This Week in Startups E1035: SoftBank Managing Partner Jeff Housenbold on deploying the $100B Vision Fund, getting recruited by Masayoshi Son, counseling founders to manage massive capital, creating moats, reasons for shift toward profits, lessons from WeWork & more
Mar 10, 2020
Jeff Housenbold, a Managing Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund and former executive at eBay and Shutterfly, shares his insights on venture capital. He discusses his recruitment by Masayoshi Son and the ambitious $100B Vision Fund. Jeff advises founders on managing massive investments and creating competitive advantages. He delves into the shift from growth to profitability in tech, lessons learned from investments like WeWork, and the future of industries such as food tech and mobility. Plus, his thoughts on navigating economic crises are particularly poignant.
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From Shutterfly to SoftBank
- Jeff Housenbold, after retiring from Shutterfly, considered 62 companies over 14 months.
- Masayoshi Son, intrigued by Housenbold's experience, recruited him to SoftBank's Vision Fund.
Vision Fund Investment Thesis
- Masayoshi Son's Vision Fund was initially a $100 billion fund, focused on AI and data-driven companies.
- Son's investment thesis is that data will revolutionize work and life, creating societal good and returns.
Target Companies for Large Investments
- Target fast-growing consumer companies or those that are capital/R&D intensive.
- Focus on firms needing capital for global expansion, R&D breakthroughs, or rapid scaling.