Swiss-based Gravis Robotics raises €19.9M to turn any earthmoving machine into a robot
Zurich-based Gravis Robotics, a leading autonomy platform in the earthmoving and construction sector, has recently completed a massive €19.9M funding round. The funds were raised with the support of significant industry partners, including IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, and will be used to further advance the development and deployment of the company’s autonomous systems in construction and earthmoving equipment. The full story is available Here.
Significant Investment and Industry Partnerships
Gravis Robotics’ latest funding round attracted significant interest from major industry players. The round was co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, while Pear VC, Imad (the corporate venture arm of Nesma & Partners), Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment, and Holcim also participated. The funds raised will be used to scale Gravis Robotics’ platform in more regions, hire additional staff, and build out its network of OEMs, contractors, and dealers.
Speaking on the investment, Juan Nieto, General Partner at Zacua Ventures, stated, “Gravis embodies the kind of innovation our industry has been waiting for: autonomy that truly works in the field. Built on deep ETH Zurich research and driven by a top-notch team, they’re already delivering productivity gains customers can feel.”
Revolutionising Construction with Autonomous Systems
Founded in 2022 as a spinout from ETH Zurich, Gravis Robotics aims to address key challenges in the construction industry, such as high demand, falling output, and an ageing workforce, by enhancing productivity. The company’s platform offers autonomous operation for earthmoving equipment, providing valuable support for contractors both on-site and in remote coordination.
CEO and co-founder of Gravis Robotics, Ryan Luke Johns, explains the company’s approach: “The fastest path to autonomy is delivering productivity today. By giving operators real-time 3D intelligence and the ability to shift seamlessly between autonomy and augmented control, we cover more of the work, accelerate adoption, and create the data pipeline needed to learn new capabilities from the industry’s hardest jobs.”
Gravis Robotics’ Advanced Technology
Gravis Robotics utilises AI and autonomy to operate beyond basic commands. Its innovative system responds to ground conditions by collecting and analysing data from various sources such as hydraulics, LiDAR, cameras, and GNSS. This learning-based control system is integrated with Gravis Slate, a tablet interface that supports manual operations using the robotic sensor suite. The result is a continuous data loop that allows Gravis to track performance and expand autonomous functions.
The platform is designed to operate across a range of tasks, from trenching and earthworks to grading and material handling, and can work alongside human teams. Gravis Robotics’ system has shown to increase output by 30 per cent while reducing rework and supporting safe operations.
Industry Reach and Partnerships
Gravis Robotics has already started deploying its autonomy platform across various sectors including construction sites, quarries, rental fleets, and OEM dealer networks. The company’s systems are currently in use across construction operations and in quarry environments for the autonomous movement of material with Holcim and other partners.
The company has also recently begun work with Taylor Woodrow on an infrastructure project at Manchester Airport, marking the first use of autonomous excavation on an active construction site in the UK. Furthermore, Gravis Robotics has formed a partnership with Flannery to offer a rental package for construction operators, providing access to excavators fitted with the Gravis Rack at the point of hire.
Autonomous Systems at Scale
Gravis Robotics’ recent deployments and funding round have positioned the company to introduce large-scale autonomy to the earthmoving and mining industries. Currently operating in seven countries, including the UK, EU, US, LATAM, and Asia, the company supports both mixed-fleet and OEM-integrated equipment. With its current technology, partnerships, and distribution channels, Gravis Robotics is set to expand autonomous operations across multiple regions.
