Superorganism Secures $25M to Fund Biodiversity Startups

A new venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to funding startups that protect and restore the natural world has successfully closed its inaugural fund. Superorganism, which launched in 2023, has secured $25.9 million in capital commitments to back early-stage companies developing technology for biodiversity. The firm positions itself as a conservation-minded investor, aiming to fill a critical gap in the funding landscape by supporting businesses that directly address nature loss.

The fund attracted support from institutional backers like the Cisco Foundation, AMB Holdings, and Builders Vision, alongside individual investors such as Jeff Jordan of Andreessen Horowitz. Superorganism focuses its investments across three core areas: technology designed to slow or reverse species extinction, startups operating at the intersection of climate and biodiversity, and tools that enhance the effectiveness of conservation work. The firm typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in pre-seed and seed rounds and has committed to donating 10% of its profits to future conservation efforts.

Kevin Webb, a managing director at Superorganism, draws a parallel to climate tech funds but with a distinct focus. “We’re doing the same thing for nature loss,” he explained. Instead of targeting carbon emissions, the firm seeks out innovations that prevent and reverse the degradation of ecosystems and species decline.

A prime example from their portfolio is Spoor, a company whose software uses computer vision to track bird movement and migration patterns. This technology helps minimize bird collisions with wind turbines, a solution that benefits both biodiversity and energy developers who face strict environmental regulations. By addressing a clear business pain point while delivering a conservation win, Spoor embodies the type of startup Superorganism seeks to support.

The founding partnership between Webb and co-managing director Tom Quigley emerged from a shared vision. Webb began making angel investments in the biodiversity space to test its viability as a venture capital strategy. Impressed by Quigley’s background, he initiated a conversation that led to the firm’s formation in 2022.

While the political landscape surrounding environmental issues has shifted, the firm successfully reached its fundraising target. Quigley noted that some potential investors initially needed help distinguishing a biodiversity fund from a broader climate fund. That distinction becomes evident when examining their diverse portfolio, which is designed to showcase successful biodiversity companies across various industries and technologies. “We think that there’s a showcase portfolio for a fund, one that’s a really powerful thing,” Quigley stated, adding that this approach also creates stability less susceptible to sector-specific headwinds or changing policies.

He also pointed out that many biodiversity solutions can transcend partisan divides. He cited Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s public praise for portfolio company Inversa, which creates leather goods from invasive species like pythons in the Everglades, as an example of broad-based appeal.

To date, Superorganism has invested in 20 companies and plans to grow its portfolio to approximately 35 with this fund. As pioneers in this niche, the founders see an essential role in paving the way for future investment. “We recognize that we’re the first and we need to be there to sort of bring others along,” Quigley said, emphasizing their goal of helping other investors place their first strategic bets on biodiversity.

(Source: TechCrunch)