Woodchuck, the AI-powered climate-tech startup transforming construction waste management, has secured a growth investment from Michigan Rise, a venture investment arm of the MSU Research Foundation. The funding will accelerate Woodchuck’s national expansion, supporting the deployment of its AI-driven sorting technology, smart containers, and renewable biomass processing infrastructure across the United States. Since its founding, Woodchuck has diverted over 13,000 tons of wood waste from landfills, helped contractors reduce waste-hauling costs by 30% to 40%, and supplied clean biomass to regional power producers. The company’s platform is already in use with major industry players including Walbridge, Barton Malow, Ford, Amazon, and leading data-center builders. Michigan Rise was drawn to Woodchuck’s ability to tackle one of the largest yet under-addressed environmental challenges in the construction sector—scaling waste diversion at the job site level. Calvin VanderWal, a venture associate at the MSU Research Foundation, praised the company’s execution speed and strategic focus, noting that Woodchuck is not just solving a waste problem but creating a competitive advantage for builders. The investment will enable Woodchuck to expand beyond its current Great Lakes base into high-growth regions such as those focused on EV battery manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication, and data-center construction. These sectors face rising landfill fees, stricter diversion regulations, and increasing demands for transparent carbon reporting—making AI-powered waste solutions essential. With the new funding, Woodchuck will: Expand its AI image-recognition and contamination-prevention systems, which have already increased wood waste diversion rates from below 30% to over 95% by identifying non-recyclable materials before they enter the waste stream. Build additional on-site processing hubs to convert wood debris into energy-ready biomass directly at or near large job sites, cutting down on transportation, fuel use, and project emissions. Strengthen its renewable biomass supply chain, providing utilities and industrial energy users with consistent, carbon-accounted feedstock to replace fossil fuels. Enhance its real-time reporting and analytics platform, giving contractors instant access to data on diversion rates, contamination events, and carbon impact—key for meeting LEED, ESG, federal contracting, and client sustainability requirements. Todd Thomas, CEO of Woodchuck, said the investment and partnership with the MSU Research Foundation are critical to scaling a model that turns waste into a valuable resource. “Contractors are under pressure to cut costs, meet diversion targets, and report carbon impact accurately,” he said. “Our AI handles all of this right on the job site, not in a distant facility. This is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity.” Thomas emphasized that the surge in data-center and industrial megaprojects, all with strict sustainability mandates, is driving demand for solutions like Woodchuck’s. “We’re at a turning point where AI-driven waste diversion will become standard across the industry,” he said. “With support from the MSU Research Foundation, we’re moving faster to make that a reality.” Woodchuck’s platform not only reduces landfill use but also generates measurable environmental benefits, including BTU output and carbon avoided, which are reported back to clients. The company, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is backed by a syndicate of investors including Mason Fink, Beckett Industries, NorthStar Clean Energy, and Alloy Partners. For more information, visit woodchuck.ai. The MSU Research Foundation supports innovation through grant programs, early-stage investments, and entrepreneurial initiatives, contributing over $15 million annually to Michigan State University and helping startups grow across the state. More information is available at msufoundation.org.