Business & Finance
SoftBank Founder Masayoshi Son Seeks $100 Billion from Gulf Investors for AI‑Driven Buyout Fund
SoftBank founder and Japan’s richest person, Masayoshi Son, is looking to raise up to $100 billion from Gulf investors to create a new fund that would acquire traditional businesses and transform them with artificial intelligence and robotics. The plan, reported by the Financial Times, comes as SoftBank faces growing scrutiny over its $65 billion commitment to Sam Altman’s OpenAI, especially after delays in the AI startup’s anticipated initial public offering.
Unlike SoftBank’s earlier investment arms that focused on early‑stage tech ventures, the proposed vehicle would target established, non‑tech firms that have fallen behind in automation. The strategy would involve taking controlling stakes, deploying AI and physical robotics to improve operations, and capturing valuation upside as a new way to monetize enterprise AI.
Son has reportedly approached influential sovereign investors in the Middle East, including senior leadership in the United Arab Emirates, to gauge interest in the strategy. The core of the plan would involve SoftBank’s specialised robotics and physical AI unit, Roze, which is expected to play a central operational role in transforming acquired targets. Son ultimately aims to float Roze on public exchanges at a high valuation.
Neither the establishment of the fund nor its capital commitments are guaranteed, and it remains unclear whether the pool will fund only acquisitions or also cover development expenses within Roze.
Son has a history of securing sovereign capital in the region. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala were anchor investors in the inaugural $100 billion Vision Fund in 2017. Vision Fund 1 has generated roughly $29 billion in investment gains, while Vision Fund 2, which houses SoftBank’s large OpenAI position and relies mainly on SoftBank’s internal capital, logged $20.5 billion in cumulative gains as of June.
Abu Dhabi has expanded its independent AI reach through entities such as MGX and G42. SoftBank’s exposure to OpenAI and its debt load remain central to the company’s portfolio. To fund its $65 billion position, SoftBank has used internal cash, outside backing, and extensive credit lines partly secured against its equity holdings in semiconductor designer Arm. OpenAI has yet to become highly profitable, leaving SoftBank’s balance sheet heavily exposed to the private valuation of Altman’s firm. Despite these concentrations, Son continues to pursue an aggressive AI expansion path.