Gravis Robotics, the earthmoving autonomy platform that combines AI, machine vision, and human-first interfaces to boost jobsite performance, has raised $23 million in new funding as it expands its global footprint through a series of high-profile industry partnerships.
The round was co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with participation from Pear VC, Imad (the corporate venture arm of Nesma & Partners), Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment, and Holcim. The investment will fuel Gravis's international rollout, team expansion, and growing network of partnerships with OEMs, contractors, and equipment dealers.
The construction industry faces a perfect storm: rising demand, falling output, and a shrinking workforce. Gravis addresses these challenges head-on by turning heavy machinery into autonomous robots, helping contractors increase throughput, reduce waste, and improve job site safety.
The company's retrofit system goes far beyond simple automation commands. It adapts to real ground conditions through a learning-based control system that essentially "feels the soil," drawing data from hydraulics, LiDAR, cameras, and GNSS positioning. This intelligence pairs with Gravis Slate, a tablet interface designed to integrate smoothly into existing construction workflows.
"The fastest path to autonomy is delivering productivity today," said Dr. Ryan Luke Johns, CEO of Gravis Robotics. "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."
The fresh capital will accelerate Gravis's expansion into new markets while deepening existing partnerships. The company is now live in seven countries across the UK, EU, US, Latin America, and Asia. That's one of the widest footprints for autonomous excavation technology anywhere in the world.
Gravis plans to use the funds to grow its team significantly and expand distribution channels with OEM partners and equipment dealers. The company is also entering the earthmoving equipment rental market for the first time through its partnership with Flannery, the UK's largest plant hire provider.
Gravis systems are already in use by industry giants for construction work and autonomous handling of quarry materials. Applications include site preparation, stockpile management, and loading trucks and screeners.
The company recently broke ground at a Taylor Woodrow infrastructure project at Manchester Airport. It marked the UK's first large-scale use of autonomous excavation on an active construction site.
"Innovation is really important to Taylor Woodrow because we have to become more productive," said Phil Skegg, Managing Director at Taylor Woodrow. "Fundamentally it's about making sure we remain relevant not just for today but for tomorrow, and that's why we have engaged with Gravis Robotics."
Morgan Sindall Construction, another partner, described Gravis's robotic excavator "as productive as a skilled machine driver – and in some instances, enhanced team efficiency." The technology boosts output by 30%, reduces rework, and improves safety without replacing human teams.
Founded in late 2022 as a spinout from ETH Zurich, Gravis emerged from one of Europe's premier robotics research hubs. The company's Swiss roots have proven strategically valuable.
European contractors operate at massive scale globally. The revenue of the top five European firms roughly equals that of the top 28 in the US. Operating under strict cross-border standards has made European construction inherently international, with roughly 60% of revenues coming from projects outside home markets. These same standards now position Europe as an ideal proving ground for autonomous earthmoving systems.
The team brings together construction expertise, advanced robotics research, and senior OEM leadership experience. Co-founder and CEO Ryan Luke Johns is an architect and roboticist who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest dry-stone wall built by a robot. Co-founder and CTO Dominic Jud specializes in autonomous control systems for complex machinery. The pair met in the lab of co-founder and board member Marco Hutter, a renowned AI expert and serial entrepreneur in robotics.
The backers believe Gravis is uniquely positioned to capture a substantial share of the $1.6 trillion earthmoving industry.
"Gravis stands out, not just for its technical brilliance, but for how much it's already achieved," said Archie Muirhead, partner at IQ Capital. "The team's thoughtful, grounded approach to autonomy – deploying real systems with real crews – has led to trusted partnerships with some of the largest global construction companies and OEMs and invaluable data from time-in-field. This huge and unserved market is ready now for autonomy and Gravis is setting the pace."
Juan Nieto, General Partner at Zacua Ventures, highlighted the strong industry validation: "The enthusiasm from our global investor base of leading builders, operators, and equipment groups is the clearest validation of how transformative Gravis's technology can be."
Holcim, one of the world's largest building materials companies and a strategic investor in this round, sees significant potential for deployment across its operations.
"Digital automation and robotics are technologies Holcim has employed for many years to enhance our operational efficiency, productivity and safety," said Bengt Steinbrecher, Head of Holcim Maqer Ventures. "Gravis is a leader in its field, and we see significant opportunities to apply their solutions in our markets. We look forward to bringing its technology to market at scale."
