A Moment To Restore
New York Climate Week, and our first-ever biodiversity summit
🪸 We’re Superorganism, the first VC for startups that benefit biodiversity. Each month we publish thoughts from the frontline, company updates, and a round-up of new happenings in the nature tech world.
Well, we survived New York Climate Week.
Every September, Climate Week is a free-for-all of networking, events, and chronic sleep deprivation. Deals get done, partnerships solidify, and we get to see collaborators from all over the world. This year, we played our part in contributing to the chaos:
With Nature 4 Climate, the Nature Tech Collective, Climate Collective, KPMG, and Space Intelligence, we hosted a nature tech happy hour that ran much more than an hour.
With our friends at Planeteer Capital, we hosted a “Birding and Bagels Bonanza,” which included several “celebrity birders” in the NYC birding community. You can see the complete eBird list here with 43 species observed including ovenbirds, a scarlet tanager, and of course the notorious rock dove (AKA pigeon).
With Regeneration VC, we spoke at ReAssembly about different financing approaches for biodiversity.
At Newlab’s New Climate Futures, we compared strategies with nature-based solutions investor Quique Riancho.
At the Nature Positive Hub, we highlighted four nature-positive collaborations between businesses like Salesforce and startups like NatureMetrics.
With Ethic and Spotify, we hosted the Nightcap for Nature to close out the week.
While we didn’t get much sleep, NY Climate Week is always a great time to take the pulse of the movement. One big takeaway this year: the nature tech category is accelerating. Multiple nature tech events occurred at the same time, all with oversubscribed attendee lists (if we couldn’t fit you, we sincerely apologize! Fire codes are indifferent to growing new categories). We spoke with successful serial entrepreneurs, looking to make nature their next chapter. And once again, the Nature Positive Hub was New York’s hottest club. Eric Wilburn went so far as to argue we should rename Climate Week to Earth Week (we agree).
As nature tech takes off, we need many backgrounds, viewpoints, skill sets, and networks to solve the biodiversity crisis. We need to bring more rooms together where conservationists, founders (both new and scaled), investors, technologists, and more can learn from each other. Over and over from our community, we’ve heard that this is one of the key things that helps accelerate their work.
So this year for the first time, we hosted a close-knit, curated group of founders, collaborators, and friends for a one-day summit we called Superorganism Restore.
With Restore, we pursued three key focuses: restoring nature, restoring our relationship with nature, and importantly, restoring ourselves. After a week of sitting and listening, we optimized Restore for collaborating with friends. Like mycorrhizal networks, we aimed to forge new connections throughout our community, and give space for new insights to emerge from the expertise of the assembled group. To round out the day, we set sail on the Hudson to reconnect with nature.
Throughout the day we heard from our portfolio companies, scaled science founders, corporates leading on regeneration, pioneering family offices, and conservationists using innovation in the world’s most challenging environments. Through it all, we explored several broader themes: technology, business, and the broader ecosystem.
Technology
To save nature and preserve the future wellbeing of humanity, we need to shift the balance of our economy away from extractive practices that have fueled economic growth for the past century. Fortunately, new technologies are providing endless opportunities to disrupt and transition these historically harmful industries.
During the summit, we spotlighted some tech topics that will be critical to scaling restoration and preventing biodiversity loss.
Nature, data, and AI. For all that AI was discussed during NYCW, a central bottleneck is still the abundance and reliability of nature data for training purposes. In corporate supply chains, the lack of robust, consistent biodiversity data remains a gap for companies to meet EUDR or CSRD requirements. Still, the application of AI with existing data is driving exciting new use cases for business and conservation alike. Thanks to Birdcast’s Andrew Farnsworth and Cecil’s Alex Logan for facilitating.
The hard thing about hardware. Some nature solutions simply require hardware. Fortunately, the past decade has seen a steep drop in cost for the hardware stack, and it has become faster and cheaper to prototype thanks to innovations like 3D printers, open-source microcontrollers, and cheaper/smaller phone components. We discussed the challenging realities of scaling deep tech, and key places where hardware can be a force multiplier on human efforts. Thanks to Opentrons’ Will Canine, Conservation X Labs’ Alex Dehgan, and Ulysses’ Will O’Brien for facilitating.
Biotech and biodiversity. We’re firm believers in biotech for nature. These technologies have the potential to help us restore nature, prevent overexploitation of natural resources, and lean into genetic diversity. We heard from leaders in biodiversity biotech focused on forests, soils, and plant diversity to understand where are the opportunities to embrace complexity and scale restoration through the considered use of genetic tools. Thanks to Foray Bio’s Ashley Beckwith and Funga’s Colin Averill for facilitating.
Business
Technology is only as good as how it’s used. We dove into how companies from startups through large corporations are leveraging technology, wielding their buying power, and managing their biodiversity footprints. We also spent time on the human side of building businesses: how do you scale your organization alongside your business model?
Managing complex supply chains. For many large corporations grappling with their nature impacts, supply chains are a clear and immediate focal point for understanding their nature risks, and for finding low-hanging fruit in becoming nature-positive. Meanwhile, for startups that produce physical goods, getting a handle on reliable sourcing and production that ties to reasonable forecasting is key to the path to profitability. Thanks Inversa’s Aarav Chavda, Cambium’s Ben Christensen, and Rosy Soil’s Chad Massura for facilitating.
The corporate perspective on biodiversity. Corporate buy-in for biodiversity and regeneration efforts is vital, as it can lead to early buyers for nature-positive tech that can act as early proof points and revenue that nature tech startups need. We explored the motivations and practices from corporate groups leading on biodiversity, and dove in on the direction nature-positive is heading within the tech and broader market sectors. Thanks to Helen Crowley and Cisco’s Mary de Wysocki for sharing their insights.
Leading teams through growth. As with any startup, nature tech businesses run on people. We welcomed Anne Raimondi to discuss some of her lessons in building and growing teams through scale at Asana and Zendesk. One insight: your teams are only as strong as your weakest pairing (dyad, in her words). If sales and product don’t get along, for example, it’s a recipe for trouble.
Lessons from nature tech pioneers. We wrapped Restore with a discussion with NatureMetrics’ Kat Bruce, Opentrons’ Will Canine, and Variant Bio’s Kaja Wasik, who shared some of their backgrounds and learnings from running nature- and people-positive businesses. In a perfect encapsulation of how enabling technologies can unlock new business models and opportunities to benefit nature, Kat shared how Opentrons’ services have helped enable NatureMetrics to scale their eDNA collection efficiently.
The broader ecosystem
Good tech and business-building are necessary, but not sufficient, to building a strong nature tech ecosystem. We need many types of financing, diverse advisory support, and to build cross-sectoral bridges for knowledge sharing. We honed in on a few cross-cutting areas we see as critical for the broader nature tech movement to grow.
Family offices and biodiversity. With flexible mandates and deep in-house expertise, family offices have been historically important financiers for nature, from conservation through project finance. With more opportunities than ever to deploy capital into nature, we heard from experts about how different families are integrating biodiversity into their portfolios, and how these opportunities prioritize returns vs. impact. Thanks to CREO’s Gabriela Leslie, Understorey’s Jordan Soriot, and Ethic’s David Sternlicht for facilitating.
Working with communities. For many nature tech startups that operate locally, the ability to build and grow relationships with communities is mission-critical for success. We heard from experts on how working with communities not only builds trust, but can lead to enhanced outcomes and faster insights. Thanks to Kaja Wasik and Terraspect’s Wilhelm Zhao for facilitating.
Telling nature’s stories. In the histories of both conservation and entrepreneurship, the role of storytellers has been essential to building trust and conveying new ideas. Thank you to Mongabay’s Rhett Butler and Just Climate’s Siddarth Shrikanth (also author of The Case for Nature) for facilitating a conversation about how to package and tell a compelling story as a nature tech founder. They also stepped back and reflected on how we can better tell the stories of biodiversity loss and conservation in ways that inspire action.
Reflecting back
We’re so grateful to everyone that helped make this day a success. The Ethic team hosted us at their beautiful office, and we’re especially grateful for the help of Omar Martinez and Lily Louis. Thanks also to our coordinator Heidi Burns Hilton, as well as our volunteers Alivia Kaplan from Inversa, and Anna Beatriz Wai-Yan Ginsburg, Sarah Rachel Golden, and Piper Lee Henthorne from the Columbia Biodiversity Club.
At our first Climate Week two years ago, we hosted one event only: a Central Park picnic where a 5% chance of rain became a torrential downpour. Our guests helped us move blankets, food, drinks, and a cornhole set to Kevin’s apartment. Using every towel we had, we got people dry and comfortable, and ended up having one of our community’s favorite events that week.
Just as in nature, all good things start small. For all the big events and announcements of Climate Week, the most potent stories are often in the people just getting started. Whether it’s a new business, a newfound nature-positive initiative, or a new career move, we hope your NY Climate Week will lead you to great new things.
To stay posted on future events, you can sign up here. And as always, if you’re starting something new, say hi at hello@superorganism.com.
Notes From The Field
Updates from our portfolio companies, and from us at Superorganism
🌍 Amini launched Amini Lite, a lightweight version of the Amini Platform designed to make critical geospatial datapoints on Africa and the Global South quickly and easily accessible to data analysts, developers and growing businesses.
🌐 Cecil announced a new partnership with Planet to make forest carbon data more accessible. Two datasets (Forest Carbon Diligence and Forest Carbon Monitoring) are now accessible on Cecil's nature data platform for anyone tracking forest carbon. Read more here.
🐍 Inversa’s invasive python leather was part of the new Gabriela Hearst runway collection. Launched at Paris Fashion Week, every shoe and handbag removes invasive python from its non-native range in the Florida Everglades, “letting goddess women slay snakes with every confident stride.”
🍫 Planet A Foods announced Treets Peanuts with ChoViva, were featured in NPR and CNN, and were featured in Norrsken’s Impact/100 including a billboard in NYC Times Square.
🪴 Rosy Soil launched their Plant Food product line on Amazon with strong early reviews.
🪸 As for us at Superorganism in September, we…
Spoke at The Drop’s biodiversity ripple with Just Climate’s Siddarth Shrikanth and 2150’s Gemma Shepherd
Took a flight over Sonoma County with partners hosted by Conservation X Labs for the launch of the Fire Grand Challenge (learn more here!) to see the impacts of the 2017 Tubbs Fire.
Were covered in two market maps on the growing Nature Tech ecosystem: NatureTech Memo and Handprint
Want to join a Superorganism company? Check out our Jobs Board, with 40 active jobs currently available. Start your nature tech career today!
Ecosystem News
🧑💻 Opportunities
Conservation X Labs has launched the Fire Grand Challenge seeking innovations to transform how we manage and live with fire. Apply by December 2 | CXL
The Boring Fund supports the essential but overlooked aspects of conservation technology. Apply by October 9 | WILDLABS
The Coral Accelerator Program aims to fill the gap between current and required capabilities to save tropical coral reefs. Apply by October 21 | CORDAP
The Activate Fellowship supports scientific founders to build companies through their earliest stages. Apply by October 23 | Activate
💵 Nature finance
Who is investing in nature tech (in which Superorganism is described as a panda) | NatureTech Memos
Investing in Nature: Navigating the Landscape with Handprint’s Nature Tech Ecosystem Map V.4 | Handprint
The Ecosystem for Nature-Positive Ventures: Incubation, Investment, and Growth | Nature Investor Circle
Swiss voters reject biodiversity proposal in blow to conservation campaigners | Guardian
Eric Wilburn reviews Volvo’s new biodiversity commitments | LinkedIn
State of voluntary biodiversity credit markets | Pollination
🌳 Local communities and Indigenous peoples
Terraspect launches white paper on ensuring financial transparency through community compensation, which is covered in Edie.
Nothing about us without us: Sharing results with communities that provide genomic data | Cell
An ethical way forward for Indigenous microbiome research | Nature
“No basis for claim that 80% of biodiversity is found in Indigenous territories” | Nature
Indigenous shareholder-ship in environmental markets | Climate Collective
🍃 Biodiversity and climate
Meet the Team Climbing Trees in the Amazon to Better Understand Carbon Stores | NYT
State lawmakers propose innovative bill to reintroduce missing predator species back into the wild | The Cooldown
Offshore Wind Slowed by Broken Blades, Rising Costs and Angry Fishermen | NYT
Pollen Can Seed Clouds, Fuel Rainfall, Study Finds | Yale E360
⚡️ Climate
113-Day Streak of 100 Degree Weather Breaks Records in Phoenix | Newsweek
To Confront Climate Change, Imagine Getting It Right | SciFri
First-ever assessment of pathways to slow Arctic sea ice loss identifies potential mitigation approaches and highlights need to increase collaborative, careful research | Ocean Visions
🌾 Agriculture
Triple Helix releases AgTech for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission Report | Triple Helix
The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control | Science
AI-Powered Weed-Killing Robots Threaten a $37 Billion Market | Bloomberg
Positive trends on alternative proteins | Lewis Bollard
Eating less beef is a climate solution. Here's why that's hard for some American men | NPR
Seaweed might not be the answer to reducing methane from cows | Murdoch
⛰️ Rewilding and conservation
Abandoned Lands: A Hidden Resource for Restoring Biodiversity | Yale E360
Pacific islands submit court proposal for recognition of ecocide as a crime | Guardian
Highways prevent pumas from reclaiming their eastern U.S. range | Mongabay
California tears down levee in 'largest tidal habitat restoration in state history' | SFGate
Russia and North Korea eye joint project to protect endangered Amur leopards | NK News
The Case for Positive-Sum Environmentalism | Grant Mulligan
🤖 AI and technology
Next-gen material startups are deprioritising fashion | Vogue
How we’re using AI to help cities tackle extreme heat | Google
Planet’s Project Centinela: Monitoring Vulnerable Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation Action | Planet
🦧 Cool nature stories
The Terrifying Way That Eels Escape a Hungry Fish’s Stomach | NYT
Norfolk moth thought extinct a 'phenomenal' find | BBC
Montana man gets 6 months in prison for cloning giant sheep and breeding it | NBC
Why Do Apes Make Gestures? | NYT
These Monkeys Call One Another by Name | NYT
The Hidden World of Electrostatic Ecology | Quanta Magazine
A Fossilized Creature May Explain a Puzzling Painting on a Rock Wall | NYT
Finalists for 2024’s Comedy Wildlife Photos announced
Thank You!
Thanks for reading and for supporting Superorganism, and a special thank you to everyone who went above and beyond this month with introductions, diligence, advice, and help to founders:
Amanda Ackerman, Marion Adeney, Tomas Aftalion, Chris Allieri, Julia Arnhold, Colin Averill, Beth Axelrod, Ashley Beckwith, Kat Bruce, Paul Bunje, Rhett Butler, Ashley Camhi, Will Canine, Virginia Carter, Aarav Chavda, Ken Chaya, Veronica Chou, Ben Christensen, jC Clark, Jeremy Conrad, Helen Crowley, Rachel Cusick, George Darrah, Pete Davis, Mary de Wysocki, Alex Dehgan, Erin Duddy, Andrew Farnsworth, Laura Fox, Steven Fox, Jack Fritzinger, Karen Fung, Anna Beatriz Wai-Yan Ginsburg, Sarah Rachel Golden, Gilad Goren, Piper Lee Henthorne, Heidi Burns Hilton, Taylor Holshouser, Ted Janulis, Craig Jones, Charlotte Kaiser, Joshua Kauffman, Cameron King, Charlie Knowles, Mary Beth Kooper, David Lang, Gabriela Leslie, James Lindsay, Jay Lipman, Alex Logan, Lily Louis, Johny Mair, Josh Mancher, Justin Manley, Iván Markman, Omar Martinez, Chad Massura, Jocelyn Matyas, E.J. McAdams, Carine Mitchell, Jahed Momand, Janina Motter, Maggie Mullooly, Matt Mulrennan, Caroline Noble, Will O'Brien, Gwen Obermeyer, Peter Olivier, Heath Packard, Ryan Phelan, Matt Portman, Sophie Purdom, Anne Raimondi, Megan Reilly Cayten, Quique Riancho, Beth Richtman, David Ringer, Kellye Rosenheim, Everett Sanderson, Gautam Shah, Gemma Shepherd, Siddarth Shrikanth, Jordan Soriot, Jen Stebbing, David Sternlicht, Katie Sudol, Rishi Taparia, Liam Torpy, Kaja Wasik, Brett Wayman, Emily Weisberg, Justin West, Liv Williamson, Jan Yoshioka, Kelci Zile, and Wilhelm Zhao.