Dutch construction robotics company Monumental has secured US$32 million in Series B funding to accelerate the deployment of its autonomous bricklaying robots across Europe and launch operations in the United States. The investment strengthens the company’s position as it targets one of construction’s biggest challenges: the shortage of skilled labor.
The latest funding round was led by Khosla Ventures, with existing investors Plural and Hummingbird also participating. The raise follows Monumental’s US$25 million funding round in 2024, which supported the expansion of its robotic bricklaying services across European markets.
Expansion Targets Growing Construction Labor Shortages
Monumental enters the next phase of growth as construction companies across Europe and North America struggle to recruit skilled tradespeople. Labor shortages continue to delay housing projects and infrastructure developments, increasing costs and extending project schedules.
Industry data highlights the scale of the challenge. The UK alone requires approximately 20,000 additional bricklayers to meet national housing targets, yet only 1,990 qualified bricklayers completed training in 2024. Similar workforce shortages continue to affect construction markets across developed economies.
The company believes robotic automation can help contractors maintain productivity while reducing dependence on an increasingly limited labor pool.
Fleet Delivers Bricklaying as a Service
Rather than selling robotic equipment, Monumental operates as a specialized subcontractor. Contractors hire the company to deliver completed masonry work instead of purchasing, maintaining and operating robotic systems themselves.
This service model removes significant capital investment and technical barriers for builders while allowing Monumental to manage the robots, software and project execution.
The company currently operates a fleet of approximately 150 autonomous robots across multiple construction sites in Europe and the United Kingdom.
Autonomous Robots Combine Precision and Digital Planning
Monumental designed both the hardware and software behind its robotic construction platform. Its electrically powered autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) travel on wheels and use sensors, computer vision and compact cranes to place bricks and mortar with what the company describes as human-level precision.
The robotic fleet also works alongside Atrium, Monumental’s proprietary digital twin platform. The software maps construction projects, plans brick placement and coordinates robotic operations before work begins on site.
This combination of digital planning and autonomous execution enables multiple robots to work simultaneously across different projects.
Robots Already Support More Than 100 Construction Projects
The company’s technology has already completed masonry work on more than 100 residential buildings in the Netherlands and the UK.
Its robots have also contributed to several non-residential projects, including:
- Schools
- Community centres
- Hotels
- Canal wall construction
- Residential housing developments
These completed projects demonstrate that robotic masonry has moved beyond pilot demonstrations into commercial construction.
CEO Focuses on Real-World Construction Automation
Monumental co-founder and CEO Salar al Khafaji said the industry requires practical automation rather than experimental robotics.
“The world simply does not have enough people to build what it needs, and that shortage will not be solved by another app or another robot doing backflips on stage.”
He added:
“It takes machines that turn up on site and lay real brick all day, to spec, which is what our fleet already does today.”
Al Khafaji previously co-founded data visualization company Silk, which US software company Palantir acquired in 2016. While working in research and development at Palantir, he shifted his focus toward physical infrastructure and construction technology, leading to the creation of Monumental.
Investors See Opportunity in Construction Automation
Khosla Ventures founder Vinod Khosla said construction remains one of the world’s least digitized industries despite rising demand for housing and infrastructure.
“Construction costs have exploded while the industry itself has barely changed in decades,” Khosla said.
He noted that Monumental has already demonstrated commercial viability by completing canal walls, schools, homes and other structures using robotic systems.
According to Khosla, scaling robotics across construction could improve productivity while helping address housing shortages without compromising build quality.
Construction Technology Market Continues to Evolve
Construction contributes roughly 13% of global GDP, making productivity improvements increasingly important as governments invest in housing, infrastructure and industrial development.
Robotics companies increasingly target repetitive, labor-intensive construction activities such as bricklaying, material handling and site logistics. Monumental’s approach combines autonomous equipment with digital construction planning while offering the technology through a subcontracting model that aligns with existing construction procurement practices.
The company’s expansion into the United States marks its first major move outside Europe and positions it to compete in one of the world’s largest construction markets, where workforce shortages continue to affect residential and commercial building activity.
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