SoftBank Weighing Deal for Swiss Robotics Startup Gravis
July 24, 2026 – 12:39 pm
Image by: AFP/Getty Images
Gravis Robotics, an ETH Zurich spinout, specializes in fitting autonomy kits to excavators. A potential partnership would extend Masayoshi Son’s robotics investments from the factory floor to construction sites.
SoftBank is considering a deal for Gravis Robotics, a Swiss startup that equips excavators and diggers with sensors and software enabling autonomous operation, according to Bloomberg.
The report did not disclose details of any potential transaction, including size, structure, or valuation, and discussions are reportedly at an early stage.
This development reflects SoftBank’s strategic direction:
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Expanding Robotics Portfolio: Masayoshi Son’s group has rapidly accumulated a diverse robotics portfolio in the past year, from significant investments like $800 million funding round for Agile Robots to smaller bets on autonomy kits for existing machinery.
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Focus on Construction: Gravis Robotics’ technology retrofits standard heavy equipment with LiDAR, cameras, GNSS positioning, and hydraulic sensors, allowing machines to perform tasks like trenching, grading soil, and managing stockpiles autonomously, increasing site efficiency by approximately 30%.
Gravis Robotics was founded in 2022 at ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab. They offer two key components:
- Rack: Hardware kit that integrates sensors for autonomous operation.
- Slate: Tablet interface allowing operators to switch between autonomous and manual modes.
The company boasts notable achievements, including setting a Guinness World Record for the largest robot-built dry-stone wall.
Since raising $23 million in November 2025 from investors like IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, Gravis has deployed its technology on active sites across seven countries, according to their own statements.
For SoftBank, construction represents a natural extension of their existing robotics investments. Following the acquisition of ABB’s robotics division for $5.4 billion and the recent completion of a $1.75 billion loan for that purchase, the company is also selling its Boston Dynamics stake to Hyundai.
Potential negotiations with Gravis Robotics would follow in this trend of consolidation and expansion within the robotics sector. SoftBank is said to be anchoring a fresh $800 million funding round for Agile Robots, which it led in 2021.