German industrial robotics company Agile Robots has raised $500 million in a new funding round led by SoftBank, with participation from Nvidia, bringing its valuation to $8.5 billion. The company's cumulative funding now stands at $2 billion since its founding in 2018. Founder Zhaopeng Chen said the proceeds will be used to expand operations in the United States, increase production capacity in Germany, and enter new markets ahead of a potential future IPO. Agile Robots combines AI with robotics technology to help factories improve productivity and reduce costs, and works with partners including Google DeepMind. Chen positioned physical AI as a key solution for Europe to narrow the AI gap with the United States and China while revitalizing its industrial base.