SoftBank leads $500M funding round in Agile Robots

SoftBank has spearheaded a $500 million funding round for German humanoid robotics company Agile Robots, which specializes in industrial automation. The Japanese multinational firm, backed by Nvidia, Hitachi, and T Capital, valued Agile at $8.5 billion. Agile has previously accumulated $2 billion in total funding. Based in Munich, the robotics company designs robotic arms, hands, autonomous mobile robots, and humanoid robots, along with the associated software and AI models.

Their robots perform tasks such as assembling products, handling components, inspecting equipment, and moving materials within factories.

Established in 2018 as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Centre, Agile plans to employ the new funds to expand its presence in the United States and enhance production capacity. The company recently opened a new factory near Munich capable of producing up to 10,000 legged and wheeled humanoid robots annually. With over 2,000 research and development specialists and more than 650 patents, Agile caters to industries including automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, and services.

Agile CEO and founder Dr. Zhaopeng Chen expressed excitement about the future, stating: "Physical AI will fundamentally change how the world builds, moves and makes things. Our vision is intelligent robots working alongside people in factories and warehouses everywhere, and Agile Robots is determined to lead that shift. This funding enables us to accelerate global expansion, strengthen our market position, and build out production capacity."