SoftBank Prepares US Market Debut for AI Robotics Venture Roze
New York, Thursday 30 April 2026
SoftBank’s planned US public offering for its new venture, Roze, signals a major institutional shift towards embodied AI, setting crucial valuation benchmarks for European hardware startups.
A Strategic Pivot Amid Market Volatility
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is taking decisive steps to solidify its position in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence hardware sector, with plans to list its new AI and robotics venture, Roze, in the United States as early as this year [alert! ‘Exact IPO date remains unconfirmed and is subject to market conditions’] [1]. This strategic move was formally underpinned on 28 April 2026, when SoftBank announced partial amendments to its Articles of Incorporation [2]. The revised corporate purposes now explicitly encompass the planning, development, and provision of AI-utilising services and software, alongside the manufacturing and sale of semiconductors and telecommunications equipment [2].
The Embodied AI Arms Race
Roze will enter a global robotics market characterised by staggering private valuations and fierce international competition. Global investment in the robotics sector surpassed $10 billion in 2025, reflecting a significant institutional pivot towards embodied AI [6]. Recent funding rounds highlight the immense premium placed on humanoid and industrial robotics; Figure AI secured over $1 billion at a $39 billion Series C valuation in 2025, whilst Apptronik reached a $5.5 billion valuation following a $935 million Series A raise in February 2026 [6]. SoftBank is highly experienced in this arena, having previously owned Boston Dynamics before selling it to Hyundai Motor Group for $1.1 billion in 2021 [6].
Capital Expenditure and Supply Chain Pressures
The proliferation of advanced AI and robotics relies heavily on vast, capital-intensive infrastructure. Major technology firms are aggressively scaling their data centre capabilities to meet anticipated demand. Oracle has announced plans to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion to fund the expansion of its cloud infrastructure, citing contracted demand from clients including OpenAI and Meta [3]. Similarly, cloud computing provider CoreWeave, which signed an $11.9 billion contract with OpenAI in March 2026 [4][5], has guided for capital expenditures of $30 billion to $35 billion in 2026, more than doubling its spending from the previous year [3].
Implications for European Innovation
For European markets, particularly the high-tech systems and materials hubs in the Benelux region, the impending Roze IPO will provide a vital valuation benchmark [GPT]. The global robotics strategy is increasingly fragmented; while the United States focuses heavily on AI software and venture capital, and Japan leverages its physical integration and manufacturing scale, Europe has carved out a position based on niche specialisation and regulatory frameworks [6]. Germany, a traditional European industrial powerhouse, saw its industrial robot installations decrease by 5% to 27,000 units in 2024, highlighting the need for fresh market catalysts in the region [6].