– Two former SoftBank Vision Fund investment professionals join SBVA, expanding its global network across the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asia
– SBVA to deepen support for portfolio companies, from identifying promising companies globally to supporting their expansion into overseas markets
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SBVA (CEO: JP Lee) announced today that it has appointed two former SoftBank Vision Fund investment professionals, Kaz Yoshimaru and Chris Lee, as Venture Partners. The appointments will further strengthen SBVA’s global investment capabilities and expand its support for portfolio companies entering overseas markets and growing their businesses.
From left, SBVA Venture Partners Kaz Yoshimaru and Chris Lee
Kaz Yoshimaru holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Tokyo, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. He joined SoftBank Group in 2015 and later served as an Investment Director at SoftBank Vision Fund, investing in global technology companies as part of its U.S. investment team. He invested in leading technology companies including Databricks, Wiz, Perplexity, and Sierra, while supporting their expansion into Japan and helping bridge Silicon Valley and Asia.
As a Venture Partner at SBVA, Yoshimaru will leverage his expertise and network across the U.S. technology and venture ecosystem to support a range of initiatives. He will also lead strategic advisory and structuring efforts for a new fund focused on investing in U.S. startups.
Chris Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago. He later worked at CVC Capital Partners and GIC before serving as a Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund. With extensive experience in private equity and growth equity, Lee led investments in major high-growth companies across Asia, including Yanolja, Carro, Advance Intelligence Group, bKash, IYUNO, and Funding Societies, building deep investment expertise and networks across the region.
At SBVA, Chris Lee will help identify co-investment opportunities in Southeast Asia and support new fund formation, while also helping portfolio companies enter and expand in local markets.
"Kaz and Chris bring extensive investment experience and networks built through identifying and supporting innovative companies across global markets," said JP Lee, CEO of SBVA. "We expect their addition to further strengthen SBVA’s role as a bridge between the global technology ecosystem and Asian markets."
