A US-based nature intelligence company announced Tuesday it has secured $1.2 million in seed funding to expand its platform aimed at supporting companies in assessing biodiversity-related risks.

Dunya Analytics said its platform provides businesses science-based risk analytics for nature, enabling them to meet disclosure requirements under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Impacts and dependencies covered by the tool include biodiversity, ecosystem use, water use, and pollution.

“This funding allows us to accelerate our mission of simplifying the complex landscape of biodiversity risk for companies,” said Megan Pillsbury, founder and CEO of Dunya Analytics.

The funding round was led by New York-headquartered venture capital firm Synovia Capital, and included investments from KDX and Persei Venture.

“Dunya Analytics’ solution is unique in that it uses powerful proprietary risk methodologies to interpret biodiversity data and screen for risks across a company,” said Holt Thrasher, managing director at Synovia Capital.

“Our investment strengthens their ability to scale risk analysis at the pace we need to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets.”

GROWING EXPECTATIONS

Companies and financial institutions face growing expectations to contribute to biodiversity conservation, as GBF Target 15 urges them to regularly monitor, assess, and disclose their risks, dependencies, and impacts.

As organisations step up their efforts to align with disclosure standards, demand for robust nature data has increased over the last few months, with financial institutions, in particular, citing the lack of information on nature-related impacts at a portfolio level as hampering their efforts.

“Our solution is particularly valuable for companies at the beginning of their nature-positive journeys, guiding them to focus their resources where they can have the greatest impact,” said Pillsbury.

Dunya Analytics was part of a cohort of eight nature-positive businesses selected in July by Singapore-based investment firm Silverstrand Capital for its biodiversity accelerator.

Under the programme, Silverstrand Capital provides more than $100,000 worth of coaching and mentorship sessions around business development and investment readiness, while helping companies attract funds to scale their operations.

By Sergio Colombo – sergio@carbon-pulse.com

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