Prime Highlights
- SoftBank launches SB Neo Inc., a major new neocloud venture set to power US AI infrastructure.
- SB Neo targets delivery of roughly 10 gigawatts of AI compute capacity to US customers by 2030.
Key Facts
- SoftBank Corp. holds 51% ownership of SB Neo, with SoftBank Group Corp. holding the remaining 49%.
- SoftBank’s $65 billion investment in OpenAI gives SB Neo a strong early customer advantage.
Background
SoftBank Group Corp. and its subsidiary SoftBank Corp. are set to launch a new neocloud venture in the United States, offering AI chip access to hyperscalers and other companies that need compute power.
The two firms will form a new entity named SB Neo Inc., which starts operations as a neocloud provider in fiscal 2027 next March, a press release confirmed. SoftBank Corp. takes 51% ownership of the venture, with SoftBank Group Corp. holding the remaining 49% stake. SB Neo will run as a subsidiary under SoftBank Corp.
Neoclouds have become one of the fastest-growing segments in cloud infrastructure, centered on leasing out GPUs and AI accelerator chips to meet climbing global demand.
SoftBank Corp. has operated a beta version of its GPU cloud service in Japan since April, built on its proprietary Infrinia AI Cloud OS platform. The company now plans to bring that proven capability to a much larger scale in the US market.
SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son said the group intends to work together to build world-class AI infrastructure. According to reports, SB Neo targets delivery of roughly 10 gigawatts of AI compute capacity to US customers by 2030, marking a significant step in AI infrastructure growth.
SB Neo stands to gain a strong early customer in OpenAI, which has received $65 billion in backing from SoftBank, giving the new venture solid early footing.
The wider neocloud field also features established names like CoreWeave, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google Cloud and Meta Platforms, underscoring the sector’s rapid growth and opportunity.
SoftBank Corp. head Junichi Miyakawa said SB Neo carries a key strength through its access to gas-fired power plants, giving the venture a dependable edge in fueling its AI infrastructure.