Swiss startup Gravis Robotics, which builds AI models to automate heavy construction equipment, has raised $200 million in Series A funding from SoftBank, bringing its post-money valuation to $1 billion. The company spun out of ETH Zurich in 2022 and develops AI models to power heavy industrial vehicles and machinery on construction sites, automating tasks like driving, digging, and excavating.
Gravis says its systems deliver up to 30% increase in jobsite productivity and can be retrofitted onto existing machines. The company trains models with simulated experiences in which systems move "billions of cubic yards of virtual earth," enabling precise understanding of machine-ground interaction. The startup offers software ranging from a copilot for operators with real-time 3D guidance and hazard detection to full autonomy, allowing operators to supervise fleets of AI-powered vehicles without being in the machine. Gravis is working with dozens of construction brands globally, including Caterpillar, Hitachi, and Volvo.
The round reflects a broader surge in European robotics funding. The robotics sector in Europe raised €2.67 billion in funding in the first six months of 2026—more than the €2.28 billion secured in the previous two years combined. For architects shipping construction automation and fleet-management stacks, Gravis's $1B valuation and SoftBank backing signals that heavy-machinery autonomy is now a serious, well-capitalized category.