Born out of the laboratories of ETH Zurich, the Swiss start-up Gravis Robotics aims to modernise one of the least automated sectors: construction.
Founded in 2022, the company develops autonomy solutions for heavy construction machinery – excavators, diggers, loaders – with a clear objective: to boost productivity in an industry facing a chronic labour shortage and rising cost pressures.
Unlike players developing entirely new machines, Gravis Robotics has opted for a more pragmatic approach. Its technology takes the form of modular autonomy kits that can be integrated into existing equipment.
By combining artificial intelligence, environmental perception and advanced control systems, these kits enable machines to operate autonomously or via teleoperation, depending on task complexity and site constraints. The positioning is clearly industrial.
The targeted use cases include repetitive, time- consuming operations such as earthmoving, trenching and grading, where automation could deliver productivity gains estimated at around 30% while improving safety. For major construction groups, the goal is not to replace operators, but to enhance overall efficiency in the context of sustained pressure on skilled labour.
Gravis Robotics reached a significant milestone at the end of 2025 with a 23 million dollar funding round led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures. Holcim’s investment – through its venture fund Holcim MAQER Ventures – following a successful pilot project in the United Kingdom, sends a strong signal: the technology is no longer confined to the laboratory and is now being deployed on real construction sites.
The company now reports operations in several countries, notably in the United Kingdom and across Europe, with pilot projects running on active infrastructure sites.
Gravis recently won the gold medal at the 2025 Global Construction Startup Competition, selected from more than 500 applications.
From an economic standpoint, the company follows a hybrid model combining the sale of autonomy solutions, software licences and partnerships with equipment rental companies.
This strategy aims to lower adoption barriers in a sector historically cautious about technological disruption. By aligning with established players, Gravis hopes to accelerate the spread of its solutions without requiring heavy upfront investments from clients.
Competition remains strong, however. Several North American start-ups are exploring similar approaches, while major equipment manufacturers are watching these innovations closely.
Gravis Robotics’ main challenge now will be scaling up, demonstrating the robustness of its systems in unstructured environments and converting industrial interest into recurring contracts.
If it succeeds, the start-up could establish itself as one of the key players in the automation of the construction sector, a market still largely underexploited but strategic for the modernisation of infrastructure.
