SoftBank seeks $100 bn from Gulf investors for acquisition fund powered by AI and advanced tech
| Source: Techmeme | Original article
SoftBank is looking to raise up to $100 billion from Gulf investors for a fund to acquire companies and boost their operations with AI and other advanced technologies, the Financial Times reports.
SoftBank is courting Gulf capital for a massive new investment vehicle, according to the Financial Times. The Japanese conglomerate’s founder and chief executive, Masayoshi Son, has been meeting senior officials in the United Arab Emirates as the group prepares to raise up to $100 billion from investors in the Gulf region. The capital would be pooled into a dedicated fund that will acquire companies and then apply artificial‑intelligence tools and other advanced technologies to boost their operational efficiency.
The move signals SoftBank’s intent to leverage the region’s deep pools of sovereign wealth to fuel a next‑generation “AI‑enabled” buy‑out strategy. By pairing large‑scale financing with its existing portfolio of tech assets, SoftBank hopes to create a feedback loop: AI upgrades improve target companies’ performance, generating returns that can be reinvested in further acquisitions. For Gulf investors, the partnership offers exposure to the fast‑growing AI sector while diversifying holdings beyond traditional energy and real‑estate assets.
Industry watchers will be looking for details on the fund’s structure, target sectors and the timeline for capital commitments. Key questions include whether SoftBank will focus on mature industrial firms, digital‑native startups, or a mix of both, and how it will balance AI‑driven transformation with regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions where it operates. The pace of negotiations with UAE sovereign funds and the eventual size of the fund will also indicate how quickly SoftBank can mobilise its AI‑centric growth agenda.
If the fund materialises, it could reshape the landscape of cross‑border tech‑focused private equity, positioning SoftBank as a bridge between Gulf capital and the global AI ecosystem. The next few weeks should reveal the final fundraising target and the first set of acquisition candidates.
Sources
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