Climate impact startup tackles the construction waste crisis with innovative AI-driven solutions, turning wood waste into renewable energy and reducing landfill dependency

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Woodchuck, a climate impact startup transforming waste into energy with advanced AI, today announced it has raised $3.75 million in seed funding led by an investor syndicate headed by Mason Fink. Additional partners include NorthStar Clean Energy, a CMS Energy company, Alloy Partners (formerly High Alpha Innovation) and Beckett Industries.

“Woodchuck represents a transformative platform at the intersection of sustainability and energy innovation”Share

“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,” said Todd Thomas, Founder and CEO of Woodchuck. “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.”

Celebrating Momentum with Leaders Across Michigan

To mark its official launch, Woodchuck hosted a grand opening event at its headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, attended by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, local officials, business leaders, and sustainability advocates. The event highlighted Michigan’s growing leadership in clean energy innovation and showcased how public-private collaboration can drive progress toward climate goals. Governor Whitmer praised Woodchuck’s AI-driven technology as an example of the kind of ingenuity Michigan needs to lead the nation in clean manufacturing and sustainable infrastructure.

“Thank you Todd, for the work you are doing,” said Governor Whitmer. “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.”

Woodchuck has also been actively supporting disaster recovery efforts after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan, leaving behind extensive wood debris. The company is working with local municipalities and cleanup crews to safely and efficiently divert thousands of pounds of fallen timber and storm-damaged wood away from landfills and into biomass processing. By turning storm debris into renewable energy, Woodchuck is demonstrating how climate resilience and sustainable innovation go hand in hand.

Addressing the Construction Waste Crisis

The U.S. construction industry generates over 41 million tons of wood waste annually, the majority of which ends up in landfills. This represents not only a significant environmental challenge but also a missed opportunity to repurpose valuable resources. Woodchuck’s platform leverages cutting-edge AI to identify, sort, and process wood waste, diverting it from landfills and converting it into high-quality biomass. By doing so, the company provides a sustainable energy solution while helping construction and manufacturing companies reduce waste-hauling costs by up to 30%.

“Big national construction companies are under increasing pressure to provide sustainable solutions to their clients,” Thomas explained. “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.”

Revolutionizing Biomass with AI

Woodchuck’s proprietary AI platform integrates advanced image recognition to improve the efficiency and quality of biomass processing. This innovation reduces costs, enhances biomass quality, and allows for broader applications of the resulting product in renewable energy generation. The company’s solution not only addresses waste reduction but also ensures a reliable, high-energy feedstock for bioenergy producers.

“The woodchuck.ai platform is our secret sauce,” said Thomas. “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.”

Scaling the Solution and a Strategic Partnership with Energy Leaders

As the demand for clean energy grows, Woodchuck is committed to scaling its operations to meet the needs of construction, manufacturing, and energy industries. By addressing two critical problems—construction waste and renewable energy demand—Woodchuck provides a dual-purpose solution that benefits the environment, energy producers, and businesses alike.

“Woodchuck represents a transformative platform at the intersection of sustainability and energy innovation,” said Mason Fink, head of the investor syndicate. “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.”

Woodchuck’s collaboration with NorthStar Clean Energy and CMS Energy highlights its potential for large-scale impact. By supplying biomass to CMS Energy’s facilities in Michigan, Woodchuck is helping address the intermittency challenges of solar and wind energy, providing a reliable baseload energy source while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

“With Bioenergy with carbon removal and storage (BiCRS), the quality of the biomass supply is critical,” said Brian Hartmann, President of NorthStar Clean Energy. “Woodchuck’s AI-driven approach ensures the highest quality feedstock, allowing us to advance decarbonization efforts and deliver sustainable energy solutions.”

Woodchuck was launched in September 2024 and established its global headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

About Woodchuck.AI

Woodchuck is a climate impact start-up dedicated to empowering contractors, manufacturers, and biomass energy producers by streamlining wood waste diversion and processing. We are committed to leveraging advanced AI technologies to transform waste into valuable resources, reduce landfill usage, and provide a steady, sustainable supply of biomass. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Woodchuck is funded by an investor syndicate led by Mason Fink, Beckett Industries, NorthStar Clean Energy and High Alpha Innovation. For more information, visit https://woodchuck.ai/.

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