Woodchuck, a climate-tech firm based in Grand Rapids, has received a strategic growth investment from Michigan Rise to expand its footprint. The company is tackling a major industry challenge by applying artificial intelligence to the management of construction debris.
Using computer vision and smart containers, Woodchuck’s platform identifies and isolates wood scraps on active job sites. This precision prevents cross-contamination, allowing the recovered material to be processed into clean biomass fuel instead of occupying landfill space. The system turns what was once a sunk cost into a sustainable energy resource.
The new capital will support Woodchuck’s expansion into key U.S. markets, specifically aiming at large-scale developments like data centers, semiconductor plants, and electric vehicle battery factories. By converting waste into energy and providing detailed sustainability data, the company helps contractors reduce disposal costs by nearly 40% while significantly improving their environmental profile. To date, the platform has successfully diverted over 13,000 tons of material from landfills.
