EarthGrid PBC
EarthGrid PBC is a Richmond, CA-based public benefit corporation that develops patented plasma-based tunnel-boring and trenching systems — using thermal shock spallation on hard rock — to deploy underground infrastructure for utilities, telecom, water, and transportation customers across 46 CPCN-licensed U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EarthGrid PBC does
EarthGrid PBC is a Richmond, California-based public benefit corporation (founded 2016) that has developed a patented plasma-based excavation system for underground infrastructure. The technology induces thermal shock spallation in rock, fragmenting granite, basalt, quartzite, phyllite, and other hard geologies using only air and power as inputs. The portfolio comprises two products: a large-scale Plasma Tunnel-Boring Technology for tunneling applications, and the Plasma Excavation System (PES) launched in 2025 for trenching. Company-claimed performance metrics include 100x faster boring (100m/day vs. 10m/day for traditional TBMs) and up to 98% lower cost.
The company monetizes through direct enterprise sales of plasma excavation services and managed underground infrastructure deployment, pricing via state-by-state utility tariff schedules. It holds Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) registered utility status in 46 U.S. states, which it uses to secure Right-of-Way permits and serve as a utility operator rather than a subcontractor. Target segments include clean energy utilities (underground transmission, wildfire mitigation), telecommunications (fiber), water and wastewater, and transportation infrastructure. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales to utilities, telecom carriers, clean energy providers, and government entities, supplemented by PR in Forbes, WSJ, and Wired.
EarthGrid is in early commercialization: the first real-world PES deployment occurred at Sierra Granite (Raymond, CA) in June 2025. Cumulative funding is approximately $3.3–$4.5 million via Netcapital and angel syndicates (SeedFolio, Spectrum Impact, Unpopular Ventures, Monozukuri Ventures, Keiretsu Capital), supplemented by a $1 million Startup World Cup 2024 grand prize. The flagship commercial signal is a 2025 joint venture with EnerTech (a Kia Corporation entity) targeting $18 billion in U.S. underground utility projects. Headcount is 11–50, led by Founder & CEO Troy Helming and VP Engineering Mark Park, with an advisory board that includes energy and regulatory specialists.
EarthGrid PBC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EarthGrid PBC
- Legal name
- EarthGrid PBC
- Website
- https://earthgrid.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EarthGrid PBC is a Richmond, CA-based public benefit corporation that develops patented plasma-based tunnel-boring and trenching systems — using thermal shock spallation on hard rock — to deploy underground infrastructure for utilities, telecom, water, and transportation customers across 46 CPCN-licensed U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where EarthGrid PBC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EarthGrid PBC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Plasma Excavation Services: Providing plasma-powered tunnel-boring and trenching excavation services to utilities, telecom companies, clean energy providers, and government entities for underground infrastructure projects including power lines, fiber optics, pipelines, and transportation tunnels.
- Infrastructure Installation: Registered as a utility with CPCN status in 46 states, EarthGrid can deploy underground utility infrastructure including power transmission, telecom, and clean energy distribution systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Utility Services - Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
EarthGrid PBC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EarthGrid PBC provides plasma-powered tunnel-boring and trenching services that excavate hard rock through thermal shock spallation, eliminating the need for drilling chemicals. The company operates as a registered utility with CPCN status in 46 states, enabling direct deployment of underground infrastructure for power transmission, fiber optics, pipelines, water/wastewater, and transportation tunnels for utilities, telecom providers, clean energy companies, and government entities.
Product overview
EarthGrid PBC is a public benefit corporation offering a unified portfolio of plasma-based excavation technologies. The core offering consists of two integrated systems: the Plasma Tunnel-Boring Technology for large-scale tunneling operations and the Plasma Excavation System (PES) for trenching applications. Both products leverage the company's patented plasma technology that induces thermal shock spallation in rock, eliminating the need for drilling chemicals or rotating cutters. The company is registered as a utility in 46 states with CPCN status, enabling them to provide underground infrastructure services across telecommunications, clean energy, water/wastewater, transportation, and logistics sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Plasma Excavation System (PES): Plasma-powered excavation system that can trench through the hardest geologies including granite, basalt, and other hard rocks using thermal shock spallation technology.
Products and services
- EarthGrid Plasma Tunnel-Boring Technology Patented plasma-powered tunnel-boring robots that excavate rock through thermal shock spallation, capable of boring through hard rock including granite and basalt at speeds up to 100m/day, compared to 10m/day for traditional methods. For utilities, telecom providers, clean energy companies, and government infrastructure projects.
- Plasma Excavation System (PES) A plasma-based excavation system for trenching applications that quickly trenches through the hardest geologies including granite, basalt, quartzite, corundum, phyllite, jadeite, eclogite, and limestone. Enables faster and lower-cost underground utility line and conduit installation.
- Plasma Excavation Services Professional plasma-powered tunnel-boring and trenching excavation services for utilities, telecom companies, clean energy providers, and government entities for underground infrastructure projects including power lines, fiber optics, pipelines, and transportation tunnels.
- Infrastructure Installation Services Registered utility with CPCN status in 46 states, enabling direct deployment and installation of underground utility infrastructure including power transmission lines, telecom/fiber networks, and clean energy distribution systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 100x faster boring through hard rock (100m/day vs 10m/day traditional)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use EarthGrid PBC
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EarthGrid PBC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
EarthGrid PBC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.
- EnerTech (KIA Entity)flagshipEarthGrid announced a groundbreaking joint venture with EnerTech, a KIA (Kia Corporation) entity, to deploy $18 billion in U.S. underground utility projects. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate the modernization of U.S. electrical infrastructure using EarthGrid's plasma tunnel-boring technology, addressing the critical need for faster and more cost-effective underground utility deployment.
- Upward LabsminorEarthGrid was selected as one of six companies for Upward Labs' Net Zero Lab inaugural program supporting startups developing decarbonization solutions for the real estate industry, specifically for tunneling for infrastructure projects.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EarthGrid PBC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Boring Company: Elon Musk's tunnel construction company focused on reducing tunneling costs through technology innovation and vertical integration. Most directly comparable as a venture-backed tunneling disruptor targeting cost/speed improvements versus traditional TBM methods, although The Boring Company concentrates on transportation tunnels rather than utility conduits.
Broad incumbents
- Herrenknecht: Global market leader in tunnel boring machines (TBMs) across transportation, utility, and mining applications. Comparable as the incumbent whose installed base and contractor relationships EarthGrid must displace with its plasma platform.
- Vermeer Corporation: Manufacturer of trenching, horizontal directional drilling, and underground installation equipment widely used by utility contractors. Comparable as an established provider of underground utility installation technology and a likely competitor in EarthGrid's trenching use cases.
- Ditch Witch (The Charles Machine Works): Long-established manufacturer of trenchers, vibratory plows, and HDD equipment for utility installation. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in the underground utility equipment market that EarthGrid's PES must compete against for contractor adoption.
- Robbins Company: Manufacturer of tunnel boring machines and raise bore equipment for hard rock and soft ground applications with a global installed base. Comparable as an incumbent TBM supplier whose proven track record sets the procurement standard EarthGrid must meet.
- Quanta Services: Largest specialty contractor for electric power, oil & gas, and telecom infrastructure in North America. Comparable as the dominant utility construction EPC that ultimately decides whether to deploy EarthGrid's plasma technology or its own internal fleet on undergrounding projects.
- MasTec: Major infrastructure construction contractor serving utilities, communications, oil & gas, and clean energy. Comparable as a large-scale utility EPC that is a potential customer, partner, or competitor depending on whether it in-sources or outsources plasma-based excavation.
- Tracto-Technik: German manufacturer of trenchless technology including HDD rigs, guided boring, and pipe installation equipment. Comparable as an established underground utility equipment vendor competing for the same contractor procurement budgets as EarthGrid's plasma system.
Emerging players
- HyperTunnel: UK-based startup developing swarm-robotic, additive-manufacturing methods for tunnel construction. Comparable as an emerging technology challenger to traditional TBMs targeting cost and speed disruption in underground infrastructure.
- Petra: Robotics company using AI-guided boring robots for hard rock utility installation (water, gas, electric). Comparable as a venture-backed emerging player using novel technology to disrupt utility trenching economics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EarthGrid PBC social profiles
Digital presenceEarthGrid PBC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
EarthGrid PBC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EarthGrid PBC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
EarthGrid PBC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EarthGrid PBC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EarthGrid PBC
What does EarthGrid PBC do?
EarthGrid PBC provides plasma-powered tunnel-boring and trenching services that excavate hard rock through thermal shock spallation, eliminating the need for drilling chemicals. The company operates as a registered utility with CPCN status in 46 states, enabling direct deployment of underground infrastructure for power transmission, fiber optics, pipelines, water/wastewater, and transportation tunnels for utilities, telecom providers, clean energy companies, and government entities.
Is EarthGrid PBC a public or private company?
EarthGrid PBC is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was EarthGrid PBC founded?
EarthGrid PBC was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EarthGrid PBC based?
EarthGrid PBC is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does EarthGrid PBC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Plasma Excavation Services are the primary driver. The others are infrastructure Installation.
Who are EarthGrid PBC's main competitors?
The Boring Company is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Herrenknecht, Vermeer Corporation, Ditch Witch (The Charles Machine Works), Robbins Company, Quanta Services, MasTec and Tracto-Technik. Emerging players are HyperTunnel and Petra.
Does EarthGrid PBC have an API?
No public API is recorded for EarthGrid PBC.