AUAR secures £5.1m led by Planet A to expand automated timber housing platform
Planet A led the investment to help the automated construction firm scale its operations across Europe.
Automated Architecture builds a decentralised construction ecosystem using robotics and artificial intelligence to deliver sustainable timber housing at scale.
Automated Architecture, known as AUAR, has secured £5.1m in a funding round led by Planet A. The capital will support team growth, product development, and expansion across European markets.
The financing was joined by Shadow Ventures, Common Magic, Concrete VC, and several angel investors, alongside previous backers Miles Ahead, ABB Robotics Ventures, and Nicolas Bearelle. The transaction values the business at £26.1m.
Founded by academics from UCL, AUAR provides portable robotic micro-factories and proprietary software to help mid-sized builders manufacture timber homes efficiently. The fresh funds will accelerate the commercial launch of its mid-rise housing system.
From the founder
"AUAR is building a global, automated construction ecosystem for sustainable, affordable, and beautiful homes at scale, designed to plug into the way builders already work,"
Mollie Claypool
Co-Founder and CEO at AUAR
Investor perspective
"We’ve dreamed for decades about bringing a prefabrication model that would help increase the housing supply through lower construction costs. This model must lower construction costs, increase speed, have the design customisability developers seek, and plug into the existing builder/developer process because not everyone can finance a factory. By bringing its Micro-Factories directly to the job site, AUAR solves the most challenging issue in the prefabrication model. It’s a breakthrough that the world needs."
Nick Durham
General Partner, Shadow Ventures
Use of funds
- 01Grow the team
- 02Continue product development
- 03Expand into international markets
Investors
Sam Baker
Planet A
Nick Durham
Shadow Ventures
Common Magic
Concrete
Miles Ahead
ABB Robotics Ventures