WeWork Enters JV With SoftBank, Prepares For Japanese Expansion

WeWork CEO and co-founder Adam Neumann
Former Wework Ceo And Co-Founder Adam Neumann

Thanks to a joint venture with telecom giant SoftBank, WeWork will expand its co-working concept into Japan. WeWork Japan will be split 50/50 between the two firms, giving the New York-based shared-economy company the opportunity to connect its 130,000 members to Japan's robust and growing market, SoftBank announced in a release.

“WeWork is disrupting preconceived notions of work styles and opening up myriad opportunities for the next generation of creators around the world by taking a scientific approach that fully utilizes the latest technologies,” SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement. “With this joint venture, we look forward to collaborating with WeWork to offer new possibilities for people in Japan.”

The first WeWork Japan location is slated to open in Tokyo early next year, and WeWork has appointed former Chief Operating Officer Chris Hill to oversee the Japanese business as CEO of WeWork Japan. SoftBank’s interest in the co-working giant reportedly goes back to earlier this year. A report surfaced in February that Japan’s SoftBank was in talks with WeWork to invest between $3B and $4B. Though this deal has not been confirmed, Forbes reports SoftBank did invest $300M in WeWork in March and Crunchbase lists the company as a major investor.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Related Topics: SoftBank , WeWork
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's National Newsletters
Related Stories

Digital Media Firm Pivots To AI, Abandons $160M Fort Lauderdale Studio Project

State Farm's 1.1M SF Suburban Atlanta Hub Put Up For Sale

Data Center Energy Bill Stalls In Congress As Opponents Say It Lacked 'Real Teeth'

Tennessee University Plans Campus In Chamblee: The Atlanta Deal Sheet

FedEx's Consolidation Plan Puts $3B Of CMBS Debt In Crosshairs

FBI Opens Investigation Into Multifamily Investor Lurin Capital

DWS Plans Liquidation Of Nontraded REIT After Heightened Redemption Activity

Bisnow's 2026 DEI Data Series

America's Data Centers Are Running Out Of People Who Know How To Run Them

Why Data Centers Crave Simplicity As Operations Grow More Complex

Blackstone Looks To Secondary Market To Cash Out Investors In $11B Fund

CalSTRS Plans $5B In New CRE Investments