TerraFirma

TerraFirma is a vertically integrated construction technology company focused on automating earthworks and site operations for large-scale infrastructure projects. Founded in 2024 by former SpaceX engineers Noah Schochet (CEO) and Noah McGuinness (CTO), the Austin, Texas-based firm aims to address the long-term productivity decline in the construction industry. The founders, who met at Princeton University, previously worked on SpaceX programs such as Starlink, Starship, and Starshield, where they identified that building ground-based infrastructure was a more significant bottleneck than building the rockets themselves.

The company is developing a full-stack platform that combines AI-powered pre-construction software, a remote command-and-control center, and semi-autonomous robotics. Its business model involves retrofitting conventional heavy machinery—including excavators, dozers, and loaders—with its technology, converting them into robots. This allows skilled operators to remotely manage entire fleets of equipment from screens, potentially increasing operator effectiveness by up to 300%. The system is designed with a "human-in-the-loop" approach, where automation handles repetitive tasks under the supervision of operators, who can use tools like Xbox controllers for remote control. This enhances worker safety by removing them from hazardous job sites.

In July 2026, TerraFirma announced it had raised approximately $115 million, which included a $100 million Series A round led by Kleiner Perkins. The funding round saw participation from firms like Bain Capital Ventures and angel investors from companies such as SpaceX and Anduril. The capital is allocated to expand its engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams, and to build a factory and mission control center in Texas. TerraFirma has deployed its technology on commercial projects across the housing, energy, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, including site preparation for a Starbucks and a sports arena in Texas. While its current focus is on terrestrial construction, the company's long-term vision is to apply its technology to build infrastructure on the Moon and Mars.

Keywords: construction automation, robotic earthworks, autonomous construction, heavy machinery robotics, remote-operated equipment, site preparation technology, civil engineering automation, infrastructure robotics, construction technology, semi-autonomous machinery, AI in construction, construction robotics, earthmoving automation, vertically integrated construction, site operations, pre-construction software, command-and-control center, retrofitted machinery, human-in-the-loop robotics, Noah Schochet, Noah McGuinness, Kleiner Perkins, construction productivity, space infrastructure