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Agile Robots raises $500 million led by SoftBank at $8.5 billion valuation
Munich robotics company Agile Robots raised $500 million in a SoftBank-led round at an $8.5 billion valuation, Handelsblatt and Trending Topics reported, citing dpa and company remarks.
Munich robotics company Agile Robots has raised $500 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Group, valuing the firm at $8.5 billion, Techmeme said, pointing to Bloomberg, and German outlets reported on Thursday1,2,3.
Handelsblatt said total capital raised since the 2018 founding is now about $2 billion2. Trending Topics, citing the German news agency dpa, put the round at about €450 million and the valuation at about €7.6 billion3.
Other participants include Nvidia, Hitachi through its venture arm, and T. Capital, the investment company of Deutsche Telekom, according to Handelsblatt and Trending Topics2,3. SoftBank previously led a $220 million Series C in 2021; how much it is putting in this time was not disclosed3.
Founder and chief executive Zhaopeng Chen said the company is taking the technology from the lab into industrial series production2. Handelsblatt said the money is aimed at a U.S. market entry, new industrial applications, and German manufacturing2.
Agile Robots opened a plant in Fürstenfeldbruck, near Munich, earlier this year designed for up to 10,000 humanoid robots a year, both German outlets said2,3. The company sells robot arms, hands and grippers, driverless transport systems, production cells, the humanoid Agile ONE, and its own control software1,2,3.
It was founded in 2018 as a spinoff of the German Aerospace Center in Oberpfaffenhofen2,3. Agile Robots says it has more than 3,500 employees at more than 25 sites, more than 20,000 installed automation solutions, and more than 650 patents2,3.
Trending Topics noted that in June there had been talk of a round of about $800 million, and that the company does not disclose revenue or earnings3.
Sources
- TechmemeMunich-based Agile Robots, which develops humanoids, mobile robots, robotic arms, and control software, raised $500M led by SoftBank at an $8.5B valuation (Marilen Martin/Bloomberg)
- HandelsblattMilliardenbewertung: Münchner Start-up Agile Robots erhält 500 Millionen Dollar
- Trending TopicsAgile Robots Raises $500 Million From SoftBank and Nvidia
How it’s being reported
3 sourcesMunich-based Agile Robots, which develops humanoids, mobile robots, robotic arms, and control software, raised $500M led by SoftBank at an $8.5B valuation (Marilen Martin/Bloomberg)
The round size, SoftBank lead, and $8.5 billion valuation, via Bloomberg.
Techmeme pointed to Bloomberg reporting that Agile Robots raised $500 million led by SoftBank at an $8.5 billion valuation.
Leaves out Investor list beyond SoftBank, use of proceeds, and company background.
Milliardenbewertung: Münchner Start-up Agile Robots erhält 500 Millionen Dollar
Investors, Bavarian plant capacity, and founder Zhaopeng Chen on moving the technology into series production.
Handelsblatt reported the $500 million round, $8.5 billion valuation, SoftBank lead, and Nvidia, Hitachi and T. Capital as other backers.
Leaves out Earlier talks of an $800 million round and a possible IPO timetable.
Agile Robots Raises $500 Million From SoftBank and Nvidia
Investor lineup, dpa as the wire source, and that revenue figures were not disclosed.
Trending Topics, citing dpa, reported the same round and valuation and placed it in SoftBank's wider robotics push.
Leaves out A full on-record SoftBank comment.