Nature’s Innovation Lab
Tech that improves
Human-Nature Interaction
Building on the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), we combine our expertise in “moonshot” technology development and AI product management with our strong record in developing and investing in ocean and environmental monitoring. We advance Human-Nature Interaction (HNI) in a variety of ways, from building underwater robotics platforms to better manage and care for the ocean, to mobile apps that teach people nature-based observation practices to improve mental health.
Destroying the Planet
For over 10,000 years, humanity has been destroying the planet and natural resources that we depend on for survival. This has accelerated exponentially in the past century with no signs of slowing down. Food and water don’t come for free, yet we’ve neglected our role in managing these essential ingredients for life on Earth.
It is urgent and important that humanity adopt better ways to support ourselves, otherwise we risk civilization-level collapse. This is not hyperbolic. Shortages in food and water have caused wars before and will continue to do so at escalating levels.
While many great organizations are inventing new products and improving supply chains to reduce our impact, none of these will succeed unless people want to buy those products and governments pass appropriate policies. We have all the solutions we need to live sustainably on Earth, but we simply don’t choose to use them.
We love our modern conveniences and will value them until something catastrophic happens to make us value something else. Though technology has many benefits, it has enabled rapid destruction of the planet and pulled us away from the natural world. This has fueled a decline in mental well-being and a rise in ecological destruction, a downward spiral we must escape from immediately.
Our innovation strategy comes from our experience working at these great companies:
As an innovation lab, we rapidly evaluate a wide range of products in search of ones that have the ability to scale and become self-sustaining through for-profit business models. We raise catalytic philanthropy and impact investments in the early stages of our projects, but do not believe that the nonprofit model should be applied beyond the early stages of a for-profit company.
Each project we explore must heavily-leverage scalable technologies while benefiting both nature and people.
Our Approach
Portfolio
With our world-class partners, we invent and design exciting new products and companies. Given the exponential problems we face, we pursue ambitious, scalable “moonshot” solutions rather than safe, incremental approaches that are doomed to fail before they start.
