Woodchuck, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based climate tech startup focused on diverting wood waste from construction and manufacturing sites, has secured a growth round investment from Michigan Rise, a venture investment subsidiary of the MSU Research Foundation, to support the company’s expansion across the United States.
The company said the funding will help it scale its AI-enabled sorting and contamination prevention technology, expand deployment of its smart job-site containers, and grow its renewable biomass processing footprint as contractors face higher landfill fees, tighter diversion mandates, and rising demand for verifiable carbon reporting on large projects. Woodchuck positions its platform to treat wood debris as an energy and data asset rather than a disposal cost, converting the material into biomass feedstock and providing standardized reporting on diversion performance, contamination events, and carbon impact.
Woodchuck has already diverted more than 13,000 tons of wood waste from landfills, helping contractors reduce waste-hauling costs by 30% to 40% while supplying clean biomass energy to regional power producers. The company’s containers, contamination controls, and processing operations are currently used with contractors and organizations, including Walbridge, Barton Malow, Ford, Amazon, and significant data center builders, according to the announcement.
Michigan Rise said it was attracted to Woodchuck’s approach to construction waste, describing the category as a significant and often overlooked materials challenge within the climate sector. The investment also reflects Woodchuck’s decision to establish its base in Grand Rapids, with the MSU Research Foundation affiliation now serving as part of the company’s capital and scaling strategy.
Woodchuck said it plans to use the new investment to expand beyond the Great Lakes into major national markets, including regions seeing rapid growth in EV battery manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, and hyperscale data center construction. The company also plans to accelerate development of its AI image recognition and contamination prevention systems, which it says can raise diversion performance from below 30% to above 95% by identifying unusable materials before they enter the waste stream. In addition, Woodchuck said it will build more on-site processing hubs designed for large job sites, enabling wood waste to be converted into consistent biomass closer to where it is generated, cutting hauling frequency, fuel consumption, and site congestion.
The company also aims to strengthen biomass supply chains for utilities and industrial energy users seeking carbon-accounted feedstock, using Woodchuck’s standardized measurements for energy output and emissions impact. Woodchuck said it will further enhance its real-time reporting and analytics tools to support contractor and developer requirements tied to LEED, corporate ESG programs, federal contracting expectations, and client sustainability targets.
Woodchuck is backed by an investor syndicate led by Mason Fink, Beckett Industries, NorthStar Clean Energy, and Alloy Partners, according to the company.
KEY QUOTES:
“What impressed us is how quickly Woodchuck is executing on an idea that reframes construction waste. Todd and his team are moving with urgency, and their model is already being shaped by feedback from multiple flagship partners. They’ve paired that momentum with strong co-investors and a deliberate decision to put down roots in Grand Rapids. It’s a compelling combination that positions them to scale a new standard for how waste can be managed and monetized.”
“We think Woodchuck represents the future of job-site operations. It’s rare to find a company that is simultaneously reducing emissions, lowering costs, and building critical renewable-energy infrastructure.”
Calvin VanderWal, Venture Associate, MSU Research Foundation
“This funding allows us to scale exactly where the market is demanding it most. Contractors are under pressure to cut costs, hit diversion targets, and report carbon impact with accuracy. Our AI solves those problems right on the job site, not in some distant facility. The Michigan Rise venture investment team immediately understood that Woodchuck is not just a waste solution—we’re a competitive advantage for builders.”
“We’re entering a moment where every major contractor is rethinking how they handle materials. AI-driven diversion will become standard across the industry—and support from the MSU Research Foundation venture team is helping us get there faster.”
Todd Thomas, CEO, Woodchuck
