Softbank invests in Berlin AI forge Merantix

The world’s largest tech investor wants to expand his AI portfolio – and he’s now found what he’s looking for in Berlin. Above all, the Japanese hope to gain knowledge from the deal with Merantix.

Softbank, the world’s largest tech investor, wants to add more AI companies to its portfolio over the long term. When searching for suitable investment opportunities, the Japanese have now found what they are looking for in the federal capital. According to Gründerszene’s information, Softbank is investing an undisclosed amount in the Berlin Company Builder through its Vision Fund II. mirantex. The startup, founded in 2016, bills itself as an “AI Venture Studio” and has specialized in AI spin-offs. Money flows into the Inland Projects Fund, through which the initial investments of projects are financed.

If both companies have their way, the deal should not focus on financial interests. Instead, the Japanese want to work with Merantix as part of a “strategic partnership”. Softbank’s subsidiary, Softbank Investment Advisers, which handles tech investor investments, hopes this alliance will give them better access to Germany’s growing tech field. “The partnership includes collaborations in the areas of AI research, talent development, and the ecosystem,” reads a press release received by the startup scene in advance.

“Berlin has all the ingredients the AI ​​community needs.”

Merantix seems to have the clout needed for that. “Berlin has all the ingredients the AI ​​community needs: startups, investors, research and politics,” said Rasmus Roth, founder of Venture Studio. Last year on the startup scene. In January of this year, Merantix opened a 5,400 square meter AI campus in Nordbahnhof in Berlin. Startups with business models for everything related to AI can rent space on the site, but Merantix subsidiaries are also located there.

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mirantex It has already established six AI companies, such as the Breast Cancer Screening Platform He is Or Siasearch, a data management platform for autonomous driving. At the end of last year, two more companies were added with Cambrium in the synthetic biology and analytics platform Kausa. In addition, the Merantix Labs subsidiary is interested in project work with the companies.

above all Notorious Softbank founder Masayoshi Son He sees artificial intelligence as the next revolutionary step in the information age. He has three chests Already more than 100 billion euros in more than 140 start-ups Who thinks he will lead the AI ​​revolution? Merantix may soon be one of them.