Sustainable Rice Platform Rize Secures $31 Million to Expand Climate-Smart Farming in Southeast Asia

Rize, a sustainable rice platform co-founded by Bengaluru entrepreneur Dhruv Sawhney, has announced the successful closure of a $31 million Series B funding round. The round, announced on July 16, consists of $20 million in equity and $11 million in debt financing.

The funding brings together a coalition of climate-focused and development finance investors, aiming to scale Rize's model across Vietnam, Indonesia, and the wider Southeast Asian region. This latest raise brings Rize's total funding to $47 million, which will be allocated to export expansion, AI-powered tools for farmers and field teams, carbon and innovation initiatives, and organizational growth. The company reports that it has scaled operations more than tenfold since its Series A two years ago.

The equity portion was led by BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts, with participation from The Rockefeller Foundation, and renewed commitments from existing investors Temasek and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The debt financing is provided by BIDV, Temasek Foundation, and UOB.

“Our platform and approach for transforming and modernising rice cultivation by smallholder farmers is receiving strong support from investors, partners, and farmers. The Rize team has integrated positive climate impact and improved farmer resilience into the foundation of our solutions,” said Dhruv Sawhney, co-founder and CEO of Rize.

He added that this investment will enable the platform to unlock the next phase of growth by expanding scale, investing in market linkages and exports, and deploying cutting-edge technologies to improve decision-making, productivity, and outcomes across the value chain. “This is more than just a funding milestone. It is recognition of the foundation Rize has built, and a clear signal that we are ready to create a more connected, resilient, and sustainable food system for smallholder farmers.”

Rice cultivation contributes approximately 12% of global methane emissions, a climate footprint comparable to the entire aviation industry. Addressing this challenge requires changing how millions of smallholder farmers grow rice. Rize claims to have addressed this through Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), an irrigation method endorsed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and CGIAR. According to the company, AWD reduces methane emissions by up to 50%, cuts water consumption by 20–30%, and increases farmer income by up to 30% without reducing yield.

The platform also ensures its rice meets Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) standards required by premium export markets. Rize was founded in late 2022 from a shared vision between Temasek, 100x100, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, with 100x100 playing a key role in the early-stage development. The company now works with 17,000 smallholder farmers across over 50,000 hectares in Vietnam and Indonesia, employing a team of 250 people across technology, agronomy, and field operations.