Cyphra Autonomy
"Robotic Construction Labor Force"
US start-up renting PAL autonomous haulers that move rebar, fencing and debris on jobsites, at about USD 1,800 per unit per month.
Cyphra Autonomy is a small US construction-robotics start-up that builds and rents autonomous material-hauling robots for jobsites. Its robot is called PAL, short for "precision autonomous laborer", and is designed to take over the repetitive carrying work that crews still do with wheelbarrows, buggies and hand carts: moving rebar, temporary fencing, concrete debris, dirt and other bulk materials around active construction, excavation, demolition and landscaping sites. The company's own site describes the mission as a "Robotic Construction Labor Force" and positions the robots around three claims: safety (robots take the risky lifting and hauling), simplicity (anyone on site can operate a PAL within minutes, with no formal training) and efficiency (materials are brought to the workers so skilled labour stays on higher-value tasks).
The company was co-founded by two mechanical engineers, Sean Ward, who acts as chief executive, and Dietrich Kruse, the chief technology officer. According to Startland News, which named Cyphra one of its 2026 Startups to Watch, the team is based in Kansas City, Missouri, had three employees and had raised about USD 450,000 by January 2026. Cyphra began as a robotics control-software company and moved into hardware after early users made clear they needed a machine built for the abuse of a jobsite.
PAL units can follow a person using vision, follow another vehicle, run autonomously or be driven by remote control, and mesh-networked software lets several rovers coordinate as a fleet. Cyphra sells access rather than machines: the robots are rented, at roughly USD 1,800 per month or USD 200 per day per unit, a model BuiltWorlds describes as robotics-as-a-service. Startland reported a fleet of five rental units in the field in early 2026 with plans to double it during the year, and a second-generation platform planned for 2026 with a modular chassis, tracked mobility, interchangeable attachments and a payload of up to 2,200 lb.
Cyphra has been built largely through construction-industry accelerators. It has been part of Berkeley SkyDeck, Suffolk Technologies' BOOST programme (cohort 6, where it won the People's Choice award at the November 2025 demo day), the Oregon UAS Accelerator, LaunchKC and Digital Sandbox KC, and Black & Veatch's IgniteX follow-on programme, which opened access to large job sites. It was also accepted into EllisDon's accelerator and keeps a presence at Hensel Phelps' Innovation Lab in Phoenix. Ward pitched the company at the Venture West 2025 demo day in April 2025. The company says PAL has been tested with top construction firms and is pursuing pilots and letters of intent with major builders, but it has not named paying customers. Prospective users can join a waitlist or request a pilot through the website.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
PAL (Precision Autonomous Laborer)
Rentable jobsite hauling robot for rebar, fencing and debris with person-follow, vehicle-follow, autonomous and remote-control modes.
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Contact Cyphra Autonomy
WEBSITE
https://www.cyphra-autonomy.comHEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
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Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
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Funding Stage
Early-Stage VC
Funding Total
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