SoftBank is moving to double down on a humanoid future. According to market sources, Masayoshi Son’s fund is in talks to lead an US$800 million round of Agile RobotsGerman industrial robotics startup.
As reported by Bloombergthe Japanese manager is still negotiating its participation in the deal, but preliminary information suggests that it may write a check for around US$300 million to the startup based in Munich, Germany.
Founded in 2018, the Agile Robots develops Physical AI solutions, combining robotic hardware with embedded artificial intelligence. The company’s flagship product is the Agile ONE, a humanoid robot aimed at industrial environments, with highly dexterous hands, advanced perception and the ability to interact with humans.
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The line also includes Diana7, a robotic arm with AI, and AgileCore, a software platform that serves as the basis for the company’s systems. In addition to Germany, the startup also operates in China, one of the hottest markets currently when it comes to robotics.
The movement is part of a growing commitment by the SoftBank in the robotics and humanoids market. Last year, the Japanese group closed the purchase of the Swiss industrial robots division ABB for US$5.4 billion.
Additionally, the company plans to create and list in the United States an AI and robotics company called Pinkwith executives from SoftBank targeting a valuation of up to US$100 billion.
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The market context justifies the acceleration. The global humanoid market is expected to grow from around US$3 billion in 2023 to up to US$38 billion in 2035, according to the Goldman Sachs. Global investment in robotics startups more than tripled in one year, reaching US$27.6 billion in 2025, according to data from PitchBook.
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