Summary:
Superorganism has raised $25.9 million for its first fund, focusing on biodiversity startups as the first VC firm in this niche.
The firm invests in three categories: tech to slow or reverse extinction, startups at the climate-biodiversity intersection, and tools for conservationists.
Investments range from $250,000 to $500,000 for pre-seed and seed-stage companies, with 10% of profits donated to conservation efforts.
Portfolio company Spoor uses computer vision to track bird movements, aiding wind farm developers and protecting biodiversity.
Superorganism has backed 20 companies so far, aiming for a portfolio of 35, and highlights examples like Inversa that turn invasive species into products.
Superorganism, launched in 2023, is pioneering as the first venture capital firm focused exclusively on biodiversity, aiming to be the conservationist on the cap table for nature-friendly startups. The firm has successfully closed its first fund, securing $25.9 million in capital commitments from notable backers like Cisco Foundation, AMB Holdings, Builders Vision, and individuals such as Jeff Jordan, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz.
Investment Strategy and Categories
Superorganism supports companies across three key categories:
- Tech that slows or reverses extinction
- Startups operating at the intersection of climate and biodiversity
- Tools that enable conservationists to work more effectively
The firm writes checks ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 for pre-seed and seed-stage companies and commits to donating 10% of its profits to future conservation efforts.
Kevin Webb, a managing director at Superorganism, explains: "You could think of us a lot like a climate tech fund, but instead of thinking about where we can emit less carbon dioxide or avoid emissions in the first place, we’re doing the same thing for nature loss."
Portfolio Example: Spoor
A standout in Superorganism's portfolio is Spoor, a company whose software uses computer vision to track bird movement and migration patterns. This technology helps minimize damage from wind turbines on local bird populations, benefiting both biodiversity and wind farm developers who face strict regulations. This example illustrates the type of innovative startups the firm seeks to back.
Founding Story and Vision
Webb and co-founder Tom Quigley described their meeting as "kismet." Webb began making angel investments in biodiversity to test its viability as a VC strategy, eventually partnering with Quigley due to his impressive background. They started working on the firm in 2022, and despite changing political climates around nature protection, they successfully reached their funding target.
Quigley notes that some potential limited partners needed guidance to distinguish Superorganism from climate funds, but the firm's diverse portfolio clarifies its unique focus. "We are purposely building a diverse portfolio," he said. "It allows us to show what the best biodiversity companies look like across all industries and tech types."
Broader Impact and Examples
Biodiversity issues often transcend partisan climate debates. For instance, Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis recently praised Inversa, a Superorganism portfolio company that turns invasive species into leather goods, for helping address python problems in the Everglades.
Thus far, Superorganism has invested in 20 companies and plans to expand its portfolio to about 35 companies with this fund. Quigley emphasizes their role as pioneers: "We recognize that we’re the first and we need to be there to sort of bring others along where they might be interested in taking their first bet on biodiversity."
Author Information
Becca is a senior writer at TechCrunch covering venture capital trends and startups, with previous experience at Forbes and the Venture Capital Journal.
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