Sep 15, 2023

Leading tech and finance experts unveil AI-powered data platform poised to reshape the carbon offset market New York, NY & London, UK, September 13, 2023 –  Treefera , a pioneering AI-powered data platform that revolutionizes forest data and conservation, today announced the successful closure of a $2.2 million pre-Seed funding round, led by  Concept Ventures . Treefera’s transformative platform aims to reshape the carbon offset market, addressing a sector predicted to reach $250 billion by 2050. The round saw participation from esteemed investors including  Twin Path Ventures ,  January Ventures , and  Greg Lavender , CTO of Intel, as an Angel investor. Co-founded by  Jonathan Horn , theoretical physicist and former Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, and  Caroline Grey , former Chief Customer Officer at UiPath, Treefera is poised to transform the accuracy, transparency, and efficiency of the carbon offset industry. Leveraging cutting-edge AI algorithms and an unprecedented repository of data mapping over a trillion trees globally, Treefera’s platform offers a groundbreaking approach to tackling the challenges of carbon offsetting and conservation. Available today, Treefera’s  platform  expedites the complex process of measuring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) carbon credits; a process that traditionally is a huge friction point in the process and can take months to complete. Treefera delivers insights immediately. This is achieved through a combination of deep learning models and novel AI search techniques, making Treefera the first platform to unlock this level of granularity at scale. For the clients Treefera serves – such as assurers, insurers, traders and landowners – the platform covers jurisdictions (countries and large regions) as well as 197+ registered forest projects, whilst integrating easily with client analytics environments through an API. This near-time visibility, which includes being able to deliver highly detailed insights on forests (such as tree health and carbon sequestration) and other important “reversal risks” (such as fire, flood and drought), will transform the accuracy with which carbon credits are priced, boosting the global offset market at a critical time for the planet. Jonathan Horn, CEO & Co-Founder of Treefera, emphasized the platform’s potential impact, stating, “Treefera’s transformative AI tool has the power to revolutionize the world’s approach to forest data and conservation. Our platform enables instant analysis & insights of carbon offset projects, and critically allows easy integration of that trusted data into our clients’ analytics environment through an API. We’re thrilled to have esteemed investors on board who share our vision of a more transparent and impactful carbon offset market.” Reece Chowdhry, Founding Partner at Concept Ventures, comments, “The Treefera platform and its exceptional team impressed us beyond measure. This innovation not only contributes to the fight against climate change but also offers businesses, governments, and landowners a compelling commercial opportunity. With Treefera, trust and accuracy are injected into carbon offset projects, positioning tree conservation as the smart and essential choice.” With this funding injection, Treefera plans to enhance platform capabilities, expand its team, and extend its global market presence. The Treefera team is advised by well known experts such as  Manuela Veloso , recently elected to National Academy of Engineering, Professor Emerita at Carnegie Mellon University & currently Head of AI Research at J.P. Morgan, along with  Mark Lacey , Head of Global Resource Equities at Schroders. As climate change intensifies, Treefera stands poised to reshape the carbon offset landscape by offering innovative, data-driven Al-powered solutions that bridge the gap between good intentions and tangible impact. About Treefera Treefera is a pioneering AI-powered data platform that revolutionizes forest data and conservation. With a comprehensive repository of understandable data that easily integrates with clients through an API, Treefera accelerates the carbon offset process and brings transparency, accuracy, and trust to carbon offset projects. Founded by Jonathan Horn, theoretical physicist and former Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, and Caroline Grey, former Chief Customer Officer at UiPath, Treefera aims to revolutionize the carbon offset industry’s approach to reforestation and conservation. FAQs Can trees be used for carbon offsetting? Yes, trees can be used as the underlying asset to register and trade carbon credits. However, this can only be done in compliance with strict standards that have been developed by the international scientific community. It is vital that we collectively establish and maintain adherence to these standards or the voluntary carbon market will not function. Why trees specifically? Trees play a key role in both managing and mitigating the worst effects of climate change. They are a natural carbon offset. Trees make up 15% of the planet’s nature-based assets. They are nature’s very own technology, acting as today’s most scalable and efficient way to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Forests are fundamental to our ecosystem. This is why every single international climate plan includes dramatic measures to protect and restore them. Forests provide a home to the majority of animals and plant species on the planet. Beyond this, not only are trees essential to the regulation of heat and clean water, but they are also a source of livelihood for many communities around the world. As recently as 8,000 years ago, there were twice as many trees on the planet. What are the current issues with carbon offsetting? On paper, carbon offsets and credits offer a logical means of reducing corporate carbon footprints and encouraging reforestation, but, in practice, their value can be difficult to measure. Until now, the process of monitoring the growth of new trees and the health of existing ones has been complex, lengthy and unreliable. For example, the act of planting a tree alone does not always offset the desired amount of CO2e; more than 60% of trees planted will die within six months, leaving purchasers and regulators unclear as to their precise impact. The traditional process of measuring, reporting, and verifying carbon credits can also take months to be completed. How does Treefera improve the accuracy of carbon offsetting? Treefera was launched to develop scalable technology that could provide rapid, accurate data on trees to prevent deforestation, encourage reforestation, and bring trust and transparency to the carbon offset market. Treefera’s AI-power data platform provides insights into the viability of offsets almost immediately, providing a high level of accuracy and complete confidence. How will Treefera’s technology impact the carbon-offsets market? The carbon-offsets market is projected to grow to around  $250 billion by 2050 , but experts warn that the value of offsetting has been overestimated. The Treefera team believe that accelerating the process and providing certainty will improve the cost effectiveness of carbon credits. The transparency and accuracy offered by the platform will not only ensure value for money when investing in offsets, but also help companies to fulfil their climate commitments. Where does Treefera operate? Treefera operates globally, from the US, UK, EU, and Australia. Treefera’s imaging and tree identification methods work well in most locations. Does Treefera trade or rate carbon credits? No. Treefera wants to retain independence from benefiting from any trade to ensure that customers can trust our data & be assured it does not carry bias to a particular site, landmass or project. How does the technology work? The Treefera platform holds an extensive repository of tree and forest data, mapping over one trillion trees. The platform is powered by AI insights, underpinned and substantiated by proprietary LiDAR. The platform can be tailored to suit the specific needs of the users and integrate easily with clients’ own analytics environment through a software interface. How will Treefera interact with changing net zero regulations? Regulators have become increasingly sceptical of vague language and faulty offsetting as a means of fulfilling net zero commitments. The Treefera team believe their tech will restore transparency and credibility to the offset market, enabling regulators to verify with ease whether corporations are meeting their net zero commitments. Who will Treefera’s platform be used by? The platform will be used by various stakeholders including: landowners, investors, traders, assurers, governments, and carbon credit purchasers. What role will Treefera play in conservation? Tree planting and forest conservation plays an enormous role in reversing the climate crisis. The Treefera platform provides invaluable insights into the health of forests at a granular level, tree-by-tree. With this, Treefera are able to provide certainty on whether conservation and reforestation efforts have tangible impact, enabling informed decision-making and maximum efficiency.