Country for PR: China
Contributor: PR Newswire Asia (China)
Friday, September 10 2021 - 15:50
AsiaNet
AGILE ROBOTS announces the completion of Series C financing led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2
BEIJING, Sept. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Company is currently the highest valued unicorn in intelligent robotics 
globally 

Agile Robots, a leading intelligent robotics company, has recently announced 
the completion of a Series C financing with a total investment of US$220 
million. The financing exercise is led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2*, followed by 
financial investors including but not limited to Chimera Investments under Abu 
Dhabi Royal Group, GL Ventures, Sequoia China and Linear Capital (in 
alphabetical order), and strategic investors including Xiaomi Group, Foxconn 
Industrial Internet ("FII"), and Midas. The proceedings from this financing 
exercise will be mainly used for the company's product development, mass 
production and global sales business expansion.

It is reported that Agile Robots managed to raise a total financing amount of 
over US$130 million in 2020 as the company with highest total financing amount 
in intelligent robotics industry in 2020. Agile Robots is currently the only 
unicorn in the intelligent robotics field with a valuation exceeding US$1 
billion globally. With the completion of this financing round, Agile Robots 
become the first intelligent robotics company invested by SoftBank Vision Fund 
2 in China.

Founded in 2018, with its headquartered both in Munich, Germany and Beijing, 
China, Agile Robots is a robotics software platform company with the leading 
hardware know-how in robotics. With German Aerospace Centre ("DLR") as its 
technical backbone and the core concept of "artificial intelligence 
empowerment", the company is committed to promoting the deep combination and 
innovation of artificial intelligence and robotics and expanding the 
application of robotics in more fields. DLR is not only the first institute to 
send intelligent robots into space and perform complex tasks such as 
human-robot collaboration, but also the first in the world to propose and 
develop successful force-controlled robots that adopted by industries.

Agile Robots independently developed and launched software and hardware 
products such as its operating system AgileCore for the coordination of robots 
and accessories such as end effectors from different manufactures, its smart 
force-controlled robot DIANA, its medical robots, humanoid dexterous 
five-finger hands, and its flexible intelligent platform (FIP). With its unique 
hardware and software R&D capabilities, Agile Robots has launched its highly 
disruptive "robotic worker" that serves as smart assistant to all kinds of 
workers and professionals from different fields to take over mundane or 
dangerous tasks. Therewith Agile Robots opens new "blue ocean markets" for 
intelligent robot applications. Currently, the company has implemented its 
robots for production in multiple industrial scenarios. Agile Robots' products 
have been successfully put into mass production, achieved large-scale 
applications in medical, industrial (consumer electronics, automotive, jewelry 
and other precision assembly and manufacturing scenarios), agricultural, 
education and service fields.

Agile Robots is expanding the market globally. In particular for the Chinese 
Market, it has completed the strategic layout in multiple regions. Besides, the 
company has reached comprehensive strategic cooperation with Chinese orthopedic 
surgery robot listed company, top neurosurgery robot company, multiple Chinese 
top-tier general and specialist hospitals and several other world leading 
enterprises (such as international consumer electronics production giant, 
international top telecom service provider and world leading electronic 
equipment manufacturer etc.). With the completion of its product 
commercialization, Agile Robots seeks to remain strong growth in its sales.

Dr. Zhaopeng Chen, the founder of Agile Robots said: "With the unique 
technology by combining robotic OS and the world's leading sensitive robots, 
Agile Robots is seeking for fundamental breakthrough in robotic area and 
realistically applying the next generation of robots into intelligent precision 
assembly area and medical treatment, which can only be accomplished by human 
beings right now. With the supports from our reputable investors and customers, 
we are confident to push the robotics into new era with all our partners."

"As part of our ongoing commitment to China's dynamic market and to help 
entrepreneurs drive a wave of innovation, we are delighted to partner with Dr. 
Zhaopeng Chen, Peter Meusel, and the Agile Robots team," said Dr. Eric Chen, 
Managing Partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers. "Agile Robots connects 
artificial intelligence with advanced robotics technology to solve some of the 
most challenging industry problems and is the latest example of our continued 
support of China's growing technology sector."

Luke Li, Founding Partner of Hillhouse Group, said, "Hillhouse is a long-term 
investor in Agile Robots, having participated in several of its financing 
rounds, including the seed round. We were delighted to witness Dr. Zhaopeng 
Chen's team achieve multiple breakthroughs in the field of robotics. Agile 
Robots has developed high-precision force-controlled robots with advanced 
collision detection and joint-torque control capabilities that can be rapidly 
deployed and adapted to a variety of application scenarios. These 
force-controlled robots have the potential to drive revolutionary innovations 
in industrial robotics applications. Hillhouse's investment in Agile Robotics 
stands at the intersection of our longstanding interdisciplinary research in 
the robotics industry and our research and investment in advanced 
manufacturing, including in high-end precision equipment, smart robots, 
alternative energy and new materials. We look forward to Agile Robots' 
continuous contribution to the efforts in upgrading the manufacturing sector.

Caroline Fu, partner of Sequoia China, said: "Despite the demand for robots is 
fast growing, traditional robots are limited in standard tasks. We are 
optimistic about Agile Robots' potential market of general-purpose robots by 
integrating intelligent robots, force-sensing and robot vision. Their 
innovative technology can be applied widely in markets with large-scale and 
complex demand for robots, such as medical treatment, 3C and automotive 
manufacturing. We hope that Agile Robots will develop and apply more 
industry-leading innovative technologies in the near future to provide 
efficient, reliable and low-cost solutions for more complex scenarios."

*As of the date of this press release, SoftBank Group Corp. has made capital 
contributions to allow investments by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 ("SVF 2") in 
certain portfolio companies. The information included herein is made for 
informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a 
solicitation of an offer to buy limited partnership interests in any fund, 
including SVF 2. SVF 2 has yet to have an external close, and any potential 
third-party investors shall receive additional information related to any SVF 2 
investments prior to closing.

For more information about the Documentary, please visit 
https://www.agile-robots.com/

SOURCE: Beijing Agile Robot Technology Co., Ltd

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   Caption: AGILE ROBOTS announces the completion of Series C financing led by 
SoftBank Vision Fund 2

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