Participated · Equity · Jul 2026

Founded in 2024 and based in Chicago, Rise Reforming develops a three-step, patented process that converts residual biogas into syngas and then into liquid chemicals including dimethyl ether (DME), methanol and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The company reports over 1,800 hours of stable syngas production in tests and has built commercial momentum with supply agreements and offtake LOIs for its products. With a four-person team, Rise prioritizes a modular, container-sized unit design that is deployed on-site to avoid transportation costs and simplify logistics. Rise has broken ground on a pilot at a Chicagoland wastewater treatment plant, slated as the first biogas-to-methanol demonstration in the Americas with expected operation in 2027. The startup’s investor base includes Y Combinator, 776 Foundation, LongJump VC and University of Chicago-affiliated backers, and it lists support from the U.S. Department of Energy.