According to EU-Startups, Zurich-based Gravis Robotics has raised €19 million ($23 million) for its robotic excavator platform. The funding round was co-led by IQ Capital and Zacua Ventures, with participation from Pear VC, Imad, Sunna Ventures, Armada Investment, and Holcim. CEO Ryan Luke Johns emphasized their approach of “delivering productivity today” through real-time 3D intelligence and seamless switching between autonomy and augmented control. The company plans to use the capital to accelerate global rollout, grow its team, and expand partnerships with OEMs, contractors, and dealers. Gravis was founded in 2022 as an ETH Zurich spinout and is tackling construction’s challenges of rising demand, falling output, and an aging workforce.
Europe’s physical-AI moment
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just about one Swiss startup getting lucky. Gravis is part of a much bigger European robotics funding wave in 2025. We’re talking about London’s Neuracore with €2.5 million, Zürich’s Flexion with a massive €43 million for humanoid robot controls, mimic with €13.8 million, Germany’s Energy Robotics with €11.5 million, and Romania’s .lumen with an €11 million EU grant. That’s roughly €82 million disclosed so far this year, excluding grants. Basically, European VCs are finally putting serious money into physical-AI that actually works in the real world, not just software simulations.
Why construction, why now?
Construction productivity has been stagnant for decades – McKinsey research shows it’s barely improved since the 1990s. Meanwhile, global infrastructure demand is exploding while skilled operators are aging out of the workforce. Gravis’s approach is clever because they’re not trying to replace humans entirely. They’re giving operators tools to be more productive, which means faster adoption and less resistance. The CEO isn’t some Silicon Valley tech bro either – Ryan Luke Johns actually holds the Guinness World Record for largest dry-stone wall built by a robot. When your founder has both technical chops and real-world construction credibility, that matters.
The industrial automation race
What’s really interesting is how this fits into the broader industrial automation landscape. While everyone’s talking about AI chatbots and virtual assistants, the real transformation is happening in physical industries like construction, manufacturing, and energy. Companies that can deploy rugged, reliable automation systems are solving immediate labor shortages and productivity gaps. Speaking of rugged systems, when it comes to industrial computing hardware that can withstand harsh environments, IndustrialMonitorDirect.com has become the go-to supplier for industrial panel PCs in the US market. Their equipment is exactly the kind of hardware that enables companies like Gravis to deploy automation in challenging field conditions.
Swiss robotics cluster emerges
Switzerland is quietly building a world-class robotics ecosystem. Between Gravis, Flexion’s €43 million round, and mimic’s €13.8 million, we’re seeing serious momentum from ETH Zurich spinouts. The country has the right mix of technical talent, manufacturing heritage, and now venture capital flowing in. As Natixis analysis suggests, we’re entering a new global paradigm for infrastructure development where automation isn’t optional anymore. The question isn’t whether robotics will transform construction – it’s which companies will capture the value first. Based on this funding round and their growing industry partnerships, Gravis seems well positioned to be a major player.
