Construction is a ripe category for disruption and automation. The industry is valued at around $2 trillion a year in the U.S. alone. Much of the work is strenuous, repetitive, and sometimes dangerous – perfect problems for industrial robotics to solve. Construction presents a wide range of challenges, allowing more startups to operate in the space without direct competition.
Bricklaying robots are not a new concept, with Hadrian X being a well-known player in the space. Monumental, based in Amsterdam, specializes in building structures out of red clay bricks. The startup was founded in 2021 by the duo behind data visualization firm Silk (now part of Palantir). Monumental has already conducted limited pilots in the Netherlands, including the exterior of an office building. The startup has also formed partnerships with 25 contractors, including low-income housing projects.
The efficacy of the system has been showcased in video demos, and the company is tackling the problem from various angles, starting with an autonomous cart designed to carry heavy payloads. Another robot spreads liquid mortar and places bricks.
Monumental co-founder and CEO Salar al Khafaji states, “At Monumental, we’re working to help the industry meet these challenges. Our agile, intelligent, and adaptable robots and software blend human expertise with robotic efficiency in a way that the industry has never seen before.”
To mark its debut, Monumental is announcing a substantial $25 million funding round, led by Plural and Hummingbird, with participation from Northzone, Foundamental, and NP-Hard Ventures. The funding will be used for hiring, scaling manufacturing, and diversifying the types of bricks/blocks its robots can handle.
