Masayoshi Son Quotes

I think this is also a great time to invest in private equity, helping companies grow from the ground up.

Well private money can take risks in a way that government money often isn't willing to.

Once we started making investments, we realized the same service we provided to artists was applicable to entrepreneurs as well.

Investment in businesses creates sustainable jobs.

One of my first investments was $100,000 in a Web-based calendar startup - and I lost every dollar.

It is clear as you look at the team why Data Point Capital has so quickly become one of the premier venture capital firms. I look forward to adding to the firm's very bright future.

Many of the best firms historically in venture capital have been multi-sector.

I think one of the key differentiators I bring to the table as a venture capitalist is a solid understanding of the public markets and how they operate.

If I'm an entrepreneur, and I have a term sheet from Sequoia and Kleiner, that's the safe choice. Google Ventures is the brave choice.

I think there are a lot of companies that are staying private longer. Much more of their growth is happening while they are on the private side. So their valuations are hitting $1 billion while they are still private more often.

We've tried to build Sequoia Capital with an eye for the long term that we really look for in the companies we like to partner with.

I see easyHotel as one of the best, most natural extensions of the 'easy' brand from the airline. EasyHotel is raising money to accelerate growth at a much faster rate than I could have grown it as a private company, whilst enabling me to spend more time on my diversified portfolio of other investments.

First of all, in terms of investment in Internet-related developments, venture capitalists - once burned - are now very cautious and are investing in areas that actually make business sense.

If your business had no risk, you could go get a bank loan and call it a day. VCs like risks - without them, venture capital wouldn't exist. But they need to be risks that VCs are good at assessing and managing.

One day we are a hero, another day we are a zero. Without me, Cardiff would have gone bust. Because of my investment, we got promoted.

With the world changing fast, we needed capital for investments. There's only so much bandwidth in your own balance sheet.

Our focus is not on exit. In fact if you talk to any of my entrepreneurs, I'm generally saying, 'Don't sell the company,' when other investors want to sell. I'd much rather focus on building long-term value in building companies rather than worrying about exits.

The issue of access to growth capital is common to all entrepreneurs. Any entrepreneur who can demonstrate a credible business model and plan would be able to access to capital.

I'm a venture capitalist. I like to say my job is to help and support entrepreneurs. I can play a leadership role, but my organization can't be the leader.

In my 40-plus years as a venture capitalist, I have come to appreciate the certainty a healthy economy provides for businesses both large and small.

Private equity investors are an integral part of the economy and should be celebrated for making our country wealthier.

We welcome the interest from PE firms, as we see it as a sign of our progress, and my position is that we should always open the doors to those who want to bring capital to our industry.

When all is said and done, you're either for investment and risk taking as a solution for what ails the economy, or you're against it. The real world offers no middle ground.

We have never shied away from making investments. Even during downcycles, we never stopped our investments.

LeBron and I have always been about finding companies that we truly believe in and putting real money into them. We're not talking putting in $15,000 or $20,000. It's real money plus the expertise, understanding and knowledge that we bring, as well as bringing LeBron's name and likeness to the product.