Gritt Raises $34 Million to Automate Solar Construction Sites

The company’s approach centers on software rather than proprietary hardware. By integrating AI models with off-the-shelf equipment like rented skidders and Kawasaki robotic arms, Gritt allows machines to navigate chaotic, unstructured outdoor environments. These systems currently focus on unloading heavy glass solar panels and positioning them on frames with sub-millimeter precision. According to CEO Puneet Puri, the integration of these robots enables a standard eight-person crew to boost daily installation capacity from 800 panels to as many as 4,000.

Funding for the startup includes a $26 million Series A round led by Obvious Ventures, following earlier backing from firms including First Round Capital and Union Square Ventures. The capital injection arrives as Gritt secures contracts to assist in the installation of 2.8 gigawatts of solar capacity over the next 18 months, with plans to operate 48 systems within half a year. While competitors like Luminous Robotics and Cosmic favor building custom hardware, Gritt’s reliance on existing machinery aims to maintain a leaner cost structure.

Beyond current panel placement, the founders intend to expand the system’s utility to tasks such as drilling posts, rack assembly, and tying rebar. The platform is designed to learn new physical maneuvers rapidly; Puri noted that while specialized robotics previously required months of development, the current AI pipeline allowed them to master rebar tying in a single day. The company eventually envisions its robots acting as a site-wide intelligence layer, capable of identifying logistical risks—such as exposed trenches ahead of storms—and providing management oversight alongside manual labor.