SoftBank plans $100B IPO for Roze AI, a robotics company designed to automate data center builds

SoftBank is creating a robotics company that builds data centers -- and already eyeing a $100B IPO | TechCrunch

Tech companies are racing to build out infrastructure that can further drive the automation boom. Now, Japanese multinational SoftBank reportedly plans to create a new company designed to automate the creation of that infrastructure. SoftBank is putting together a new business called Roze AI, the Financial Times originally reported. Roze would seek to make data center construction in the U.S. more "efficient," the Wall Street Journal reports. It would do that by -- among other things -- deploying autonomous robots to help build server farms. In an interesting twist, the conglomerate is already prepping Roze for an IPO, and some executives want it to happen by the second half of 2026, the Journal writes. The desired valuation might be $100 billion, FT reported. TechCrunch reached out to SoftBank for more information. Other recent ventures have also envisioned using AI and automation to make the industrial sector more efficient. For example, Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos has co-founded a startup called Project Prometheus that plans to buy firms in major industrial sectors and modernize them using AI. SoftBank has been known to back some dark horse startups (it notably sunk hundreds of millions of dollars into Zume, an AI-driven pizza delivery startup that went belly up in 2023). The FT notes that some inside SoftBank have expressed skepticism "about the valuation and the proposed timeline for an IPO."

SoftBank plans robotics and AI firm in the US to build data centers -- aims for $100 billion valuation and an IPO this year

Masayoshi Son wants to create an AI and robotics company to build AI data centers. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is doubling down on the company's AI investments with his plan to create and list Roze in the U.S. According to the Financial Times, this startup will focus on AI and robotics and is designed to help build data centers. More importantly, Son said that he's aiming for a $100 billion valuation for the company and plans to list it as early as this year. The Japanese telecom and investment firm is one of the biggest investors in AI and tech. It partnered with OpenAI and Oracle in early 2025 to invest $500 billion in the Stargate project, although it has since faced issues, and OpenAI has reportedly abandoned first-party data centers in favor of leasing compute. It's also building a 10-gigawatt data center in Ohio, powered by a $33 billion natural gas plant funded by the Japanese government. Aside from its AI investments, the company also poured $2 billion into Intel more than a year after the chipmaker announced disastrous results. While this isn't a huge amount in the context of semiconductor fabs, it's a vote of confidence in the direction that the company is taking and a crucial injection of funds at a time when Intel was struggling to right the ship. Son is known for taking huge risks on tech investments. For example, SoftBank acquired ARM Holdings in 2016 for $32 billion and still holds around 90% of the company despite listing it in 2023. Its current market cap is around $223 billion, meaning SoftBank made a windfall with this investment. In fact, the company used Arm shares as collateral for a $5 billion loan to invest in OpenAI. It also invested $20 million in Alibaba in the year 2000 and only exited the position in 2024, giving the company $8.5 billion -- about 425 times its initial investment. However, not all its bets were winners. Some of its large losses came from investments in WeWork and various tech startups, especially during the early years of its Vision Fund. In fact, the company lost 93% of its market value during the dotcom crash and was at risk of going bankrupt during that time. Despite that, the company is still going big on AI today, even though there were some concerns that it was turning into a bubble. SoftBank's massive investment in AI means that it's prone to fluctuations in the fast-evolving industry. It showed a $50 billion loss in late 2025 when investors started asking about the profitability of the billions of dollars poured into AI infrastructure. Although the company has rebounded since then, it's facing another challenge after news leaked that OpenAI missed internal targets for both revenue and active users. Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.

SoftBank Aims to Create and List AI Firm Roze in the US, FT Says

SoftBank Group Corp. plans to establish and float a standalone AI robotics and data center company called Roze in the US, the Financial Times reportedBloomberg Terminal, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. The Japanese investment firm aims to list Roze as soon as this year at a targeted valuation of $100 billion, the FT reported. Founder Masayoshi Son is driving the effort, aimed at offsetting the tens of billions of dollars that his firm is committing in the AI sphere. Son's envisioned spinoff would run up against growing concerns about the sustainability of a historic global data center buildout led by the likes of Meta Platforms Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. SoftBank has placed a giant bet on OpenAI in particular, while trying to mold Arm Holdings Plc into a potential competitor to Nvidia Corp. Get the Tech Newsletter bundle. Get the Tech Newsletter bundle. Get the Tech Newsletter bundle. Bloomberg's subscriber-only tech newsletters, and full access to all the articles they feature. Bloomberg's subscriber-only tech newsletters, and full access to all the articles they feature. Bloomberg's subscriber-only tech newsletters, and full access to all the articles they feature. Plus Signed UpPlus Sign UpPlus Sign Up By continuing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The Japanese group has piled on debt as Son seeks to position himself as a linchpin in the global AI boom. His company recently committed an additional $30 billion to the ChatGPT developer after having previously put in more than that same amount. Last month, SoftBank signed a $40 billion loan -- its largest-ever lending facility solely denominated in dollars -- in part for its most recent follow-on investment. SoftBank representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Some within the company harbor doubts about Roze's valuation and IPO timeline in part because of the uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, the FT said. Details including the stake in Roze to be floated have yet to be finalized, the newspaper reported. Still, SoftBank has stepped up investments in AI in past months. The company signed a $3 billion deal to buy private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc., whose portfolio includes digital infrastructure companies such as AtlasEdge, DataBank, Switch and Vantage Data Centers. Prior to that announcement, SoftBank bought US chip designer Ampere Computing LLC for $6.5 billion and announced a $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB Ltd.'s robotics unit. SoftBank, which had pledged to shepherd a $500 billion Stargate push alongside OpenAI, Oracle Corp. and Abu Dhabi's MGX to build data centers in the US, separately pursued a deal of around $50 billion for data center operator Switch, but the talks were halted earlier this year.

SoftBank plans to list new AI and robotics company in the US

SoftBank is planning to create and list an AI and robotics company called Roze in the US that will be involved in building data centres as Masayoshi Son pushes to realise his massive AI ambitions. Roze could be listed as early as this year, and executives at SoftBank are eyeing a valuation that could reach $100bn, according to people familiar with the matter. SoftBank founder Son wants to list the group this year, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, as he rushes to offset spending commitments across the conglomerate's portfolio that run into the tens of billions of dollars, including its huge pledges to OpenAI. The group has not finalised how large a stake in Roze it will sell, but it has previously retained a majority share of the companies it has taken to public markets. SoftBank still holds nearly 90 per cent of UK chip designer Arm, which listed in 2023. SoftBank declined to comment. Despite Son's optimism, some inside SoftBank are sceptical about the valuation and the proposed timeline for an IPO, in part due to the geopolitical and economic uncertainties following US President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran. Adding to the risk for listings this year, US public markets may soon also have to absorb three of the largest ever IPOs: Elon Musk SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI. The valuation target is considered ambitious by some SoftBank executives since it relies on rapidly expanding its data centre businesses. ABB Robotics, which SoftBank agreed to buy last year in a deal valuing the business at $5.4bn, is also expected to play a critcal role alongside some existing group assets, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. SoftBank is working fast on building its own data centres, including a large-scale project in Ohio, and people familiar with the matter say Son has big ambitions in the sector. The risks are rising for Son, who has staked his reputation on his ability to make SoftBank central to AI, a technology he believes is ushering in a new industrial revolution that will elevate humanity to its next phase. Those ambitions are increasingly centred on the US, where Son has built a strong reputation with Trump. As well as pivoting the entire group, including the Vision Funds, towards AI, SoftBank is a big investor in OpenAI and is in the process of deploying another $30bn of investment to the company. The exposure to Altman and OpenAI was making some of Son's lieutenants nervous and stretching the group's balance sheet, said two senior figures at SoftBank. SoftBank was already pushing up against its own leverage limits and would need to sell or monetise assets soon in order to maintain its spending trajectory, said people within the company. OpenAI's IPO is a central part of Son's plan to reduce leverage, but the start-up is facing growing competition from rivals, including Google and Anthropic. SoftBank's share price has been highly volatile, as investors use the stock to gain exposure to OpenAI, and has been buffeted by expectation around tech stocks more broadly. SoftBank hit a record high last October before falling by close to 45 per cent by March. It had since recovered much of its lost ground but fell sharply in the past few days over renewed fears about OpenAI's growth.

SoftBank plans to list new AI and robotics company in US, FT reports

April 30 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group (9984.T), opens new tab is planning to create and list an AI and robotics company called Roze in the ⁠U.S. that will be involved in building data centres, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Roze could ⁠be listed as early as this year, and executives at SoftBank ⁠are eyeing a valuation of about $100 billion, the ⁠newspaper said. Reuters could not immediately verify ⁠the report. (This story has been refiled to correct the dateline to April 30 from April 29) Reporting by Abu Sultan in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

SoftBank reportedly weighs $100 billion valuation for new AI and robotics spinout in potential U.S. IPO

SoftBank Group is planning to create and list a standalone artificial intelligence and robotics company in the U.S. as early as this year, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The new entity, to be called "Roze," will focus on building data centers and using robotics to improve the efficiency of AI infrastructure construction, according to the report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter. SoftBank founder and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son is driving the effort, with executives reportedly targeting a valuation of about $100 billion and aiming to pursue the initial public offering this year. However, the report noted that the valuation target and timeline could shift and that the plans are considered ambitious by some SoftBank executives, in part due to uncertainties stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. Son's AI risk appetite has been growing in recent years, with tens of billions of dollars committed to the sector. Investors, however, have raised concerns about how SoftBank will fund those investments, particularly its backing of OpenAI, which remains unprofitable. The proposed listing could help offset some of the major pledges, including more than $30 billion committed to OpenAI. Roze could also reportedly bundle existing energy, land and infrastructure assets from SoftBank's portfolio, as well as ABB Robotics, which SoftBank agreed to buy last year. ABB Robotics is one of the world's leading suppliers of robotics and machine automation solutions, and SoftBank is expected to integrate its robotics hardware with AI capabilities. SoftBank representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.

SoftBank reportedly plans to spin off $100B data center construction venture - SiliconANGLE

SoftBank reportedly plans to spin off $100B data center construction venture SoftBank Group Corp. reportedly plans to launch a publicly traded data center construction venture called Roze. The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times broke the news late Thursday. They cited sources as saying that SoftBank hopes to take Roze public by year's end at a valuation of about $100 billion. The stock listing is expected to take place on a US exchange. Roze will reportedly focus on building data centers optimized for artificial intelligence workloads. According to the Financial Times, the venture will use robots to optimize the construction workflow. Roze is described as a spinoff, which hints that it will incorporate assets from SoftBank's existing businesses. The Thursday reports didn't specify what assets the venture might absorb. One likely candidate is SB Energy Inc., a SoftBank unit that specializes in building data centers and renewable energy infrastructure. In January, OpenAI Group PBC entrusted SB Energy with the construction of a 1.2-gigawatt Stargate campus. Earlier, the SoftBank unit built a 900-megawatt solar park near Austin to power a local Google Cloud data center cluster. The company is also active in the robotics market, the other segment that is said to be a focus for Roze. Last year, SoftBank inked a $5.4 billion deal to acquire the robotics business of industrial giant ABB Group. The deal bought it half a dozen robotic arms optimized for welding, which is one of the tasks that Roze might seek to automate during data center construction projects. Construction material transport is another task that can theoretically be automated. Startup Atoms Inc. sells a device that adds autonomous driving features to haul trucks, large vehicles used to move cargo to and from construction sites. Other companies are using robots to automate tasks such as concrete removal. SoftBank is working to automate not only data center construction but also day-to-day facility management tasks. Last year, the company revealed plans to build robots that can install servers, inspect existing machines for faults and replace them if necessary. The robots in the works include autonomous forklifts. One of the main reasons robots aren't widely used for data center maintenance today is that they struggle to manage server cables. To address that challenge, SoftBank has developed a cableless server rack. The chassis replaces power cables with metal bars and uses custom, easily maintainable network connectors instead of fiber-optic wires. SoftBank plans to test the technology in a data center that it's currently building on Japan's northernmost Hokkaido island. It's possible the project will be folded into Roze. According to the Financial Times, the timing of the SoftBank spinoff's stock market listing and its $100 billion valuation target could change. Some executives reportedly believe that the current roadmap may be too ambitious. SoftBank might be planning to use the proceeds from the offering to make more AI investments. The company bought a $30 billion stake in OpenAI Group PBC last year and made a multibillion-dollar follow-on investment this past February. Around the same time, it inked a $4.04 billion deal to buy DigitalBridge Group Inc., a private equity firm with stakes in multiple data center companies.

SoftBank Eyes 2026 IPO For New AI-Robotics Venture, Targets Up To $100 Billion Valuation: Report - ABB (O

Roze AI aims to improve the efficiency of AI infrastructure buildout, including the use of autonomous robotics in data center construction. The venture will integrate some of SoftBank's existing energy, land, and infrastructure investments, reported the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The company is planning to host an analyst day at a Texas data center in July to boost interest for Roze's IPO. KPMG has been hired to prepare the necessary financials and documents for the public offering. SoftBank did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments. SoftBank Bets Big On AI Robotics This development comes at a time when public listings from startups like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are highly anticipated. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is betting on the convergence of AI and robotics for future growth, despite past setbacks such as Zume Pizza shutting down and production of the humanoid robot Pepper being halted in 2021. In October, SoftBank acquired the robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB (OTC:ABBNY) in a $5.4 billion deal, to explore its "next frontier" which is "Physical AI." Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image via Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

SoftBank to create and list AI firm Roze in U.S., Financial Times reports

SoftBank plans to establish and float a standalone artificial intelligence robotics and data center company called Roze in the U.S., the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. The Japanese investment firm aims to list Roze as soon as this year at a targeted valuation of $100 billion, the Financial Times reported. Founder Masayoshi Son is driving the effort, aimed at offsetting the tens of billions of dollars that his firm is committing in the AI sphere. Son's envisioned spinoff would run up against growing concerns about the sustainability of a historic global data center buildout led by the likes of Meta Platforms and Amazon.com. SoftBank has placed a giant bet on OpenAI in particular, while trying to mold Arm Holdings into a potential competitor to Nvidia.

SoftBank Planning $100 Billion US Robotics and AI Company | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. That's according to a report Thursday (April 30) from the Financial Times (FT), which characterizes the venture, known as Roze, as part of SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son's push to make his AI ambitions a reality. Roze could go public as early as this year, with SoftBank executives targeting a valuation that could reach $100 billion, the report added, citing sources familiar with the matter. These sources say Son wants to list this year to offset the multi-billion dollar funding pledges the company has made, including large commitments to OpenAI. Reached by PYMNTS, SoftBank declined to comment. SoftBank plans to hold an analyst day in a data center facility in Texas in July to promote the initial public offering (IPO), according to the same sources. However, the FT added, there are some within SoftBank who are doubtful about the valuation and the timeline for the listing, partly because of geopolitical and economic upheaval amid the U.S war on Iran. At the same time, U.S. markets could soon have to find space for three historically large IPOs, the report added: those of SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI. In related news, PYMNTS wrote recently about rising investor attention to physical AI and vertical AI startups, with venture funding focusing on firms building systems designed to operate in the physical world or automate specialized industry workflows. "The trend reflects a shift in the AI startup landscape away from general-purpose tools toward systems that can perform defined tasks in sectors such as robotics, healthcare, logistics and enterprise software," that report said. Interest in physical AI has picked up amid debate about the role robotics could play in advancing artificial intelligence. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has argued that humanoid robots could chart a potential pathway toward artificial general intelligence, suggesting that machines that can interact with the physical world may accelerate progress in autonomy and reasoning. "While the claim remains speculative, funding patterns suggest investors are betting that AI systems connected to real-world environments could become a major frontier of innovation," PYMNTS added. Meanwhile, another FT report from earlier this month said that nearly 40% of U.S. data center projects are in danger of falling behind schedule. The report, citing data from satellite and AI analytics group SynMax, said that 60% of projects scheduled for next year have not yet started construction. Industry executives interviewed by the FT said delays are due to problems related to permitting and local opposition, as well as labor, power and equipment shortages.

SoftBank Eyes $100B Listing for AI and Robotics Infrastructure Firm Roze AI

SoftBank Expands AI and Robotics Investments to Support Roze AI SoftBank has increased investment activity in artificial intelligence and infrastructure sectors. The group recently acquired ABB's robotics unit for about $5.4 billion and purchased Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion. It also agreed to acquire DigitalBridge, a firm with stakes in data infrastructure companies. These deals provide hardware and operational components that may support Roze AI's future operations. The company has also taken part in large-scale plans in the United States. SoftBank joined other partners in a project aimed at expanding data center capacity, with commitments reaching hundreds of billions of dollars. In addition, the group has increased financial exposure to AI-related companies, including major investments in OpenAI. According to reports, SoftBank continues to use debt financing to support its expansion strategy, while internal discussions continue about the long-term structure of its AI and robotics businesses.

SoftBank plans to list AI firm Roze in the US at up to $100 bln valuation- FT By Investing.com

Investing.com-- SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) is planning to create and list an artificial intelligence and robotics company called Roze in the U.S., the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Roze will be involved in building data centers and could be listed as early as this year. Executives at the Japanese technology giant are targeting a valuation of up to $100 billion, the FT report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Get more breaking news on the biggest AI firms by subscribing to InvestingPro The move is largely part of Softbank founder Masayoshi Son's aggressive push into artificial intelligence, part of which involves massive spending commitments to OpenAI. The group has not finalized how large a stake in Roze it will sell, the FT report said. Softbank has in the past retained a majority stake in companies it has taken to IPO, and still holds a nearly 90% stake in British chip designer Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM). An overseas listing carries some risk, especially in the face of heightened economic turmoil due to the U.S.-Iran conflict. U.S. public markets will also see some of the largest ever IPOs this year, including Elon Musk's SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

SoftBank plans to list AI and robotics firm Roze in US, FT reports

April 30 (Reuters) - Japan's SoftBank Group plans to create and list an AI and robotics company called Roze in the U.S. that will be involved in building data centres, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Roze could be listed as early as this year, and executives at SoftBank are aiming for a valuation of $100 billion, the newspaper reported. SoftBank declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Founder and CEO Masayoshi Son wants to list the business as he seeks to offset commitments including pledges to ChatGPT maker OpenAI, the FT reported. OpenAI is preparing for a potential initial public offering that could value it at $1 trillion, Reuters has reported. The firm faces growing competition from rivals, including Anthropic. SoftBank is leading financing for the Stargate project to develop data centres in the United States. Its other investments include the robotics business of ABB and digital infrastructure investment firm DigitalBridge. (Reporting by Abu Sultan in Bengaluru and Sam Nussey in Tokyo; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Christopher Cushing)