Monumental, a Netherlands-based robotics startup, has secured $25m in a funding round led by investors Plural and Hummingbird. 

The funding round also saw the participation of Northzone, Foundamental, NP-Hard Ventures, Material Ventures, and high-profile angel investors.  

This capital injection will enable Monumental to expand its team, increase its robot deployment across Europe, and broaden the range of construction tasks its robots can perform. 

Founded by CEO Salar al Khafaji and CTO Sebastiaan Visser, Monumental is known for its small, electric, autonomous ground vehicles that navigate building sites to assist with bricklaying. 

The company says it is dedicated to addressing the labour, cost, and sustainability issues impacting the global construction sector. 

Monumental's robots are designed with advanced sensors, computer vision, and small cranes, enabling them to lay bricks with precision and efficiency.  

Operated by the company's AI-powered software Atrium, these robots are agile enough to work in tight spaces and alongside human workers.  

The company also provides contractors the option to hire its robots as subcontractors, mitigating the financial and technical risks associated with machine operation and technology adoption. 

Plural partner Sten Tamkivi said: “Monumental’s approach is the perfect coming together of ambition and expertise, the rising power and impact of AI, and the shrinking cost and size of cutting-edge hardware to address an industry that’s at breaking point.  

“Something significant has to happen if we’re to meet the housing demands of millions and reduce the economic and environmental burden of the built world and Monumental is going to be something significant.” 

After successful pilot tests in the Netherlands, Monumental completed its first large-scale project, a 15m facade for a building, in 2023.  

The company has since been involved in several projects, including social housing, and has established partnerships with multiple top 25 general contractors.