Woodchuck, a startup utilizing AI technology to convert waste into energy, has secured $3.75 million in seed funding, led by Mason Fink and other investors, including NorthStar Clean Energy, CMS Energy, Alloy Partners, and Beckett Industries.
To celebrate its official launch, Woodchuck held an event at its Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters, attended by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, local officials, business leaders, and sustainability advocates. The event highlighted Michigan’s role in clean energy innovation and public-private collaboration for climate goals. Governor Whitmer praised Woodchuck’s AI-driven technology as a key example of Michigan’s potential in clean manufacturing and sustainable infrastructure.
Woodchuck is also supporting disaster recovery efforts in northern Michigan following an ice storm by diverting wood debris from landfills into biomass processing. This initiative showcases Woodchuck’s technology in climate resilience and sustainable innovation.
The U.S. construction industry generates over 41 million tons of wood waste annually, most of which ends up in landfills. Woodchuck’s platform uses AI to identify, sort, and process wood waste, turning it into biomass. This solution can reduce companies’ waste-hauling costs by up to 30%.
Woodchuck’s AI platform features advanced image recognition, enhancing biomass processing efficiency and quality while reducing costs and improving renewable energy generation.
Woodchuck’s partnership with NorthStar Clean Energy and CMS Energy promises a significant impact. By providing biomass to CMS Energy’s facilities, Woodchuck helps address the challenges of solar and wind energy intermittency and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
How the funding will be used: Woodchuck plans to expand its operations to serve the construction, manufacturing, and energy industries. Their solution tackles construction waste and renewable energy needs, benefiting the environment, energy producers, and businesses.
KEY QUOTES:
“With this funding, we are accelerating our mission to help manufacturers and construction companies reduce waste, reduce costs, and contribute to the clean energy grid. Every year, millions of tons of construction waste—much of it wood—are sent to landfills. Our AI technology allows us to extract value from this waste, turning it into clean energy and enabling our clients to achieve their sustainability goals.”
“Big national construction companies are under increasing pressure to provide sustainable solutions to their clients. Our platform doesn’t just reduce waste—it validates and tracks every step of the process, giving clients a detailed report of the materials diverted, CO2 avoided, and BTUs of clean energy produced. This transparency has been a game-changer for companies aiming to meet sustainability requirements.”
“The woodchuck.ai platform is our secret sauce. The waste hauling and material processing sectors have traditionally lacked innovation. By using AI, we produce superior biomass while significantly lowering costs, making our solution accessible and scalable for businesses of all sizes.”
Todd Thomas, Founder and CEO of Woodchuck
“Thank you Todd, for the work you are doing. We’re proving that sustainability and strong economic growth can go hand in hand. We don’t have to choose between what’s right for the environment and what’s good for our communities. We can and must do both. And I think this is an example that we are up to the task in creating opportunity in the process.”
Governor Whitmer
“Woodchuck represents a transformative platform at the intersection of sustainability and energy innovation. Their ability to convert waste into renewable energy or recycled content is not only solving environmental challenges but also setting a new standard for tech-enabled sustainability. We’re proud to partner with them as they redefine waste diversion and renewable energy.”
Mason Fink, head of the investor syndicate
“With Bioenergy with carbon removal and storage (BiCRS), the quality of the biomass supply is critical. Woodchuck’s AI-driven approach ensures the highest quality feedstock, allowing us to advance decarbonization efforts and deliver sustainable energy solutions.”
Brian Hartmann, President of NorthStar Clean Energy
