# Graham Rihn

> Graham Rihn is the founder and CEO of RoadRunner, a Pittsburgh-based company that uses data and AI to modernize commercial waste and recycling. A Cornell economics grad and former college linebacker who grew up in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, Rihn started RoadRunner in New York City in 2014 after watching garbage pile up on Manhattan streets and asking why an $85 billion industry had skipped the technology revolution. He moved the company to his hometown of Pittsburgh in 2017 and grew it from roughly 30 people in three cities to more than 500 employees serving over 12,000 customers nationwide, raising more than $150 million along the way, including a $70 million Series D led by General Atlantic.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at RoadRunner
- **Organizations:** RoadRunner (RoadRunner Modern Waste and Recycling)
- **From:** Allison Park, Pennsylvania, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, High school diploma, Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh)
- **Known for:** Founded and scaled RoadRunner from roughly 30 employees in three cities to more than 500 employees serving over 12,000 customers nationwide., Raised more than $150 million in venture funding, including a $70 million Series D led by General Atlantic., Helped divert approximately 1 million tons of recyclables from landfills.

## Career timeline

- **2009** — Graduates from Cornell University with a degree in applied economics and management, having played linebacker for the football team.
- **2009-2014** — Works in utilities and data analysis in Washington, D.C., managing building systems and getting exposed to the inefficiencies of the waste industry.
- **2014** — Founds RoadRunner as a startup in New York City after watching garbage accumulate on Manhattan streets.
- **2017** — Relocates RoadRunner's headquarters to his hometown of Pittsburgh.
- **2020** — Raises a $28.6 million funding round to fuel expansion despite the pandemic.
- **2022** — Closes a $70 million Series D round led by General Atlantic; company operates in 18 cities with plans to expand.

## Achievements

- Founded and scaled RoadRunner from roughly 30 employees in three cities to more than 500 employees serving over 12,000 customers nationwide.
- Raised more than $150 million in venture funding, including a $70 million Series D led by General Atlantic.
- Helped divert approximately 1 million tons of recyclables from landfills.
- Reported avoiding roughly 3.45 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Developed Clean Stream Recycling, separating recyclables by category to cut contamination, lower customer waste costs 10-15%, and triple recycling rates.
- Pioneered AI-enabled contamination-recognition technology to flag materials that shouldn't be in recycling containers.

## Latest updates

- **2022-11** — RoadRunner raised a $70 million Series D round led by General Atlantic, operating in 18 cities with plans to expand to roughly 20 more.
- **2023-12** — Featured in Smart Business Network on how his obsession with waste reduction drives RoadRunner's growth.

## Links

- Website: https://roadrunnerwm.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamrihn
- Twitter/X: http://twitter.com/RoadRunnerWM
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roadrunnerrecycling

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/graham-rihn
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-12