Gritt Raises $34 Million to Deploy AI Robots for Solar Construction

Solar developers are racing to add capacity but face labor shortages at remote construction sites, where crews repeatedly lift heavy panels in unpredictable outdoor conditions. Gritt, founded by Carnegie Mellon-trained roboticists Puneet Puri and Vishal Dugar, is using next-generation AI models to control off-the-shelf construction vehicles and robotic arms. Its system initially unloads, carries and positions solar panels for workers, with a longer-term plan to automate other infrastructure tasks such as drilling posts and tying rebar.

On July 21, 2026, Gritt emerged from stealth and announced a $26 million Series A led by Obvious Ventures, with Union Square Ventures and Active Impact Investment participating, bringing total funding to $34 million. The company has two systems in the field and says an eight-person crew can install 3,000 to 4,000 panels a day, up from 800. Gritt has contracts to support 2.8 gigawatts of installations over 18 months and aims to operate 48 systems within six months.