Verna - using geospatial data science to address the climate and nature crises

by Startacus Admin
London-based startup Verna aims to help landowners, investors, and policymakers to use land in ways that draw down carbon, enhance biodiversity and generate sustainable returns.
We have written about startups like Ecologi, Treekly, and TreeCard - to name just a few - who work to reforest areas damaged by deforestation. These may be decimated mangrove forests in Madagascar, desertified land in Burkina Faso, or forests destroyed for palm oil in Indonesia. But trees need to be planted all over the world, and it’s not always as obvious a choice as replacing what has been taken away. People need a way of locating the right spots with the right conditions.
London-based startup Verna has built software to help with this. There is, it turns out, a lot more to deciding where to start planting trees than simply looking at some empty land and throwing down a sapling. Land managers have to factor economics, science, and regulation into these decisions.
Verna helps with this complexity in woodland creation, habitat creation and enhancement, and regenerative agriculture by using geospatial data science to identify the solutions to your particular challenge, whether that is simply what the best thing to do with your land is, or how to reach a specific target, like net zero. Their ForestFounder tool will analyse any amount of land you have, and bring back a map that identifies where tree-planting will be feasible, beneficial, and profitable, if that is important. This can help the landowners make informed decisions, and it can help find key locations for reforestation.
In December, Verna announced that they had raised £860,000 in funding in a pre-seed round led by Vanneck EIS, with participation by Octopus Ventures. This comes after an August investment of £1.4 million by the government as part of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. This funding will go towards further developing the software, upgrading its capabilities and allowing it to analyse more opportunities, including systems to identify the best carbon and biodiversity options, such as in peatland restoration.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...

Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.

Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.

Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.

SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.

41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.

Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.

Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future

A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated

Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 21st December 2022
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.