Funding · Agriculture & Food Systems

Rize raises $31m in Series B round

By Startup Enthusiast · 16 July 2026

What they do

Rize helps smallholder farmers grow rice sustainably, cutting methane and water use

It raised $31m ($20m equity + $11m debt) led by BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts

The company has grown tenfold since its Series A and plans to enter India

Rize raised $31 million in a Series B round.
The round includes $20 million in equity and $11 million in debt.
The equity was led by BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts.
Participants in the equity round were The Rockefeller Foundation, Temasek, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
Debt was provided by United Overseas Bank, BIDV, and Temasek Foundation.
The company will use the funds to expand exports, improve farm-to-buyer traceability, and develop AI tools for farmers.
It also plans to support carbon-certification and innovation projects.
Rize aims to deepen its presence in Vietnam and Indonesia and is shortlisting India as a new market.

Rice fields are a major source of methane due to flooded soil creating low-oxygen conditions.
Rize promotes Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation, which can cut methane emissions by 30-70% and water use by up to 30% without lowering yields, according to the International Rice Research Institute.
The company claims AWD can reduce methane by up to 50%, water by 20-30%, and increase farmer incomes by up to 30%.
Rize's operations have grown more than tenfold in two years since its Series A.

Rize focuses on sustainable rice cultivation, improving yields and reducing emissions through technology-driven practices.
It works with about 17,000 smallholder farmers across 50,000+ hectares in Vietnam and Indonesia.
The company promotes Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation, which involves periodic draining and reflooding of rice fields.
It helps farmers meet maximum residue limits for pesticides and chemicals required by export markets.
Rize has a team of 250 people in technology, agronomy, and field operations.
Its target by 2030 is to operate over 300,000 hectares and reach 150,000+ smallholder farmers.

BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts (lead) — An asset management arm of BNP Paribas, focusing on alternative investments.
The Rockefeller Foundation (participated) — A philanthropic foundation that supports sustainable development.
Temasek (participated) — A Singaporean investment company.
Breakthrough Energy Ventures (participated) — A climate-tech venture fund founded by Bill Gates.
United Overseas Bank (debt provider) — A Singapore-based bank.
BIDV (debt provider) — A Vietnamese bank.
Temasek Foundation (debt provider) — A philanthropic arm of Temasek.

Product: Technology platform and support services for sustainable rice cultivation with reduced emissions through alternate wetting and drying practices
Customers: Rice farmers in Southeast Asia seeking improved yields and reduced environmental impact
How it makes money: B2B2C technology platform providing farming services with traceability and carbon credit monetization
What sets it apart: Focus on low-emission rice farming with AI tools for farmers and field teams, carbon certification, and traceability between farms and buyers
Operations: Headquarters in Bengaluru with operations in Vietnam and Indonesia