“Robotics has seen impressive progress in recent years. It boasts many promises for the construction industry, including improved productivity, enhanced safety and reducing workers’ participation in dangerous, repetitive tasks. But there’s still a lot that needs to be done.” Julien Villalongue, director of Leonard
Robots and Construction: who are the players reshaping industry?
Robotics in the construction industry goes far beyond the quest for efficiency: it responds to concrete problems. Faced with productivity challenges, labor shortages and dangerous working conditions, robots are emerging as a key solution. They take on repetitive, arduous and risky tasks, thereby improving both worker safety and the sector’s performance.
Since 2022, only 17 construction robotics companies worldwide have raised capital, and more than three-quarters of the latest fund-raisings have been for early-stage (SEED) or Series A companies.
This underlines the role of young companies and startups in the evolution of this sector. Their mission is to overcome cultural barriers and rethink the value chain through innovative business models.
To gain a better understanding of these dynamics, Leonard supported the latest report from Sifted, a leading media outlet in the start-up ecosystem. The report explores the future of construction robots, and highlights the companies leading the way around the world.
The USA dominates funding in this field, while Europe stands out for innovative players such as Gropyus, which specializes in prefabrication, and Flyability, a start-up that was part of Leonard’s CATALYST class of 2024 and uses drones to inspect hard-to-reach areas. Japan, meanwhile, is demonstrating its lead with fully automated dam projects, offering a glimpse of futuristic, highly robotized worksites.
Download the report to find out how robotics is transforming the construction industry and reshaping the future of worksites worldwide:
