SoftBank founder chases boyhood dreams with US$100b Vision Fund

Tokyo

WHEN Masayoshi Son was a boy growing up on Japan's southern island of Kyushu, he kept a notebook to scribble down new inventions he hoped to create one day. Today, the SoftBank founder has almost US$100 billion to invest on making the next big thing a reality.

Mr Son's SoftBank Group Corp closed the first round of a planned US$100 billion investment fund, with money raised from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, as well as Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc. The Vision Fund gives the 59-year-old access to a pool of capital unparalleled in the worlds of private equity or venture capital - the equivalent of four Silver Lakes or 15 Sequoia Capitals.