Key Takeaways
- • SBVA appointed two former SoftBank Vision Fund investment professionals—Kaz Yoshimaru and Chris Lee—as Venture Partners, strengthening its global investment capabilities across the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asia.
- • Yoshimaru brings deep Silicon Valley expertise and experience investing in leading technology companies including Databricks, Wiz, Perplexity, and Sierra; he will lead strategic advisory for a new U.S.-focused startup fund.
- • Chris Lee, with prior experience at CVC Capital Partners and GIC before joining SoftBank Vision Fund as Partner, adds institutional capital and cross-border investment structuring capabilities to the firm.
- • SBVA manages approximately $2 billion in assets under management and has invested in more than 300 startups globally, with recent focus on supporting portfolio companies' overseas market expansion.
- • The appointments signal SBVA's strategic pivot toward deepening support for portfolio growth, cross-border deal sourcing, and facilitating expansion between Silicon Valley and Asian markets.
Summary
SBVA, the venture capital arm spun off from SoftBank Group, announced on August 27, 2026, the appointment of two seasoned investment professionals as Venture Partners: Kaz Yoshimaru and Chris Lee. Both executives previously held senior roles at SoftBank Vision Fund, one of the world's largest venture capital vehicles. The dual appointment reflects SBVA's commitment to expanding its global investment infrastructure and deepening operational support for its existing portfolio across multiple geographies.
Kaz Yoshimaru holds advanced degrees from the University of Tokyo (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Public Administration) and Harvard Business School (MBA). He joined SoftBank Group in 2015 and progressed to Investment Director at SoftBank Vision Fund, where he led technology investments for the U.S. investment team. His portfolio included high-profile exits and growth-stage companies such as Databricks, Wiz, Perplexity, and Sierra. At SBVA, Yoshimaru will leverage his Silicon Valley network and deal sourcing capabilities to lead strategic advisory and structuring efforts for a newly announced fund dedicated to U.S. startup investments, while simultaneously supporting Japanese and Asian portfolio company expansion into North American markets.
Chris Lee, holding an economics degree from the University of Chicago, brings institutional capital experience through previous roles at CVC Capital Partners and GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation) before joining SoftBank Vision Fund as Partner. His background in large-cap institutional investing and cross-border capital deployment complements Yoshimaru's technology-sector focus.
The appointments underscore SBVA's strategic repositioning to address a key operational gap: direct support for portfolio companies navigating overseas expansion and cross-border growth. With approximately $2 billion in assets under management and investments across more than 300 startups globally, SBVA has demonstrated active portfolio management through initiatives including a ₩120 billion ($90M+) investment round in 18 companies targeting overseas market entry, with reported capital recovery of approximately ₩200 billion. The firm's recent rebranding from SoftBank Ventures Asia and the closure of its 2023 Alpha Korea Fund (₩200 billion / $150 million) indicate a structured approach to emerging market venture deployment, particularly in Southeast Asia and Korea.
Kaz Yoshimaru holds advanced degrees from the University of Tokyo (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Public Administration) and Harvard Business School (MBA). He joined SoftBank Group in 2015 and progressed to Investment Director at SoftBank Vision Fund, where he led technology investments for the U.S. investment team. His portfolio included high-profile exits and growth-stage companies such as Databricks, Wiz, Perplexity, and Sierra. At SBVA, Yoshimaru will leverage his Silicon Valley network and deal sourcing capabilities to lead strategic advisory and structuring efforts for a newly announced fund dedicated to U.S. startup investments, while simultaneously supporting Japanese and Asian portfolio company expansion into North American markets.
Chris Lee, holding an economics degree from the University of Chicago, brings institutional capital experience through previous roles at CVC Capital Partners and GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation) before joining SoftBank Vision Fund as Partner. His background in large-cap institutional investing and cross-border capital deployment complements Yoshimaru's technology-sector focus.
The appointments underscore SBVA's strategic repositioning to address a key operational gap: direct support for portfolio companies navigating overseas expansion and cross-border growth. With approximately $2 billion in assets under management and investments across more than 300 startups globally, SBVA has demonstrated active portfolio management through initiatives including a ₩120 billion ($90M+) investment round in 18 companies targeting overseas market entry, with reported capital recovery of approximately ₩200 billion. The firm's recent rebranding from SoftBank Ventures Asia and the closure of its 2023 Alpha Korea Fund (₩200 billion / $150 million) indicate a structured approach to emerging market venture deployment, particularly in Southeast Asia and Korea.
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