TerraFirma, a Buda, Texas-based company automating earthmoving for construction, has raised $115 million in Series A funding led by Kleiner Perkins. The company combines AI-enabled pre-construction software, a remote command center, and retrofitted heavy machinery operated via Xbox controllers with human-in-the-loop autonomy. The capital will accelerate hiring, build a Texas factory and mission control center, and expand global operations.
SpaceX Pedigree Meets Construction Labor Gap
The timing comes amid a construction robotics funding surge. Built Robotics raised $64 million in its Series C in 2022. Bedrock Robotics secured $270 million in its Series B in February 2026. TerraFirma's human-in-the-loop approach addresses labor shortages by attracting younger workers through familiar video game interfaces rather than pursuing full autonomy.
Productivity Decline Costs Trillions
US construction labor productivity has fallen 0.6% per year since 1965. This decline has cost the equivalent of roughly $1 trillion every five years. Current solutions fall short because they do not combine software planning, remote operations, and physical retrofits into a single vertically integrated stack.
Full-Stack Retrofit Approach Stands Out
TerraFirma retrofits existing excavators, bulldozers, and loaders rather than building new autonomous equipment. Operators control multiple machines remotely from a central hub while AI handles planning and safety layers including person detection. This differs from Built Robotics' fully autonomous solar-focused systems and Bedrock Robotics' AV-heritage full autonomy model.
"It is not about trying to fully automate construction equipment," noted CTO Noah McGuinness.
Kleiner Perkins Leads Strategic Syndicate
Kleiner Perkins led the round with participation from Bain Capital Ventures, Glade Brook Capital Partners, and others. Angel investors include founders and engineers from SpaceX, Anduril, and Hadrian. The syndicate signals conviction in both the terrestrial market and the long-term Mars infrastructure vision shared by the ex-SpaceX founding team.
Construction Robotics Market Expands Rapidly
The global construction robots market is projected to reach $3.66 billion by 2030. Growth is driven by severe labor shortages, rising safety costs, and AI maturation. Competitors like SafeAI ($68 million total funding) and Teleo AI ($29.8 million total) remain smaller, while Dusty Robotics ($69 million) focuses on a complementary layout segment.
Ex-SpaceX Founders Bring Execution Track Record
Co-founders Noah Schochet and Noah McGuinness met at Princeton and worked together at SpaceX before launching TerraFirma in 2024. Roughly half the engineering team comes from SpaceX, Tesla, or The Boring Company. The team has already deployed projects including a Starbucks site excavation and work for the Zachary Cole Foundation.
Hiring Push and Global Fleet Targets
With the new funding, TerraFirma plans to hire 300 employees over the next year and operate three of the world's largest robotic construction fleets on different continents by October 2026. The company also intends to bid on future lunar infrastructure projects while scaling earthmoving operations.