Tim Yap

Before joining SoftBank, I spent half a decade working on large technology, media, and telecom deals at Jefferies. During my initial conversations with the team, I quickly realized that SoftBank offered a unique opportunity to embrace my entrepreneurial spirit. The innovative approach and global reach were a perfect fit for my desire to build something impactful.

Working in growth equity you need to sit at the intersection of disruptive, visionary thinking and careful, quantitative analysis. At SoftBank, we seek out later-stage companies and deploy large amounts of capital, so it’s important to have a higher hit rate. My experience doing rigorous financial analysis at Jefferies—really getting into the weeds, looking two decimal places out on the balance sheet—was immensely useful when I transitioned. But here, I get to combine those skills with the search for ambitious founders. It’s not just about validating hypotheses on established companies, it’s also about identifying the right markets and business models to invest in.

I focus largely on B2B software, but what unites my investments are companies with visionary founders and genuinely disruptive business models. I’m interested in companies that are either creating an entirely new category or changing an existing category in some fundamental way. These companies typically have large market sizes because they’re either disrupting a sector with a big incumbent or creating a new category by lowering the price of a good or service to a previously unprecedented level.

What really sets SoftBank apart is our bold approach and global perspective. When I joined, I was drawn to the unique scale and ambition of what we were trying to do – investing in disruptive companies on a level that hadn’t been seen before. Today, our global reach, particularly in emerging markets like Asia and the Middle East, continues to be a major differentiator. But what truly stands out is how we’re constantly pushing boundaries and embracing flexibility, enabling us to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape.

I love staying active and seeking new challenges. Running has become a big part of my life, and I’m currently training for my first marathon. The runs are more than just exercise, they’re a time for me to clear my mind and find my focus. Bouldering is another passion of mine. Each climb requires a combination of strength and strategy, and reaching the top is incredibly rewarding. In quieter moments, I immerse myself in science fiction novels. One of my favorites is “Hyperion” by Dan Simmons. The rich storytelling and complex characters transport me into an intricately woven universe that keeps me hooked from start to finish.