After facing one of the biggest quarterly losses in history, SoftBank is planning on laying off another 30% of employees, according to Bloomberg News.
The Vision Fund, SoftBank’s venture arm, reported a devastating $21.6 billion loss in August. That, coupled with plummeting valuations on SoftBank’s portfolio companies like DoorDash and Uber and the Japanese Yen depreciating in value, has set the company back more than $23 billion.
Search less. Close more.
Grow your revenue with all-in-one prospecting solutions powered by the leader in private-company data.
The company plans on laying off roughly 150 of 500 employees from the fund, which is based in London. Earlier in September, reports said the company planned on cutting 20% of its Vision Fund staff.
Stepping back
SoftBank has sold shares of its portfolio companies to cushion the blow of these losses, a dramatic pivot from 2020 and 2021 when the company pushed portfolio companies to debut on the public market.
CEO Masayoshi Son offered a rare mea culpa in August, stating, “When we were turning out big profits, I became somewhat delirious, and looking back at myself now, I am quite embarrassed and remorseful.”
But while the company slashed executive pay, Son preserved his roughly $758,000-a-year-salary.
SoftBank is perhaps the largest example of companies struggling with the economic downturn after flourishing in 2021. Per Crunchbase data, more than 42,000 workers have been laid off from tech companies so far this year.
Related article links
Related Crunchbase Data profile links
Illustration: Li-Anne Dias
Stay up to date with recent funding rounds, acquisitions, and more with the
Crunchbase Daily.
