Softbank considers $500m acquisition of Swiss robotics startup Gravis
Tokyo-based Softbank is reportedly weighing a takeover of the autonomous heavy machinery developer, a move that underscores a broader surge in European robotics investment.
Softbank is evaluating a potential acquisition of Gravis Robotics, a Swiss startup specializing in autonomous systems for heavy industrial machinery. According to people familiar with the discussions, a deal could value the company at more than $500 million. However, these sources emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding the ultimate size or structure of the transaction.
Gravis was founded in 2022 as a spinout from ETH Zurich, a Swiss university focused primarily on science, tech and innovation. The company has developed a platform engineered to turn any standard earthmoving machine into a robot. By focusing on the physical transformation of existing heavy vehicles, Gravis targets the construction, mining, and agricultural sectors.
The startup's backing reflects a mix of venture and strategic investors. Its capitalization includes IQ Capital, Armada Investment Group, Zacua Ventures, and Holcim. Holcim’s presence as an industrial backer points to specific applications within the building materials sector.
For market participants, the reported valuation stands out against Gravis’s recent fundraising. The company closed a $23 million round in November of last year, according to Dealroom. A $500 million acquisition price would mark a rapid escalation in value, highlighting how large acquirers are pricing early-stage industrial automation technology.
Gravis is not operating in isolation, but rather at the forefront of a broader European investment boom. Robotics companies across the continent raised a combined €1.6 billion in 2025. This figure represents a 110% jump from the €761m secured by the sector in 2024, indicating a structural shift in how capital is being allocated to physical automation technologies.
Softbank’s reported interest validates this upward trajectory in European robotics valuations. Gravis did not respond to a request for comment. If completed, the acquisition would provide a concrete data point for investors tracking the exit multiples of early-stage industrial technology companies.
