Detroit startup Grounded secures $5 million to expand modular fleet

The capital injection, backed by Also Capital, The 81 Collection, Animal Capital, and the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, coincides with the launch of a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing hub in Detroit. Production at the site begins this month, with plans to scale operations significantly throughout the coming year. This facility marks a departure from the company’s initial constraints, allowing Grounded to install its proprietary modular workspaces onto a wider variety of chassis, including the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Founder and CEO Sam Shapiro re-positioned the company following the discontinuation of General Motors’ BrightDrop and shifting market sentiment toward EVs. By embracing gas-powered vehicles, the startup now services a broader range of clients, from major corporations like Colgate and Nokia to public safety and medical institutions. Rather than identifying as an automotive manufacturer, Shapiro frames Grounded as a provider of the "application layer"—the connected power systems, software, and interior environments that transform standard vans into mobile command centers, healthcare clinics, or specialized workspaces.