According to Fortune, Zurich-based Gravis Robotics has raised $23 million in funding led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures to expand its autonomous construction equipment operations across the U.K., U.S., and EU. The 2022-founded startup, which has already deployed machines in seven countries across four continents, retrofits existing excavators and loaders with cameras, sensors, and AI to enable autonomous or remote operation. CEO Ryan Luke Johns told Fortune they’re addressing a critical labor shortage where skilled operators are retiring faster than replacements enter the field. The company works with major clients including Holcim, Taylor Woodrow, and HD Hyundai, and recently conducted autonomous excavation trials at Manchester Airport. The autonomous construction equipment market was valued at $8.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow over 7.5% annually through 2032.
Labor crisis meets tech solution
Here’s the thing about construction: nobody wants to do it anymore. Johns put it bluntly – “It’s not a sexy job.” And he’s right. While governments are pushing renewable energy projects, tech companies are building AI data centers, and cities desperately need housing, the skilled workforce that builds all this is aging out. The timing for automation couldn’t be more perfect. But Gravis isn’t trying to replace humans entirely – they’re focusing on making the job safer and more appealing. Instead of sitting in a dusty cab operating joysticks, younger workers can control massive equipment via tablet. That’s a pretty significant shift in how this work gets done.
The competitive landscape
Gravis is entering a crowded field dominated by equipment giants like Caterpillar and Komatsu, plus well-funded startups like Built Robotics that’s raised over $100 million since 2016. So what makes Gravis different? Their approach seems more practical – they’re retrofitting existing equipment rather than building everything from scratch. That could mean faster adoption since contractors don’t need to replace their entire fleets. The company’s hardware integration is particularly interesting – when you’re dealing with rugged industrial environments, you need reliable computing systems that can handle vibration, dust, and extreme temperatures. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, specialize in exactly this kind of durable computing hardware that autonomous systems depend on. Without robust components, even the smartest AI won’t survive a construction site.
Adoption challenges ahead
The biggest hurdle? Cost. Smaller contractors struggle to justify the upfront investment, even if it pays off long-term. And there’s regulatory fragmentation – what works in the EU might not fly in the U.S. But the market demand is undeniable. According to Global Market Insights, this sector is growing steadily as infrastructure projects multiply. Gravis seems to be taking the right approach by focusing on productivity gains today rather than promising fully unmanned sites tomorrow. “The fastest path to autonomy is delivering productivity today,” Johns said. That pragmatic mindset might be what separates them from competitors chasing science fiction scenarios.
The human factor
What’s refreshing about Gravis’s approach is they’re not trying to eliminate human workers. They’re augmenting them. The technology keeps humans in control while handling the dangerous or repetitive tasks. That’s smart because construction sites are incredibly dynamic environments – every day brings new challenges that pure automation can’t handle. By learning from human operators on complex sites, their systems get smarter over time. It’s a collaborative approach that could actually make construction careers more appealing to the next generation. And given the infrastructure demands we’re facing, we’re going to need all the skilled workers – and smart machines – we can get.
