So get ready to see a lot more of the company’s toaster-inspired, human-free robots roaming the street, delivering groceries. https://media.wired.com/photos/5c61ce00e5f39c49bc338d3d/master/pass/Nuro-transpo-2.jpg
Tag: SoftBank
China’s Didi gears up to launch ride-hailing service in Japan with SoftBank
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing (Didi) has officially launched its taxi-hailing business in Japan, as part of a previously announced joint venture with SoftBank. Didi, for the uninitiated, emerged back in 2015 following a merger between local Chinese rivals Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache, and the combined entity is now the market leader in Chi…Read More
SoftBank Flips the Venture-Capital Script Again With GM Deal
GM needs cash to build autonomous cars; SoftBank has more cash than it can spend. Hence, a marriage. https://media.wired.com/photos/5b106d83362b15144c5b9894/master/pass/GM-Softbank-FINAL.jpg
DoorDash raises a whopping $535 million from SoftBank, Sequoia, others
Food delivery startup DoorDash has just gobbled down a gargantuan $ 535 million round of funding, spoonfed by Japan’s SoftBank, with participation from Sequoia Capital, GIC, and Wellcome Trust. DoorDash operates alongside a number of other tech-infused delivery and logistics startups in the U.S., which include the heavily funded Uber (Uber Eats) and Postmates. San Francisco-based […]
How Softbank, World’s Biggest Tech Investor, Throws Around Its Cash
SoftBank is on a shopping spree, investing billions in firms such as Uber and WeWork, both directly and through an affiliated tech fund. People who know Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son describe his style as alternating between methodical and haphazard.
Japan’s Line turns to SoftBank and cryptocurrency to make its messaging app a one-stop shop
Japanese mobile messaging company Line has given a major hint as to how it plans to make its messaging app a one-stop shop for just about any digital transaction. First up, Line has offloaded a majority stake in its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) subsidiary to SoftBank. The deal will see SoftBank procure 51 percent […]
SoftBank considers IPO for wireless business, reportedly seeking $18 billion
(Reuters) — SoftBank Group said on Monday it was considering listing its Japanese wireless business – a move that could reportedly raise $ 18 billion and would accelerate the conglomerate’s transformation into one of the world’s biggest tech investors. A spin-off – potentially the biggest IPO by a Japanese company in nearly two decades – […]
SoftBank has invested €460 million into a German car startup
Getty Japanese tech behemoth SoftBank has invested €460 million (£409 million) into used car marketplace Auto1, valuing the startup at €2.9 billion (£2.6 billion). Founded in Berlin in 2012, Auto1 has sold hundreds of thousands of cars on its platform. Revenues in 2016 came in at €1.5 billion (£1.3 billion). Backed by the likes of […]
Kalanick to make $1.4 billion from Uber's deal with SoftBank
Uber Technologies Inc co-founder Travis Kalanick, who was ousted as chief executive in June, is selling nearly a third of his 10 percent stake in the ride-services company for about $ 1.4 billion, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Kalanick’s sale is part of a deal struck by a consortium led by […]
SoftBank consortium will buy Uber shares at a $48 billion valuation, down from $67.5 billion
(Reuters) – A consortium led by SoftBank Group Corp will buy a large number of shares of Uber Technologies Inc in a deal that values the ride-services firm at $ 48 billion, Uber said on Thursday, in a victory for new Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi. The price is a roughly 30 percent discount to Uber’s […]
