Raise Robotics has successfully closed a $7.8 million Seed Round, marking a significant leap forward in the mission to bring advanced robotics and automation to the vertical construction industry. Founded by Gary Chen and Conley Oster, the startup is building solutions that directly address the labor shortages, safety concerns, and productivity bottlenecks that have plagued construction for decades.

The round was backed by an impressive lineup of investors, including MaC Ventures, Undivided Ventures, Cybernetix Ventures, Zacua Ventures, and Union Labs. This capital infusion will enable Raise Robotics to accelerate product development, expand its engineering team, and push further into commercial deployments of its precision automation systems.

At the heart of Raise Robotics’ innovation is a robotic platform designed specifically for vertical construction environments - think skyscrapers, multi-story buildings, and large-scale infrastructure. Unlike industrial robotics adapted from manufacturing floors, Raise Robotics’ systems are engineered to operate in the unpredictable, hazardous, and often weather-exposed conditions of active construction sites.

Solving an Industry-Wide Bottleneck

Construction is one of the least automated major industries in the world, with productivity growth lagging behind manufacturing, logistics, and even agriculture. Labor shortages exacerbate the problem: the industry faces a significant gap between demand and available skilled workers, driving up costs and project delays. Raise Robotics’ automation platform steps directly into this gap, offering solutions that can handle repetitive, precision-dependent tasks while freeing up human workers for higher-value, decision-making roles.

Their system integrates AI-powered machine vision, adaptive robotic arms, and advanced safety protocols to ensure reliable operation in complex, high-risk environments. The result? Projects that can be completed faster, with greater precision, and significantly lower accident rates.

And here’s where the insight for founders crystallizes: Raise Robotics isn’t just selling a machine - they’re re-engineering the entire workflow of an industry that has been resistant to change. Too many founders fall into the trap of pitching “incremental improvements” that fit neatly into old systems. What Raise is doing instead is designing their tech to reshape the system itself, forcing adoption not because it’s a neat upgrade, but because the old way becomes obviously uncompetitive. This approach doesn’t just improve market fit - it builds a moat, because once the new workflow becomes the norm, competitors are playing catch-up to a standard you’ve set. For any founder tackling entrenched industries, the lesson is this: adoption accelerates when your product rewrites the playbook, not when it politely asks to join it.

Strategic Positioning in a Competitive Market

While other robotics companies have explored construction automation, few have honed in on the vertical construction segment with such precision. This focus allows Raise Robotics to build specialized capabilities that generic automation systems can’t match - such as compact yet powerful manipulators that can operate in tight scaffolding spaces, or sensors that maintain accuracy despite dust, vibrations, and environmental interference.

Their go-to-market strategy involves partnering with large construction firms, enabling immediate integration into multi-million-dollar projects where efficiency gains translate directly into substantial cost savings. This strategic choice not only accelerates adoption but also ensures early deployments produce data and testimonials that can drive further scaling.

Backing from Experienced Investors

The Seed Round’s investor roster reflects strong confidence in both the technology and the market opportunity. MaC Ventures and Undivided Ventures bring deep networks in early-stage growth, while Cybernetix Ventures specializes in robotics investments. Zacua Ventures’ expertise in construction tech, coupled with Union Labs’ focus on frontier technologies, creates a powerhouse advisory circle for Raise Robotics as it scales.

These investors are betting on more than just machines - they’re backing a future in which automation is not an optional upgrade in construction but a baseline requirement. With safety regulations tightening, labor costs rising, and urbanization driving demand for taller, denser structures, the need for scalable, precise automation is only growing.

Looking Ahead

With $7.8 million in fresh capital, Raise Robotics is poised to expand its R&D efforts, deploy more pilot projects, and refine its technology for mass adoption. Early results from trial deployments have shown promising reductions in project timelines, improved structural accuracy, and measurable reductions in safety incidents.

If successful at scale, the company could not only change the economics of vertical construction but also help reshape the workforce dynamics of the industry - making construction a safer, more technology-driven field that attracts the next generation of skilled workers.For founders watching Raise Robotics’ trajectory, the takeaway is clear: deep industry focus, combined with technology designed to rewrite the rules rather than adapt to them, can create adoption curves that feel almost inevitable. In a world where incremental gains can be ignored, transformative shifts become irresistible.