Across the U.S., millions of trees meet their end every year—whether through storms, disease, or city development. Surprisingly, most of that fallen timber ends up as waste. About 18.1 million tons of wood are discarded annually, often burned or sent to landfills, contributing to unnecessary carbon emissions.
While many startups chase the next big AI breakthrough, one Baltimore-based company, Cambium, is quietly tackling a real-world problem—wasted wood. Their mission? Transforming fallen trees into a valuable resource and creating a circular economy around discarded timber.
Where Timber Meets Tech: Cambium’s Innovative Approach
Instead of focusing on digital solutions, Cambium is rooted in the physical world. The startup has developed a technology-driven platform designed to track, recycle, and reintroduce salvaged wood back into the market. Dubbed “where timber meets tech,” Cambium’s system connects tree care services, truckers, sawmills, and major buyers in one seamless network.
For Cambium’s CEO Ben Christensen, the mission is personal. Growing up in rural New Mexico, he was surrounded by woodworking and a deep respect for nature. This early exposure inspired his commitment to sustainable wood usage and sparked his passion for solving the wood waste problem.
“I’ve always been aware of how much value we waste when trees fall and get discarded,” Christensen shared. “Cambium is about fixing that—making it easy for industries to source sustainable, repurposed wood.”
Sustainable Wood at Your Fingertips
Cambium’s platform stands out with its “carbon smart” wood tracking system. Every piece of recycled wood comes with a barcode. With a simple scan through Cambium’s app, businesses can access details like the wood species, milling date, and grade. This level of transparency eliminates guesswork, helping companies choose sustainable materials with confidence.
But Cambium’s impact goes beyond tracking. The startup is solving the biggest hurdle in wood recycling—the fragmented supply chain. By coordinating transportation and sourcing, Cambium ensures salvaged wood flows smoothly from tree care teams to sawmills and ultimately into homes, offices, and construction sites.
“We streamline logistics—helping truckers fill their loads, guiding sawmills on material sourcing, and connecting businesses ready to buy,” Christensen explained. Notable brands like Amazon, CBRE, Gensler, and Room & Board are already tapping into Cambium’s network.
Scaling an Untapped Industry with Investor Backing
Local wood recyclers have been around for years, but no one has solved this issue at scale—until now. Cambium’s vision is bold: create a national, and eventually global, system for wood recycling. And investors are betting big on this opportunity.
Cambium recently secured $28.5 million in funding from investors like Volo Earth Ventures, NEA, and Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund. The startup’s growth is fueled by surging demand for reclaimed wood, with Christensen estimating that salvaged timber could supply nearly half of the U.S.’s total wood demand if fully optimized.
“Our revenue doubled last year, driven largely by our software business,” Christensen said. “What excites Silicon Valley isn’t just the wood—it’s the software powering the process.”
Adrian Fenty, founding managing partner at MaC Venture Capital, echoed that sentiment: “We’re not just looking to fund a wood company. We’re investing in software that has the potential to scale into a billion-dollar business.”
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the momentum, Cambium faces industry headwinds. Trade policies, especially tariffs on Canadian lumber, complicate cross-border operations, particularly in the Northeast.
“We’re often moving materials just 10 or 20 miles across the border, but tariffs impact how efficiently that happens,” Christensen noted.
Still, the startup remains focused on its long-term goal: using technology to overhaul how America handles wood waste. By building a transparent, efficient supply chain, Cambium aims to turn discarded trees into a thriving, sustainable industry.
