When massive tsunami swept away entire towns in northeastern Japan five years ago, Taizo Son filled three shipping containers with emergency supplies and sent them to help the relief effort. Later, he bet almost $100 million of his own money on startups, seeking to transform everything from transportation and education to farming and medicine.
Now he's ready to talk more about Mistletoe Inc., his project that's aiming to be a combination of early-stage venture firm, incubator and entrepreneur-in-residence program focused on making an impact on society.
But Son, 43, isn't just the founder of GungHo Online Entertainment Inc., the developer of Puzzle & Dragons, once the world's best-selling smartphone title. He's also the youngest brother of Masayoshi Son, chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp. Taizo is 15 years younger, worth about $12 billion less and generally keeps a lower profile. There are two other brothers in the Korean immigrant family from Kyushu. With similar hairlines, the family resemblance is unmistakable. So is the confidence.