Gravis Robotics
Retrofit autonomy systems for heavy construction machinery, turning excavators into robotic teammates.
Website: https://www.gravisrobotics.com
PUBLIC
| Company | Gravis Robotics |
|---|---|
| Tagline | Retrofit autonomy systems for heavy construction machinery, turning excavators into robotic teammates. |
| Headquarters | Zürich, Switzerland |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Stage | Seed |
| Business Model | Hardware + Software |
| Industry | Deeptech |
| Technology | Robotics |
| Geography | Global / Remote-First |
| Growth Profile | Venture Scale |
| Founding Team | Academic Spinout |
| Funding Label | Series A (total disclosed ~$23,210,000) |
Links
PUBLIC
- Website: https://www.gravisrobotics.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravisrobotics
Executive Summary
PUBLIC Gravis Robotics is a Swiss deeptech startup commercializing a retrofit autonomy system for heavy construction equipment, a proposition that merits investor attention for its capital-light approach to automating a massive, entrenched, and labor-constrained global industry. Spun out of ETH Zurich's Robotic Systems Lab in 2022, the company leverages nearly a decade of academic research to convert standard excavators and loaders into semi- or fully autonomous units via its modular 'Gravis RACK' hardware and 'Copilot' software platform [ETH Zurich Robotic Systems Lab]. The founding team, led by CEO Ryan Luke Johns, is composed of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from the same lab, grounding the venture in a deep technical foundation in robotics and autonomy [Crunchbase]. The company's recent $23 million funding round, co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures with strategic participation from cement giant Holcim, is earmarked for a global rollout and team expansion [Gravis Robotics, Nov 2025]. Its systems are reportedly deployed across projects in seven countries, including quarry operations for Holcim and infrastructure work with Taylor Woodrow, signaling early commercial traction [Equipment Journal][New Civil Engineer, 2025]. Over the next 12-18 months, the key watchpoints are the pace of OEM and dealer partnership announcements, the validation of its claimed 30% productivity gains in public case studies, and its ability to scale deployments beyond initial strategic investors.
Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Core company facts and funding confirmed by company press release and third-party publications. Team background corroborated by Crunchbase and LinkedIn. Deployment claims cited by industry press.
Taxonomy Snapshot
| Axis | Classification |
|---|---|
| Stage | Seed |
| Business Model | Hardware + Software |
| Industry / Vertical | Deeptech |
| Technology Type | Robotics |
| Geography | Global / Remote-First |
| Growth Profile | Venture Scale |
| Founding Team | Academic Spinout |
| Funding | Series A (total disclosed ~$23,210,000) |
Company Overview
PUBLIC
Gravis Robotics was founded in 2022 as a spin-off from the Robotic Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, a connection that underpins its technical credibility [ETH Zurich Robotic Systems Lab]. The company is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and has established a UK subsidiary, GRAVIS ROBOTICS LTD, which was incorporated on 3 December 2025 [Companies House, Dec 2025]. The founding team, as identified in public records, consists of four co-founders: Ryan Luke Johns (CEO), Dominic Jud (CTO), Marco Tranzatto (Team Lead), and Burak Cizmeci [Crunchbase].
The company's initial capital came from a $210,000 seed round in 2022, led by the ESA Business Incubation Centre Switzerland, which provided early validation and support for its deep-tech focus [CB Insights]. A significant milestone was reached in late 2025 with the announcement of a $23 million funding round co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with participation from strategic investors including the construction materials giant Holcim [Gravis Robotics, Nov 2025]. This capital injection is earmarked for accelerating global expansion, team growth, and deepening partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contractors.
Operational milestones include the commercial launch of its Gravis Copilot platform in the U.S. market and the reported deployment of its retrofit autonomy systems across projects in seven countries, spanning the UK, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the United States [Equipment Journal]. The company has publicly announced partnerships with Holcim for autonomous quarry operations and with Taylor Woodrow for construction projects [New Civil Engineer, 2025].
Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Founding date, headquarters, funding rounds, and key milestones are confirmed by multiple independent sources including Crunchbase, company press releases, and public filings.
Product and Technology
MIXED Gravis Robotics sells a hardware and software retrofit kit designed to give standard excavators and loaders the ability to operate autonomously. The company's core product, the Gravis RACK, is a modular hardware system that integrates a computing appliance, cameras, and LiDAR sensors, typically mounted on a machine's roof [StartupHub.ai, 2025]. This package is paired with a proprietary tablet interface called Slate, which allows operators to supervise or remotely control the equipment [StartupHub.ai, 2025]. The firm's go-to-market software layer, Gravis Copilot, is described as an autonomy-ready machine-guidance platform that provides real-time terrain visualization, excavation depth guidance, and human form recognition [Equipment Journal]. A key commercial claim is that a simple software upgrade can unlock fully autonomous tasks like trenching and truck loading from this same hardware base [Equipment Journal].
The technology stack, described as "Physical AI," fuses sensor data from LiDAR, cameras, GNSS, and hydraulic feedback with online learning and control algorithms [Equipment Journal]. The system is designed to work within existing workflows, acting as an in-cab copilot that provides augmented reality guidance and analytics [CONEXPO-CON/AGG]. For full autonomy, the platform enables tasks such as bulk excavation, trenching, and stockpile management [TFN, 2025]. The company emphasizes a partnership with Hitachi Construction Machinery, noting the OEM's "open interfaces" have been key for its retrofit solutions [Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, 2026].
Pricing for the system is not fully transparent, though a promotional offer published by the company lists a rate of $777 per week, contingent on a 36-month contract term for orders placed by May 30, 2026 [Gravis Robotics]. The company claims its systems deliver productivity gains of around 30% while reducing rework and improving safety [Tech.eu, 2025].
Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core product descriptions are corroborated by multiple trade publications, but specific performance claims and pricing originate from company materials.
Market Research
PUBLIC
The market for autonomous heavy machinery is emerging not as a speculative future but as a practical response to deep, structural pressures in global construction and mining. The primary driver is a persistent and worsening skilled labor shortage, which constrains project timelines and inflates costs, creating a clear economic incentive for productivity-enhancing technology [Equipment Journal]. This is compounded by a growing emphasis on worker safety, pushing firms to adopt systems that can perform hazardous tasks or operate in extreme environments [CB Insights]. The installed base of construction equipment is vast and aging, making a retrofit-first strategy, as opposed to selling new autonomous machines, a potentially faster route to market adoption by leveraging existing capital assets [Gravis Robotics].
Quantifying the total addressable market for retrofit autonomy is challenging, as it sits at the intersection of several large, established industries. For context, the global construction equipment market was valued at approximately $180 billion in 2023, with excavators representing a significant segment [Off-Highway Research, 2024]. The broader industrial automation and robotics market, a relevant analog, is projected to reach $265 billion by 2030 [Precedence Research, 2024]. Gravis Robotics targets the earthmoving and quarrying segments within this landscape, where the value proposition of increased machine utilization and reduced material waste directly addresses operational margins. The company's early focus on partners like Holcim for quarry operations suggests an initial serviceable obtainable market (SOM) in large-scale materials extraction and major civil infrastructure projects [New Civil Engineer, 2025].
Key tailwinds extend beyond labor dynamics. Regulatory pressures for enhanced site safety and emissions tracking are increasing, which digital and automated systems are better positioned to monitor and report. Furthermore, the push for infrastructure development and urban renewal in regions like the United States and Europe, supported by government funding packages, is creating a pipeline of large projects where productivity gains are critical. The technology also intersects with the digital transformation of construction, often termed "Construction 4.0," which prioritizes data-driven project management, reduced rework, and real-time asset tracking [Tech.eu, 2025].
Adjacent and substitute markets present both opportunities and competitive boundaries. The most direct substitute is the purchase of new, factory-autonomous machinery from incumbent original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), though this requires significantly higher capital expenditure. Other adjacent automation solutions include drone-based surveying, automated material handling on fixed sites, and teleoperation systems for remote control. The regulatory environment remains a developing factor; while there are few specific laws governing autonomous construction equipment, broader frameworks for workplace safety, liability, and data security will inevitably apply. The company's involvement with the ESA Business Incubation Centre suggests an early focus on navigating the complex operational and safety standards required for critical infrastructure [ESA BIC Switzerland].
Global Construction Equipment Market (2023) | 180 | $B
Industrial Automation & Robotics Market (2030 Proj.) | 265 | $B
The cited market figures, while not specific to retrofit autonomy, illustrate the substantial economic activity in the underlying industries Gravis aims to augment. The gap between the current equipment market and the projected automation market hints at the potential value being assigned to technological transformation over the next decade.
Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Market sizing figures are from third-party industry reports cited for analogous sectors. Specific TAM/SAM/SOM for retrofit construction autonomy is not publicly defined by the company or a major analyst firm.
Competitive Landscape
MIXED Gravis Robotics enters a construction autonomy market defined by a split between pure-play retrofit specialists and integrated OEM partnerships, positioning its modular, sensor-based retrofit kit as a flexible alternative to more rigid, machine-specific solutions.
| Company | Positioning | Stage / Funding | Notable Differentiator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravis Robotics | Retrofit autonomy platform for excavators/loaders; "Physical AI" with modular hardware. | Seed/Series A; ~$23.2M total disclosed. | ETH Zurich spinout; retrofit focus on existing fleet; partnership with Hitachi for open interfaces. | [Gravis Robotics, Nov 2025]; [Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, 2026] |
| Built Robotics | Autonomous retrofit kits for dozers, excavators, and loaders. | Series C; $112M total raised. | Focus on North American earthmoving; proprietary hardware and software stack. | [Crunchbase] |
| Dusty Robotics | Field layout robotics for construction floors; autonomous printing of building plans. | Series B; $69.3M total raised. | Specialization in pre-construction layout; different application layer (MEP trades). | [Crunchbase] |
| Bedrock Robotics | Autonomous robots for site preparation and material handling. | Seed; $8M raised. | Targets smaller, multi-purpose robots for site logistics. | [Crunchbase] |
The competitive map segments into three primary vectors. First are the direct retrofit autonomy players like Built Robotics, which also targets excavators and loaders but has pursued a more integrated, North America-centric go-to-market, raising significantly more capital. Second are application-specific robotics firms like Dusty Robotics, which solve a different, earlier-stage problem in the construction workflow, representing adjacent competition for contractor budget and attention. Third are the incumbent OEMs and their internal autonomy projects, such as Caterpillar or Komatsu, which offer factory-integrated solutions but at the cost of locking customers into new machine purchases. Gravis's stated partnership with Hitachi Construction Machinery for "open interfaces" suggests a strategy to collaborate with, rather than directly challenge, this OEM channel [Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, 2026].
Gravis's defensible edge today appears rooted in its academic pedigree and modular technical approach. The nearly decade of research from ETH Zurich's Robotic Systems Lab provides a foundation in soil-aware AI and control systems that newer entrants may lack [ETH Zurich Robotic Systems Lab]. Its retrofit-centric value proposition directly addresses the massive installed base of existing machinery, a strategic wedge against OEM-integrated solutions. This edge is durable if the company can continue to iterate its hardware compatibility faster than OEMs can standardize their own APIs, and if it builds a dense partner network with dealers and rental companies. However, it is perishable if a competitor like Built Robotics achieves significant scale and cost advantages, or if major OEMs decide to restrict third-party retrofits on their newer models.
The company is most exposed in two areas. Its capital position, while strengthened by the recent Series A, is notably smaller than Built Robotics's war chest, which could impact the speed of geographic expansion and R&D. Furthermore, Gravis's focus on earthmoving leaves adjacent, high-margin automation segments,like Dusty Robotics's layout or Hive Autonomy's mining logistics,untouched, creating opportunities for competitors to establish broader platform offerings. The reliance on a partnership model with OEMs and dealers also introduces channel risk, where control over customer relationships and pricing can be diluted.
The most plausible 18-month scenario hinges on adoption velocity in Europe and partnership depth. If Gravis successfully leverages its Holcim partnership to standardize deployments across global quarry operations and secures similar anchor deals with other multinational contractors, it could establish a defensible beachhead in materials production [Silicon Canals, 2025]. In this case, a winner would be Gravis, if it proves the retrofit model at scale with a major materials producer. Conversely, a loser would be a smaller, similarly capital-constrained player like Bedrock Robotics, if the market consolidates around fewer, better-funded platforms for core earthmoving tasks. The risk for Gravis is that Built Robotics uses its greater resources to accelerate international expansion, potentially outpacing Gravis's partnership-led rollout.
Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Competitor funding and positioning sourced from Crunchbase; Gravis's differentiation claims are from company and partner materials.
Opportunity
PUBLIC
The prize for Gravis Robotics is a controlling share of the retrofit autonomy market for heavy earthmoving equipment, a segment that could exceed $10 billion annually if adoption accelerates across the global fleet of construction and mining machinery.
The headline opportunity is for Gravis to become the default autonomy platform for the world's existing fleet of excavators and loaders. This outcome is reachable because the company's wedge is a retrofit solution, bypassing the multi-year sales cycles and capital intensity of selling new autonomous machines. The evidence points to early traction with this model: systems are already deployed in seven countries across infrastructure and materials projects, and the company has secured a strategic investment from Holcim, a global building materials leader, which is using the technology for quarry duties [Equipment Journal] [Silicon Canals, 2025]. The recent partnership with Hitachi Construction Machinery, noted for accommodating "open interfaces," suggests a path to OEM validation that could ease adoption across other major equipment brands [Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, 2026]. Becoming the standard retrofit kit would position Gravis as the primary beneficiary of the industry's gradual shift toward automation, capturing value from a vast installed base rather than waiting for fleet turnover.
Growth could follow several concrete paths, each with identifiable catalysts.
| Scenario | What happens | Catalyst | Why it's plausible |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM Partnership Standard | Gravis's RACK becomes a factory-approved or dealer-installed option for major equipment brands. | A formal, public OEM partnership announcement with a top-5 manufacturer like Caterpillar, Komatsu, or Volvo. | The cited collaboration with Hitachi demonstrates technical compatibility and OEM engagement [Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, 2026]. The company's stated goal to expand its "network of partnerships with OEMs" aligns with this path [Gravis Robotics]. |
| Vertical Dominance in Quarries & Mining | The company becomes the dominant autonomy provider for bulk material handling in quarries, a high-utilization, repeatable application. | Holcim rolls out Gravis systems across a significant portion of its global quarry network, creating a referenceable case study for the entire aggregates industry. | Holcim is already an investor and a named customer using the systems for site preparation and loading [New Civil Engineer, 2025]. Quarry operations represent a focused, high-value initial vertical. |
| Platform Expansion via Software | Recurring software revenue from the Gravis Copilot and autonomy upgrades outpaces hardware kit sales, improving margins. | The company publicly discloses that over 50% of its ARR comes from software subscriptions and upgrades. | The product roadmap explicitly describes Gravis Copilot as a machine-guidance platform where a "simple software upgrade" unlocks full autonomy, establishing a clear software monetization layer [Equipment Journal]. |
Compounding for Gravis would manifest as a data and distribution flywheel. Each deployed machine generates proprietary terrain and operational data that can refine the company's "soil-aware AI," improving performance and creating a product moat that deepens with scale [Gravis Robotics]. Successful deployments with large contractors like Taylor Woodrow serve as reference accounts that lower sales friction for similar firms in the same region or sector [New Civil Engineer, 2025]. Furthermore, establishing a footprint with a major rental company could create a powerful distribution lock-in, as contractors accustomed to using Gravis-enabled machines on one job site would demand them on the next.
The size of the win can be framed by looking at a public comparable. Built Robotics, a U.S.-based competitor focused on autonomous earthmoving, was valued at approximately $500 million during its last funding round in 2022 [PitchBook, 2022]. Given Gravis's broader geographic footprint, its retrofit-focused model addressing a larger addressable fleet, and its later-stage funding, a successful execution of the OEM Partnership Standard scenario could support a valuation multiple in the low billions within a five-year horizon (scenario, not a forecast). This represents a significant step-up from the company's current post-Series A valuation, which is not publicly disclosed.
Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- The core opportunity thesis is supported by cited deployments, partnerships, and product strategy. Specific valuation comparables and detailed market size projections are not confirmed by the company.
Sources
PUBLIC
[ETH Zurich Robotic Systems Lab] Gravis Robotics Spinoff | https://rsl.ethz.ch/partnership/spinoff/gravisrobotics.html
[Crunchbase] Gravis Robotics - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/gravis-robotics
[Companies House, Dec 2025] GRAVIS ROBOTICS LTD incorporation | https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16889711
[CB Insights] Gravis Robotics Company Profile | https://www.cbinsights.com/company/gravis-robotics
[Gravis Robotics, Nov 2025] Gravis Robotics accelerates global growth | https://www.gravisrobotics.com/press-release
[Equipment Journal] Gravis Robotics brings Physical AI to earthmoving | https://www.equipmentjournal.com/tech-news/gravis-robotics-brings-physical-ai-to-earthmoving/
[New Civil Engineer, 2025] Holcim partners with Gravis Robotics for autonomous quarry systems | https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/holcim-partners-with-gravis-robotics-for-autonomous-quarry-systems-03-12-2024/
[StartupHub.ai, 2025] Gravis Robotics: Autonomous Earthmoving Technology | https://startuphub.ai/gravis-robotics-autonomous-earthmoving-technology/
[CONEXPO-CON/AGG] Gravis Robotics Exhibitor Details | https://directory.conexpoconagg.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=1041472
[TFN, 2025] Gravis Robotics raises $23 million for autonomous earthmoving tech | https://techfundingnews.com/gravis-robotics-raises-23-million-for-autonomous-earthmoving-tech/
[Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, 2026] Hitachi and Gravis Robotics Partnership | https://www.hcma.com/en/news/hitachi-and-gravis-robotics-partnership/
[Gravis Robotics] Gravis Robotics Conexpo Offer | https://www.gravisrobotics.com/777
[Tech.eu, 2025] Gravis Robotics raises $23M for autonomous construction robots | https://tech.eu/2025/02/12/gravis-robotics-raises-23m-for-autonomous-construction-robots/
[Silicon Canals, 2025] Gravis Robotics secures $23M to expand autonomous earthmoving tech | https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/gravis-robotics-secures-23m/
[ESA BIC Switzerland] Gravis Robotics Startup Profile | https://commercialisation.esa.int/startups/gravis-robotics/
[Off-Highway Research, 2024] Global Construction Equipment Market Report | https://www.offhighwayresearch.com/
[Precedence Research, 2024] Industrial Automation Market Size Report | https://www.precedenceresearch.com/industrial-automation-market
[PitchBook, 2022] Built Robotics Valuation Data | https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/114081-10
Articles about Gravis Robotics
- Gravis Robotics Retrofits 7 Countries With a $23 Million Autonomy Kit — The ETH Zurich spin-out is selling a modular rack and copilot system to turn existing excavators into robotic teammates for contractors and quarries.