eFishery is the largest aqua-tech company in Southeast Asia. The company offers affordable software and hardware, improving farmers’ economics end-to-end. One major innovation is the eFeeder, which automatically dispenses the appropriate feed in a timely manner improving farming efficiency by reducing manpower and wastage. This enables sustainable farming as it reduces water pollution caused by over feeding, while concurrently improving farmers’ yield by ～23%.
Sustainability
Portfolio Companies' Sustainability
Considering sustainability standards in investment activities, we support the sustainable development of society at large while also enhancing the performance of our investments over the medium- to long-term. Under this belief, we are undertaking the following initiatives.
Integrating ESG into the investment process
SoftBank Group Corp. revised its Portfolio Company Governance and Investment Guidelines Policy in May 2021, which originally set forth criteria on the governance of portfolio companies to be considered in the investment process. The revised Policy clearly states that environmental and social risks, in addition to governance, are to be assessed in the selection of investees and in post-investment monitoring. The Policy applies to SBG and its subsidiaries.* SBG and each investment subsidiary decide and implement their own specific investment plans. SBG will continue to actively integrate ESG into the investment process.
Includes SoftBank Vision Funds and other investment subsidiaries managed by subsidiaries of SBG but excludes listed subsidiaries and subsidiaries that the Group is restricted from controlling for regulatory reasons and their subsidiaries.
Integrating ESG into SoftBank Vision Funds’ investments
Described below are ways in which SoftBank Vision Funds integrate ESG into their investments.
Pre-Investment: assessing the risks of potential investments
SoftBank Vision Funds recognize four material themes in environmental and social fields that matter to the international community as well as to the Company’s investment business: responsible AI, climate change, human rights (forced labor), and discrimination/harassment. As part of its due diligence, SoftBank Vision Funds evaluate the potential investment’s status in addressing these material themes in environmental and social fields, as well as governance, to assess the risks, and use the results for investment decision-making.
Post-Investment: monitoring and engagement
After investing, SoftBank Vision Funds continually monitor the portfolio companies to prevent risks from materializing. They also engage with the portfolio companies in their efforts to address important tasks. Through such post-investment monitoring and engagement, SoftBank Vision Funds help drive sustainable development and enhance the performance of the portfolio companies over the medium- to long-term.
Investing in businesses that help address environmental and social challenges
SBG believes that investing in companies with innovative technology and business models can help address global challenges such as climate change and economic inequalities, thereby contributing to a more sustainable world. SoftBank Vision Funds and other investment businesses of the Group have already invested in many businesses that contribute to social and environmental sustainability using AI.
Investments that help address
environmental and social challenges
* These are examples of portfolio companies that help address environmental and social challenges (as of November 2024).
Addressing environmental and social challenges through our businesses
As a company that primarily engages in investment, SoftBank Group Corp. works through its portfolio companies to address environmental and social challenges.
Harnesses technology to empower fish and shrimp farmers (eFishery)
Makes green energy accessible to everyone (Enpal)
Enpal provides a subscription-based decentralized solar energy solution for residential consumers in Europe. The company offers customers an all-in-one solar leasing and financing solution including a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system, energy storage/ batteries, heat pumps, and EV charging. Its mission is to build renewable communities by making green energy accessible and affordable for everyone.
Producing a flexible solar cell that converts indoor light into electrical energy (Exeger)
The solar cell material and headphones
that use the material
Exeger is the developer of a solar cell technology that can generate electricity with high efficiency in both natural and indoor artificial light. The material can be integrated into electronic devices such as remote controls and headphones, reducing carbon emissions from everyday consumer products.
Uses AI to detect early-stage cancer (AI Medical Service)
AI Medical Service develops AI-powered endoscopes, enhancing early gastric cancer detection and patient survival rates. Its product software was recently approved by regulators (Japan and Singapore). The company represents a commitment to improving public health and healthcare access. Through partnerships with leading medical institutions, the company ensures responsible AI and patient data protection, promoting equitable healthcare. The initiatives embody ESG values, focusing on social well-being and wider healthcare access.
Improves patient outcomes by connecting surgical care (Proximie)
Proximie’s digital surgery software facilitates live sharing of the Operating Room for a connected surgical care ecosystem. The company enables hospitals, surgeons, and medical device companies to capture data, share information from anywhere in real time, and generate new insights to improve productivity and patient outcomes. Proximie directly contributes to improving healthcare for patients and medical education for the next generation of doctors.
Helps small-scale farmers maximize their profits and farm more sustainably (Apollo Agriculture)
Apollo Agriculture is an agri-fintech platform, empowering small-scale farmers across Africa to increase their profits and farm more sustainably. Apollo uses artificial intelligence and automated operations to unlock the massive, untapped small-scale farming market, enabling farmers to access the optimized financing, high-quality farm products, expert digital advice, and risk management solutions they need to invest and scale their businesses in Kenya and Zambia.
