# Petra

> Petra was a San Francisco utility-construction technology company that developed non-contact thermal rock boring and the modular Petra Platform for changing ground conditions. Founded in 2018 by Kim Abrams and Shivani Torres, it combined research, manufacturing and trenchless construction services. It wound down in 2024; equipment and intellectual property were acquired by EarthGrid and, separately, former CTO Roberto Zillante for Phoenix Boring.

- **Founded:** 2018
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Founders:** Kim Abrams (Co-founder and CEO (historical)), Shivani Torres (Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (historical))
- **Products:** Swifty, Petra Platform Ai1, Jet Bore, Assisted Dynamic Boring, Trenchless construction services
- **Notable:** Reported a 20-foot Sioux quartzite demonstration bore at an average one inch per minute in 2021., Reported earlier platform prototypes deployed on 28 Latin American crossings by April 2023., Launched the six-module Petra Platform in April 2023.

## Products & services

- **Swifty** — Semi-autonomous non-contact thermal rock-boring robot demonstrated in 2021 in a 20-foot Sioux quartzite bore; the 2021 announcement described a 20-60 inch diameter capability.
- **Petra Platform Ai1** — Hybrid-powered trenchless platform launched in April 2023, combining piloting, auger/guided boring, assisted dynamic boring, pilot pullback, static pipe bursting and jet boring modules.
- **Jet Bore** — Non-contact rock-excavation module using thermal spallation for strong, abrasive rock; long-distance capability remained in development in 2023.
- **Assisted Dynamic Boring** — Zilper-origin method combining hydraulic jacking and ramming to install casing in difficult and unstable ground.
- **Trenchless construction services** — Technology-enabled installation and rehabilitation of underground utilities for contractors and project owners, integrating R&D and manufacturing with field operations.

## Achievements

- Reported a 20-foot Sioux quartzite demonstration bore at an average one inch per minute in 2021.
- Reported earlier platform prototypes deployed on 28 Latin American crossings by April 2023.
- Launched the six-module Petra Platform in April 2023.
- Won the 2023 ISTT No-Dig Award in the New Technology category for the Petra Platform.

## Latest updates

- **2024-10** — San Francisco Business Times reported that Petra had shut down after failing to raise new funding and sold assets to EarthGrid. EarthGrid later confirmed equipment and shared-patent purchases in an SEC-filed biography.
- **—** — Phoenix Boring’s public founding account says Roberto Zillante bought two Multi-Platform ADB48 machines after Petra’s 2024 wind-down, completed a 500-foot PG&E gas-pipeline job, then acquired additional relevant IP and hard assets with investor support.
- **2023-11** — Industry coverage of the No-Dig Award described Jet Boring as still in development and undergoing longer granite test bores.
- **2023-04** — Petra announced the Petra Platform launch and an upstate New York deployment in waterlogged clay.

## Links

- Website: https://www.petra.cc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/petraundergrounding/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/petratunneling

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/petra
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-01