By Conley Oster
Welcome to the Raise Robotics blog, an open and honest conversation about robotic automation and its current and future impact on construction and other industries. Each month we will be sharing what we’re learning, what we’re building, and our views on many of the hard questions that need to be addressed. Thanks for being part of our journey. We’re glad to have you along for the ride.
Our Story
Raise Robotics started with a simple belief: if we could build self-driving cars that navigate the dynamic environments of our street, then we could create robots to solve some of the toughest problems in construction. With my co-founder Gary’s deep robotics expertise from Waymo and my years in construction equipment, we were convinced that automation would significantly improve how the industry’s most dangerous, repetitive, and error-prone work gets done.
But talking to the industry was the real turning point. Contractors told us they needed real help. Tasks like survey inspections, layout, and repetitive installations were slow, risky, and holding projects back. Their trust and encouragement convinced us to go all in. Around the same time, we were accepted into UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck accelerator which gave us the momentum to turn Raise Robotics into a full-time commitment.
From day one, we believed that technology must be shaped by the trades themselves. Without contractor input, robotics never leaves the lab. Our company was built because contractors pushed us to solve their hardest problems, and we’re still here today because they keep shaping what comes next.
Our Mission
At Raise, we’re on a mission to deliver factory-quality precision and reliability to any industrial environment.
We believe that the safest site is also the most productive one. High-risk work is slow because it is dangerous, and automation can not only keep workers safe but also speed up the whole project. Trades don’t need more paperwork, they need better tools. Robotics and other technologies should help them do their job with less risk and fewer headaches, not complicate things.
Our Company
We are not just another tech company parachuting into construction. The Raise team is built on the combined robotics and construction experience needed to provide value and solutions.
Despite my experience in construction equipment and even time around advanced systems at Apple, I was skeptical of the true value robotics could provide the industry. But Gary showed me the possibilities and together we built a platform that solves real problems on real jobsites.
Our Differentiator
Most robotics solutions today require detailed 3D models or full BIM files before they can even start. That creates extra work for contractors and slows adoption. Our approach is different. By combining sensor fusion with dynamic motion planning, our robots work directly off simpler project drawings and adapt in real time.
That means crews don’t need to overhaul their process or deliver perfect models before robots add value. It’s an easier path to adoption and keeps the focus on getting the work done safely and correctly.
Adaptability is our real differentiator. We believe robots should fit into the way jobsites already run. They should take work off the crew’s plate, not add complexity. Field conditions change, drawings aren’t perfect, and every jobsite has surprises. Our robots succeed because they adjust on the fly, just like the crew does.
This is also why our training is simple. Union trainers and customer crews learn to operate our robots in hours, not weeks. That speed of training builds trust and ensures technology adoption doesn’t slow down the project schedule.
Our Vision
Raise Robotics is reimagining how automation serves the industries that build our world.
We’re developing adaptable solutions that work within existing environments and alongside people—rather than forcing workflows to adapt to new equipment. Our mobile platforms operate where people can’t easily reach—from the edge of a building to the top of a ladder, or on a scissor lift or boom lift.
We build robots that work with people, not instead of them. The future jobsite isn’t about replacement, it’s about augmentation and support. With Raise, crews can have safer conditions, higher quality outcomes, and faster progress without the bottlenecks that slow down projects today. By equipping workers with a new class of tools that elevate their capabilities, we’re creating pathways to better careers, dignified labor, and sustainable growth for industries that shape our cities and infrastructure.
This is about reimagining the jobsite as a place where technology empowers people, where skill is amplified by machine intelligence, and where the next generation of workers can thrive in roles that are safer, smarter, and more rewarding.
Our vision is simple yet bold: to build a robotic platform for human progress, transforming work into something not only more efficient but more meaningful.