Agility Robotics, an Oregon-based robotics company, is raising $400 million at a pre-investment valuation of $1.75 billion, The Information reported. The venture arm of private equity firm WP Global Partners is leading the fundraising, in which SoftBank is also slated to participate. This investment reflects growing interest in robotics due to advancements in AI. It comes after other major investments by SoftBank this year, including leading a funding round for Skild AI, a robotics startup in Pittsburgh, and recent reports of investment of over $1 trillion to create AI industrial parks in the US. The parks would likely include factories, where AI-equipped robots operate autonomously to address labour shortages. This is in addition to SoftBank’s investment in The Stargate Project. Agility Robotics has previously raised about $320 million, including a financing round last fall led by venture firm DCVC at a valuation of around $1 billion. The company, led by former Microsoft executive Peggy Johnson, who joined as CEO last year, is developing its humanoid robot Digit. This warehouse robot stands 5-feet, 9-inches tall and is designed to walk and move like a human.

Full report : Humanoid Robotics Startup Agility led by former Microsoft exec is Raising $400 Million at a valuation of $1.79 billion.