SoftBank Group Corp. invested $200 million [1] in Swiss construction-robotics startup Gravis Robotics on Monday.
The investment signals a major push toward the automation of heavy industry, potentially reducing human labor requirements for high-risk excavation and building tasks.
Based in Zurich, Gravis Robotics secured the funding as part of a Series A round [2]. The company said this is the largest Series A in the history of construction robotics [1]. The capital injection will support the development of autonomous AI software designed to give heavy construction equipment its own "brain" [2].
SoftBank's move into the Swiss robotics sector focuses on advancing construction automation [3]. By integrating AI into heavy machinery, the software aims to enable equipment to operate independently, reducing the need for manual operators in hazardous environments [2].
Gravis Robotics is positioning its technology as a foundational layer for the next generation of autonomous machinery [3]. The funding comes as the global construction industry faces ongoing pressure to increase efficiency and safety through technological integration [2].
“SoftBank Group Corp. invested $200 million in Swiss construction-robotics startup Gravis Robotics”
This investment reflects a strategic shift toward applying generative and autonomous AI to physical infrastructure. By funding a 'brain' for heavy machinery, SoftBank is betting that the construction industry—one of the least digitized sectors—is ripe for a robotics revolution that could fundamentally alter labor markets and project timelines.
