Rubicon Technology

Rubicon was founded in Kentucky in 2008 by Nate Morris and Marc Spiegel who were friends from Eastern High School in Louisville. Spiegel's family had been in the waste and recycling hauling trade for more than a century; his knowledge piqued Morris's interest in starting a company that could be effective in changing waste industry. Morris maxed out personal credit cards and sold items on eBay to fund initial expenses, like a website and basic legal work. Rubicon became a public company, listing on the New York Stock Exchange as RBT in August of 2022.

Funding

In the summer of 2012, Rubicon received $5 million in its first financing round. Investors included Rotunda Capital Partners, Richmond Global, C.M. "Bill" Gatton, and Joel Moxley.In January 2015, Rubicon raised $30 million in a second round of financing. Investors included Barry Sternlicht, Brad M. Kelley, Marc Benioff, and Fifth Third Bank. In September 2015, Rubicon raised $57 million in a third round of financing. The round was led by Nima Capital. Investors included Leonardo DiCaprio, Henry Kravis, Paul Tudor Jones, Goldman Sachs, and Wellington Management.Forbes reported in January 2017 that Rubicon had raised an additional $50 million in funding, bringing its valuation to $800 million. French-based multi-national company Suez led the financing round which raised a total of $75 million. In September 2017, Forbes reported that Rubicon had raised an additional $50 million from Promecap, the Mexico-based investment firm led by Fernando Chico Pardo, a long-time associate of Carlos Slim. The funding put the company's valuation at more than $1 billion. Recode reported in May 2018 that Rubicon had received $65 million in funding from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.