Agile Robots raises $500M at $8.5B valuation in SoftBank-led round
Agile Robots, a Munich-based robotics company, has raised $500 million in a SoftBank-led funding round, reaching an $8.5 billion valuation. The investment cements its position as Europe’s most valuable privately held robotics company and accelerates plans to produce 2,000 humanoid robots in 2026.
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SoftBank leads $500 million round at $8.5 billion valuation
Agile Robots, a Munich-based robotics company, has secured $500 million in a Series C funding round led by SoftBank. The round values the company at $8.5 billion, making it Europe’s most valuable privately held robotics firm. The funding includes participation from Nvidia, Hitachi, and T.Capital.
The investment brings Agile Robots’ total funding to approximately $2 billion. The company plans to use the capital to expand in the U.S. and other markets while scaling its manufacturing capacity. Agile Robots recently opened a humanoid robot factory near Munich, with production targets set at 2,000 units for 2026 and potential increases in 2027.
Expansion plans and market challenges
Agile Robots develops humanoid robots, robotic arms, and mobile robots, alongside the software that powers them. The company has deployed over 20,000 robotic systems globally, including smaller units used in universities and laboratories. Its latest humanoid models are undergoing testing with manufacturing customers, such as Volkswagen’s Audi.
CEO Zhaopeng Chen has signaled ambitions for an initial public offering (IPO), though the company faces challenges in scaling production. Chen described the race to develop physical AI as a "capital-intensive war," emphasizing the need for real-world training data and improvements in battery life and weight distribution.
SoftBank’s continued bet on robotics despite setbacks
Agile Robots’ rise follows SoftBank’s prior investment in the company. SoftBank led a $220 million Series C round in 2021, which made Agile Robots Germany’s first robotics unicorn. At the time, founder Masayoshi Son positioned robotics as a cornerstone of SoftBank’s AI strategy, though the firm’s plans have faced regulatory hurdles. Chinese authorities blocked SoftBank’s attempted $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB’s robotics business, citing undisclosed concerns.
The latest funding round reinforces SoftBank’s commitment to Agile Robots amid shifting market conditions. SoftBank recently reported a nearly $7 billion net loss for the quarter ending September 2026, with gains from Indian startups Lenskart and Meesho offset by writedowns on Ola Electric.
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Sources
- The Next Web · 2026-11-12
SoftBank leads $500M round valuing Agile Robots at $8.5B
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Editor, Lazyfounder
Tarun Mottlia edits LazyFounders, covering Indian startups, funding rounds, AI and product launches. Every story on the site is AI-assisted and checked against its cited sources before publication.
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