Agile robots on the expansion course: New headquarters in Munich and billion dollar goals

Published on: June 5, 2025 / Updated on: November 19, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Agile Robots on an expansion course: New headquarters in Munich and billion-dollar targets – Original image: Agile Robots / Creative image: Xpert.Digital

Agile Robots: Munich-based company on the way to a billion in revenue

Munich-based Agile Robots has reached a significant milestone with the opening of its new global headquarters and simultaneously announced ambitious growth plans. Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the company aims for a revenue of one billion euros in the medium term and has solidified its position as a leading robotics company in Germany through strong growth and strategic acquisitions in recent years. Particularly noteworthy is its international focus, with production sites in Europe, China, and India. However, founder Zhaopeng Chen repeatedly emphasizes that the company's roots are firmly in Germany and that Chinese investors hold only a single-digit percentage stake.

The new headquarters and the growth strategy

With prominent support from Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, Agile Robots recently celebrated the grand opening of its new global headquarters in Munich-Sendling. “This new global headquarters is more than just a new building for us. It’s a symbol of how far we’ve come,” explained Dr. Zhaopeng Chen, founder and CEO of the company. What began in 2018 as a small spin-off with ten employees has grown into a scale-up with over 2,300 employees worldwide, 900 of whom are based in Germany.

The company's economic development is equally impressive. In recent years, Agile Robots has consistently doubled its revenue, most recently reaching approximately €200 million. With over 10,000 automation solutions installed worldwide, the company is now aiming for even greater heights. "I am confident that we can achieve more than €1 billion in revenue in the medium term," said Chen at the opening of the new headquarters. The company aims to make manufacturing in industry smarter, more flexible, and more efficient.

Agile Robots' growth strategy relies not only on organic growth but also on strategic acquisitions. Its portfolio now includes Franka Robotics, BÄR Automation, and idealworks – a joint venture with BMW. Furthermore, the company recently acquired the AI startup Audeering, which develops deep learning technologies.

From research to global robotics player

Agile Robots' success story began at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where the two founders, Zhaopeng Chen and Peter Meusel, worked as robotics researchers. Chen, fascinated by robots since childhood, studied engineering in China and earned his doctorate at DLR, where he developed a novel humanoid hand – a much-lauded milestone in robotics research.

Founded in 2018, the company specializes in the development and production of highly flexible and adaptive robotic systems, aiming to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and robotics. The company's mission is to create sophisticated yet user-friendly robots capable of performing complex tasks with precision and efficiency.

Agile Robots focuses less on large, heavy industrial robots and more on smaller, intelligent robots that utilize artificial intelligence. According to the company, its applications include the automotive and electronics manufacturing industries, with customers such as the Taiwanese Foxconn Group (an Apple supplier) and BMW in China.

The product portfolio and technologies

Agile Robots offers a wide range of robotics solutions. Its portfolio includes intelligent, sensitive robots, mobile robots, and AI-based software solutions such as the AgileCore automation operating system. The company has independently developed software and hardware products, including the intelligent, force-controlled robot "DIANA," medical robots, humanoid five-fingered hands, and a flexible intelligent manufacturing platform (FIP).

Agile Robots' technology is distinguished by its combination of artificial intelligence, force sensing, and robot vision. This unique combination enables intelligent, user-friendly, and affordable robotic solutions that facilitate safe human-robot interaction. The robots can adapt to various environments and perform a wide range of tasks, allowing the company to serve a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

The path to becoming a unicorn and its financing

A significant milestone in the company's history was the Series C funding round in 2021, in which Agile Robots raised $220 million. This funding brought the company to a valuation of over one billion US dollars, making it the first German "robot unicorn".

The funding round was led by Japanese investor SoftBank, followed by other financial investors such as Abu Dhabi Royal Group, Hillhouse Ventures, Sequoia Capital China, and strategic investors like Xiaomi Group and Foxconn Industrial Internet. In total, Agile Robots has received $350 million in funding through 2021.

Eric Chen, Managing Partner at Softbank Investment Advisers, explained at the time: “Agile Robots combines artificial intelligence with advanced robotics technology to solve some of the most challenging problems in industry and is the latest example of our continued support for the growing European and Chinese technology sector.”

The China question and the international focus

In recent years, there has been recurring speculation about a possible Chinese influence on Agile Robots. These discussions were partly fueled by the fact that the company, in addition to its headquarters in Munich, also has a location in Beijing and manufactures in China.

Zhaopeng Chen, however, firmly rejected these speculations: “Our roots are in Germany, and our largest investor is from Japan. While we do have production facilities in China, Chinese investors hold only a single-digit percentage stake in the company.” According to the company, the majority of the capital is held by the Japanese technology giant Softbank, the Taiwanese technology company Foxconn, and the founders.

In fact, Agile Robots is now a global company with locations in Germany (Munich, Kaufbeuren, Gemmingen), China (Beijing, Changsha, Chongqing, Harbin, Kunshan, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou) and India (Bangaluru, Chennai). This international focus enables the company to “implement cutting-edge technology from Germany worldwide and meet the demands of global markets,” as Chen emphasizes.

In Germany alone, the company invested 80 million euros last year, including in a new research laboratory in Munich. According to Chen, Bavaria offers "excellent technological research and a broad industrial base".

Agile Robots: AI integration drives the goal of billion-euro revenue forward

Following a period of significant investment and acquisitions, Agile Robots is now focused on continuing its growth and achieving its goal of one billion in revenue. The integration of AI into manufacturing is central to this strategy.

The robotics industry in Germany has developed dynamically in recent years. “We have strong players in the cobot sector in Germany,” said Susanne Bieller, Secretary General of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Technological ideas from universities, research institutions, and start-ups have, in some cases, been transformed into thriving companies, and some have already outgrown the start-up phase and are developing into competitive businesses.

In this environment, Agile Robots positions itself as a leading company that drives the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics, relying on German engineering and international market presence.

Agile Robots: From research idea to billion-dollar valuation

Agile Robots' success story demonstrates how a research idea at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) can evolve into a global company with a billion-dollar valuation within just a few years. With the opening of its new headquarters in Munich, the company underscores its commitment to Germany while simultaneously expanding globally.

The ambitious growth targets – more than one billion euros in revenue in the medium term – demonstrate the self-confidence of the company and its management. Despite its international focus with a strong emphasis on the Chinese market, CEO Zhaopeng Chen emphasizes the company's German roots and rejects speculation about a dominant Chinese influence.

The combination of German engineering, international financing and global market presence could prove to be a successful strategy to survive in the highly competitive robotics and automation market and to generate further growth.

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