Gravis Robotics, a Zurich-based startup developing retrofit software to automate excavators and diggers, has closed a $200 million Series A funding round led by SoftBank, marking the largest investment ever raised in the construction robotics sector.
- Largest-ever Series A funding round in construction robotics.
- Software enables autonomous operation of mixed-brand excavators.
- SoftBank leads with strategic focus on physical AI investments.
What happened
Gravis Robotics, a spinout from ETH Zurich founded in 2022, has raised $200 million in a Series A funding round led by SoftBank. The startup specializes in software that retrofits existing construction equipment, such as excavators and diggers, enabling autonomous or semi-autonomous operation across equipment brands including Caterpillar, John Deere, and Volvo.
The company offers two key products — Gravis Rack, a control kit that integrates with machinery, and Gravis Copilot, software that assists autonomous function. Having demonstrated deployments on four continents and participation in an $8 million UK government-backed autonomy project, the round is touted as the largest Series A ever in the construction robotics space.
Why it matters
The construction industry faces chronic shortages of skilled operators and safety challenges, making automation an attractive path to improve efficiency and reduce risk. Gravis’s approach leverages simulation-trained AI models to manage the complex, unstructured environments typical of construction sites, aiming for productivity gains up to 30% compared to manual operation.
SoftBank’s investment aligns with its strategic thesis that physical AI—software enabling hardware to autonomously perform tasks—represents the next major wave of technological disruption. By focusing on retrofit software rather than building new hardware, Gravis addresses a major robotics challenge while allowing customers to retain and upgrade existing fleets.
What to watch next
The next phase for Gravis Robotics will be proving that autonomous operation can scale reliably and safely across thousands of varied, real-world construction sites. Overcoming regulatory, liability, and safety hurdles remains critical before widespread adoption.
SoftBank’s backing injects significant capital and strategic support, but the startup will need to demonstrate consistent performance and ROI across multiple geographies and manufacturers. The broader robotics and physical AI ecosystem will be watching closely to see if this investment seeds a new era of automated heavy machinery in construction.