Swiss construction automation startup Gravis Robotics has raised EUR 19 million in a funding round that confirms autonomous heavy machinery is moving into the construction mainstream rather than remaining a pilot-side curiosity.
Co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with participation from Pear VC, Imad, Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment and building materials major Holcim, the round squarely fits the European mid-market funding band while carrying outsize strategic weight for the sector.
Retrofit autonomy, not new machines
Gravis Robotics, spun out in 2022, tackles one of construction’s hardest problems: how to lift productivity and safety without ripping out existing fleets.
Its platform retrofits existing heavy construction machinery – notably excavators and other earthmoving equipment – with AI, cameras and sensors. The upgraded machines can then operate autonomously or under remote guidance, with humans remaining in supervisory control.
By focusing on retrofit rather than new-build robots, Gravis gives contractors a capital‑efficient route into automation. Early deployments show:
- ~30% productivity gains on earthmoving tasks
- Reduced exposure of workers to the riskiest on‑site operations
- Better adaptation to real ground conditions via AI and sensor fusion
That combination goes directly at construction’s chronic issues: stagnant productivity, labour shortages and safety incidents.
From pilots to global roll‑out
Despite being only a few years old, Gravis has moved unusually fast for a hardware‑heavy construction technology company.
- Founded as a spin‑out in 2022
- In roughly a year, it has built partnerships with major industry players including Holcim, Taylor Woodrow and HD Hyundai
- Its systems are already deployed across multiple regions: UK, US, EU, LATAM and Asia
This global footprint, built from a Swiss base, marks Gravis out from the typical local-first trajectory of European construction tech startups. It signals that demand for automation in earthmoving is no longer confined to early adopters in a single geography.
Strategic money, not just venture capital
The investor line‑up underscores that this is not a pure venture bet on distant upside, but a sector bet on near‑term adoption.
- IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures bring deeptech and industrial-tech credentials
- Pear VC adds Silicon Valley early‑stage firepower
- Holcim invests as a strategic – a clear vote of confidence from one of the world’s largest building materials groups
Holcim’s participation is particularly telling. As a global materials supplier and project partner, its endorsement signals that large incumbents now see autonomous machinery as a practical lever for decarbonisation, cost control and site safety, not just an innovation showcase.
The mix of VCs and industry players provides broad market validation and should help Gravis compress commercial cycles, integrate into major contractors’ workflows and navigate regulatory and safety standards across regions.
A signal for European mid‑market construction tech
At EUR 19 million, the round sits firmly in Europe’s mid‑market funding range, but its implications are larger than the headline number:
- It confirms construction automation as a priority theme for both financial and strategic investors
- It validates a retrofit‑first model as bankable, avoiding the capex and replacement cycles that have slowed adoption of fully new robotic platforms
- It showcases that a Swiss deeptech startup can scale deployments across continents within a short timeframe, strengthening Europe’s position in applied robotics
For other mid‑market construction and industrial automation plays, the deal sets a reference point: investors are willing to fund capital‑intensive, field‑deployed robotics when there is a clear productivity uplift, visible strategic partnerships and a route to global scaling.
Risks and execution challenges
The opportunity is substantial, but execution risk is real:
- Operational complexity: retrofitting heterogeneous fleets across markets demands robust installation, calibration and support capabilities
- Regulatory and safety regimes vary widely by country and project type, requiring strong compliance and documentation
- Change management on sites: even with remote‑guided modes, shifting operator habits and union concerns will need careful handling
The current investor mix and early partnerships mitigate some of these risks by giving Gravis access to large, structured pilot environments and cross‑market expertise. But sustained scaling will depend on proving that the 30% productivity gain and safety benefits are repeatable at volume, not just in flagship projects.
Automation becomes a construction baseline
Gravis Robotics’ funding round is less about one startup and more about a turning point in how construction sites are run. Autonomous and remote‑guided heavy machinery is now being treated as an operational upgrade path for existing fleets, not a speculative future bet.
For European mid‑market investors and contractors, the signal is clear: automation of core site activities is becoming baseline expectation, and the winners will be those who integrate it early, with retrofit‑friendly, field‑proven platforms rather than one‑off pilots.