SoftBank in talks to buy Swiss robotics startup Gravis

SoftBank Group Corp. is in talks to acquire Gravis Robotics AG, a Swiss startup that makes autonomous systems for heavy construction equipment, in a deal that could value the company at more than $500 million, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.swissinfo+1

The Japanese conglomerate plans to hold Gravis within Roze, a new AI and robotics entity it is establishing with plans for a U.S. listing, according to people familiar with the matter. SoftBank could structure the transaction in stages, acquiring existing shares and injecting fresh capital over time. No final decisions on the size or structure of a deal have been made, the people said.swissinfo

A Fast-Growing ETH Zurich Spinout

Founded in 2022 as a spinout from ETH Zurich, Gravis develops AI-based retrofit systems that transform excavators, loaders, and other earthmoving machinery into autonomous robots. The company raised $23 million in venture funding in November 2025, in a round co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures. Gravis claims its technology can increase productivity by 30 percent while improving site safety.dfab+3

A $500 million-plus valuation would represent a sharp jump from that funding round less than a year ago, underscoring SoftBank's willingness to pay a premium as it assembles what industry observers describe as the most ambitious robotics empire outside China.startupfortune

SoftBank's Expanding Robotics Portfolio

The potential Gravis deal is the latest in a series of moves by Masayoshi Son to consolidate robotics assets under one roof. Last year, SoftBank agreed to buy the industrial robotics division of ABB Ltd. for $5.4 billion, a transaction that received EU regulatory approval in March and is expected to close later this year. The company is also in discussions to increase its stake in German startup Agile Robots through a new $800 million funding round.techcrunch+3

SoftBank transferred roughly 20 of its robotics investments — including stakes in Berkshire Grey, Agile Robots, and Skild AI — into a holding company called Robo HD, and in April the Wall Street Journal News Corp ↗ 3.94% reported the company was planning an IPO for Roze in the second half of 2026. Representatives for both SoftBank and Gravis declined to comment on the talks.wsj+1