Swiss autonomous earthmoving startup Gravis Robotics has raised $23 million in new funding. The round was co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with additional backing from Pear VC, Imad (Nesma & Partners’ CVC), Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment, and Holcim.
Alongside the investment, the company announced new strategic partnerships that further strengthen its position within the construction sector.
AI-Driven Autonomy For Real-World Construction
Spun out of ETH Zurich in 2022, Gravis Robotics focuses on solving construction’s biggest structural challenges—rising demand, falling productivity, and a shrinking skilled workforce—by enabling higher output without requiring workflow changes.
Its retrofit system brings autonomy to standard earthmoving machinery by combining AI, learning-based control, and multimodal sensing. Data from hydraulics, LiDAR, cameras, and GNSS allow the system to “feel the soil,” adapting instantly to unpredictable site conditions.
This intelligence is paired with Gravis Slate, a tablet interface designed to fit naturally into existing construction processes. The same sensors that enable autonomous operation also upgrade manual work, feeding real-time data back into the system and accelerating overall performance improvements.
Built for trenching, grading, earthworks, and material handling, the platform augments human crews rather than replacing them—delivering around 30% higher productivity, lower rework rates, and safer job sites.
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Adoption Accelerates Across Construction Markets
“Bringing autonomy to construction must start with improving productivity today,” says Ryan Luke Johns, CEO and co-founder of Gravis Robotics. “By giving operators real-time 3D intelligence and the ability to switch between autonomous and augmented control, we unlock more of the workflow and build the data foundation for future capabilities.”
Gravis is already operating with major contractors, supporting tasks such as site preparation, stockpile monitoring, and machine loading. A notable recent deployment includes Taylor Woodrow’s work at Manchester Airport, marking the UK’s first large-scale use of autonomous excavation on an active site.
The company is broadening access through equipment partners as well. Gravis has teamed up with Flannery to offer turnkey excavators equipped with the Gravis Rack, while OEM-linked programmes are expanding through Develon in the UK and Kibag in Switzerland.
With active operations now spanning seven countries across Europe, North America, LATAM, and Asia, Gravis is one of the few autonomous excavation companies achieving global, mixed-fleet deployment.
Next Steps: Scaling Autonomy Worldwide
The new capital will support further development of Gravis’s autonomy stack, expansion of industry partnerships, and wider use of global distribution channels to speed up adoption across construction markets.
About Gravis Robotics
Gravis Robotics transforms any earthmoving machine into an autonomous, high-performance robot. Its retrofit platform combines AI, sensor fusion, and adaptive control to boost productivity, enhance safety, and integrate seamlessly into existing construction workflows. The system delivers superhuman efficiency while requiring minimal operational change from crews.
