What is the name of the $100 billion venture capital fund launched by SoftBank in 2017?

The $100 billion venture capital fund launched by SoftBank in 2017 was the SoftBank Vision Fund.

Created in May 2017, the fund was established by SoftBank Group and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Its enormous size made it the world’s largest technology-focused investment fund at the time, allowing it to make unusually large bets on startups and technology companies rather than concentrating only on early-stage investments.

The original financing included $45 billion from the Public Investment Fund, $28 billion from SoftBank and $15 billion from Mubadala Investment Company, with additional contributions from other investors, including Apple. SoftBank Investment Advisers managed the fund, whose strategy was strongly associated with founder Masayoshi Son and his belief that artificial intelligence would transform many industries.

The name is sometimes confused with SoftBank Vision Fund 2, which was created in 2019 and had a different fundraising history. The first fund became known for major investments in companies including WeWork, Uber and Coupang, but it also suffered substantial losses. Its performance showed that a fund’s enormous capital base does not eliminate the risks of concentrated, high-growth technology investing.