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Softbank's Vision Fund has set out to find the tech stars of tomorrow today.
Led by the billionaire Masayoshi Son, the $100 billion mega fund drew astonishment, acclaim, and scorn upon its launch in 2017. Doling out checks in increments of at least $100 million, it has amassed a sprawling and formidable portfolio of about 80 tech investments in AI, semiconductors, e-commerce, transportation, and healthcare.
And it backs some of the biggest names in tech today, including Uber, Slack, WeWork, and Grab.
The fund itself has grown quickly. It's claimed that it will soon have 800 staff, up from 400 in September. At the top, there are 34 key figures driving SoftBank forward, including investors, technologists, and talent spotters.