Berkshire Grey Company Profile: History, SoftBank Deal, Products and Customers
Updated: 7 days ago
Berkshire Grey makes AI-enabled robotic systems that pick, pack and sort goods for retailers and logistics companies. Founded in 2013, it went public through a SPAC at a valuation of USD 2.7 billion and later agreed to be bought by SoftBank for USD 375 million in cash. This profile sets out its history, that deal, its products and its customers.
Berkshire Grey at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Berkshire Grey, Inc. |
Founded | 2013 |
Founder | Tom Wagner |
Headquarters | Bedford, Massachusetts, USA |
Employees | About 400 at the end of 2021 |
Patents | About 300 |
Owner | SoftBank Group, under a cash merger agreement worth USD 375 million |
Company History
Tom Wagner founded Berkshire Grey in 2013 and assembled a team heavy in robotics researchers; its chief scientist, Matthew Mason, received the IEEE Robotics and Automation Award in 2018. The company announced its AI-enabled robots for retailers and logistics firms in December 2018. In August 2019 SoftBank led a Series B round of USD 263 million.
In February 2021 Berkshire Grey announced a merger with the special purpose company Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp. that valued it at USD 2.7 billion, and its shares traded on Nasdaq under the symbol BGRY. Two years later, in March 2023, it agreed to merge with SoftBank Group in a cash deal worth USD 375 million, a fraction of the earlier valuation.
Key milestones
2013: Founded.
2018: Products announced publicly.
2019: USD 263 million Series B led by SoftBank.
2021: SPAC merger announced at USD 2.7 billion; collaboration with CEVA Logistics.
2023: Agreement to be acquired by SoftBank for USD 375 million.
2025: CarouselAI picking system launched with AutoStore.
Products
Robotic picking systems that handle individual items.
Robotic product sortation and identification systems.
Mobile and gripping technology with image sensing.
Software that coordinates the robots for e-commerce fulfillment, store replenishment and parcel logistics.
Customers
Named customers include Walmart, Target and FedEx. CEVA Logistics deployed the sortation system at its e-commerce facility in Vancouver.
Can You Invest in Berkshire Grey?
Not directly. Under the merger agreement it belongs to SoftBank Group, which is listed in Tokyo. This is general information, not investment advice.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
Strong research roots and a large patent portfolio.
Customers among the largest American retailers.
SoftBank's backing.
Challenges
A sale price far below its 2021 valuation, which shows how hard the business proved to scale.
A demanding market in which item picking is technically difficult.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 3 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Berkshire Grey FAQ
Who owns Berkshire Grey?
SoftBank Group, which agreed in March 2023 to acquire it for USD 375 million in cash.
Is Berkshire Grey publicly traded?
It was listed on Nasdaq under BGRY after its 2021 SPAC merger, before the agreement to be acquired by SoftBank.
Who founded Berkshire Grey?
Tom Wagner, in 2013.
What does Berkshire Grey make?
AI-enabled robotic systems for picking, packing and sorting goods.
Who are Berkshire Grey's customers?
They include Walmart, Target, FedEx and CEVA Logistics.
Sources
Wikipedia: Berkshire Grey
