Woodchuck receives growth investment for AI-powered construction waste diversion

Woodchuck, an artificial intelligence- (AI-) powered climate technology startup, has received a growth-round investment from Michigan Rise, a venture investment subsidiary of the Michigan State University Research Foundation in East Lansing, Michigan, to accelerate its expansion across the U.S.

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Woodchuck says it has diverted more than 13,000 tons of wood waste from landfills, saved contractors an estimated 30-40 percent on waste-hauling costs and delivered clean biomass energy to regional power producers. The company specializes in AI-enabled smart containers, contamination-prevention tools and processing sites that are now deployed with contractors including Walbridge, Barton Malow, Ford, Amazon and data center builders.

“What impressed us is how quickly Woodchuck is executing on an idea that reframes construction waste,” says Calvin VanderWal, a venture associate at the MSU Research Foundation. “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.”

The new investment is expected to aid in Woodchuck’s expansion from the Great Lakes region into national markets, including hubs for electric vehicle battery manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication and data-center construction.

According to Woodchuck, the investment will also serve to accelerate the development of its AI image-recognition and contamination-prevention systems; build additional on-site processing hubs for large multidimensional job sites; strengthen renewable biomass supply chains for utilities and industrial energy users; and enhance its real-time reporting and analytics capabilities.

“This funding allows us to scale exactly where the market is demanding it most,” Woodchuck CEO Todd Thomas says. “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.”