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SoftBank

SoftBank shows risk appetite intact with investment in two US startups

Move comes despite Vision Fund turmoil and uncertainty over Sprint merger

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is continuing to invest in startups despite a general cool-down in funding activity. (Photo by Maho Obata) 

TOKYO -- SoftBank Group has invested in two U.S. startups in a sign that the technology conglomerate still has an appetite for deal-making despite the turmoil surrounding its portfolio companies, an overall cool-down in the funding environment for tech companies and uncertainty surrounding the merger of subsidiary Sprint.

Berkshire Grey, which makes robots that automatically pick up and sort items in warehouses, said it raised $263 million from SoftBank and venture capital firms Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates and Canaan.

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