SOFTBANK GRP UNSP/ADR - SFTBY STOCK NEWS

SoftBank Group Corp. announced the mutual departure of Marcelo Claure after a successful nine-year tenure. Michel Combes has been appointed as the new CEO of SoftBank Group International, overseeing its operating and investment portfolio. Claure has contributed significantly to major projects, including the turnaround of Sprint and the launch of Latin America’s largest venture capital fund. The transition aims to maintain continuity and leadership within the organization, with Combes bringing extensive multinational experience to his new role.

Incode Technologies has successfully raised $220 million in a Series B funding round, achieving a valuation of $1.25 billion and unicorn status.

With a revenue growth of 6x in the last year, Incode aims to redefine identity verification through its AI-based digital identity platform. The funding was led by prominent investors including General Atlantic and SoftBank. Incode's fully automated approach sets it apart, eliminating human intervention for enhanced speed and accuracy, thereby building trust between enterprises and their customers.

Pismo, a cloud-native core banking and payments platform, has secured $108 million in a Series B funding round led by SoftBank Latin America, Amazon, and Accel. The investment aims to facilitate global expansion and enhance technological innovations in banking and financial services. With over 25 million accounts and more than $3 billion transacted monthly, Pismo plans to hire 200 engineers and open new offices in Austin, Bristol, and Singapore. This funding will accelerate their growth trajectory in financial technology.

Gabriel, an AI startup focused on security, has secured US$12 million in Series A funding led by SoftBank Latin America Fund to expand its surveillance operations in Brazil. The company aims to build the largest safety camera network starting in Rio de Janeiro. Gabriel operates a significant number of cameras, providing critical intelligence to police while facilitating faster investigations. The founders emphasize their innovative approach to tackling crime through technology.

CRM&BONUS has secured over R$280 million in funding, achieving a valuation of R$1 billion. This funding round was led by the SoftBank Latin America Fund, Riverwood Capital, Igah Ventures, and Volpe Capital. Established in 2018, the platform boasts over 12,000 clients, providing solutions that enhance customer retention and sales growth. Notably, a client experienced a 15% sales increase. The company plans to expand internationally, particularly targeting the U.S. and Europe. CRM&BONUS aims to assist retailers in boosting sales by 5% to 20% within three months, with a 98% success rate.

SoftBank Corp. has acquired around 200 patents from Alphabet Inc.'s Loon LLC for High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) following Loon's shutdown. This acquisition bolsters SoftBank and its subsidiary, HAPSMobile Inc., to approximately 500 HAPS-related patents, enhancing their intellectual property leadership in this emerging sector. The patents encompass various technologies related to HAPS operations and services. SoftBank aims to utilize this expanded patent portfolio to expedite the launch of commercial HAPS services and promote industry standardization within the HAPS Alliance.

SES has partnered with SoftBank Corp. to deliver live sports events to Japanese audiences. This collaboration aims to enhance premium sports content accessibility for corporate customers, including TV stations and video distributors. SES will utilize its global satellite and fiber network, leveraging over 300 downlink antennas, to ensure high-quality content delivery in Japan. The partnership signifies a strategic move to meet the growing demand for live sports viewing across various platforms.

Merama has successfully secured US$225 million in a Series B funding round, marking it as the largest Series B round in Latin America. The valuation of the company is approximately US$850 million. This round sees participation from new investor Globo Ventures and existing investors like Monashees and Valor Capital. The funds will help expand Merama's focus on growing e-commerce brands in the region, aiming for more than US$250 million in consolidated revenue in 2021. Merama plans to enhance its technology platform and support existing brands with working capital.

On September 23, 2021, Miami Dade College announced an expanded partnership with Correlation One and SoftBank Group International. Graduates of the Data Science for All / Empowerment program can now earn up to 16 college credits towards a Data Analytics degree at MDC. The initiative aims to train 10,000 data science professionals over three years, prioritizing underrepresented groups. Participants receive 14 weeks of training, mentorship, and career coaching, enhancing their employability in the data sector.