SoftBank Backs Autonomous Construction Tech with $200 Million Investment

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has invested $200 million in Gravis Robotics, a Swiss startup that specializes in autonomous construction technology. This Series A round is the largest ever recorded in the sector and represents a significant increase in capital for the company.

Gravis' core product, called the Gravis Rack, retrofits existing heavy equipment with AI-augmented autonomy, allowing it to work on machines from Caterpillar, Volvo, and John Deere. The system has been shown to deliver productivity gains of up to 30% while improving job site safety.

The investment is notable because SoftBank had previously explored a larger acquisition of Gravis that could have valued the startup at over $500 million. Instead, the company will remain independent with SoftBank holding a major stake.