous, electric, and shared mobility solutions. Goggo Network also works on establishing the legal and engineering frameworks necessary for the European autonomous mobility industry, facilitating the integration of these technologies into existing infrastructures. Through its initiatives, Goggo Network seeks to lead the shift towards driverless transportation, fostering a more efficient and sustainable mobility ecosystem for all.

Cruise

Corporate Round in 2019
Cruise is a company focused on developing advanced self-driving vehicles that aim to enhance road safety and transform the transportation experience. By producing zero-emission vehicles at a dedicated manufacturing facility, Cruise integrates sophisticated hardware and software to navigate complex and unpredictable driving environments. The company's autonomous vehicles are designed to connect people with essential places, things, and experiences, particularly in dense urban settings, thereby restoring freedom of movement while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and transit times.

Uber

Corporate Round in 2019
Uber Technologies, Inc., established in 2009, is a global technology company that connects users with transportation and logistics services through its mobile application. It operates in over 300 cities worldwide, offering a range of services including ridesharing, food delivery, and freight transportation. Uber's core business is facilitating transportation by matching riders with drivers, providing safe, reliable, and convenient options at varying price points. Additionally, Uber Advanced Technologies Group, a subsidiary, focuses on developing self-driving car technology to enhance transportation safety and accessibility.

Nuro

Series B in 2019
Nuro, Inc. is a technology company based in Mountain View, California, that specializes in the development of self-driving vehicles specifically designed for local goods transportation. Incorporated in 2016, Nuro aims to transform local commerce through its fleet of fully autonomous, electric vehicles that facilitate the delivery of a wide range of products, including food and pharmaceuticals. By enabling retailers to efficiently and safely deliver goods to customers, Nuro enhances the convenience of local commerce and meets the growing demand for autonomous delivery solutions.

Cruise

Corporate Round in 2018
Cruise is a company focused on developing advanced self-driving vehicles that aim to enhance road safety and transform the transportation experience. By producing zero-emission vehicles at a dedicated manufacturing facility, Cruise integrates sophisticated hardware and software to navigate complex and unpredictable driving environments. The company's autonomous vehicles are designed to connect people with essential places, things, and experiences, particularly in dense urban settings, thereby restoring freedom of movement while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and transit times.

Uber

Secondary Market in 2017
Uber Technologies, Inc., established in 2009, is a global technology company that connects users with transportation and logistics services through its mobile application. It operates in over 300 cities worldwide, offering a range of services including ridesharing, food delivery, and freight transportation. Uber's core business is facilitating transportation by matching riders with drivers, providing safe, reliable, and convenient options at varying price points. Additionally, Uber Advanced Technologies Group, a subsidiary, focuses on developing self-driving car technology to enhance transportation safety and accessibility.

Uber

Venture Round in 2017
Uber Technologies, Inc., established in 2009, is a global technology company that connects users with transportation and logistics services through its mobile application. It operates in over 300 cities worldwide, offering a range of services including ridesharing, food delivery, and freight transportation. Uber's core business is facilitating transportation by matching riders with drivers, providing safe, reliable, and convenient options at varying price points. Additionally, Uber Advanced Technologies Group, a subsidiary, focuses on developing self-driving car technology to enhance transportation safety and accessibility.

Nauto

Series B in 2017
Nauto, Inc. is an artificial intelligence technology company based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in software solutions for autonomous and commercial vehicles. Founded in 2015, Nauto develops an intelligent driver safety system that utilizes an after-market dual-camera device to collect and analyze visual data in real-time, aiming to reduce distracted driving and prevent collisions. This system includes features such as GPS, wireless connectivity, and night vision support, allowing fleet managers to monitor driver performance and vehicle safety effectively. Nauto also offers VERA (Vision Enhanced Risk Assessment), a scoring system that rates the frequency and severity of distracted driving incidents. The company collaborates with strategic partners including Allianz Insurance, Toyota, and BMW, and has expanded its presence with subsidiary locations in Dublin, Ireland, and Tokyo, Japan. Through its innovative technology, Nauto enhances safety and productivity for fleets while contributing to the advancement of self-driving technology.

Brain Corp

Series C in 2017
Brain Corp is a San Diego-based AI company creating transformative core technology for the robotics industry. Brain Corp’s comprehensive solutions support the builders of today’s autonomous machines in successfully producing, deploying, and supporting robots across commercial industries and applications. It was named the world’s top autonomy solution provider by ABI Research. Brain Corp was founded in 2009 and is based in San Diego, California.
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