Investments by SoftBank's huge Vision Fund could shake up tech world

SAN FRANCISCO – SoftBank Group Corp. is sending tremors through the tech world with a massive new venture capital fund for investing in startups that is expected to dominate the industry so thoroughly it's playfully referred to as a "gorilla." The Vision Fund's $100 billion coffers nearly equals the total amount pumped into venture capital-backed companies last year, according to market intelligence firm CB Insights, and some say it could be a game-changer for Silicon Valley. "SoftBank shows a remarkable amount of bravery, confidence and optimism to look to apply this much money in technology," said Bill Maris, who started Google Ventures nearly a decade ago and runs his own California-based investment firm Section 32. "I can't say it's a wrong bet, if you think the trends in tech will continue in the future. I would be much more worried if SoftBank was saying tech is dead."