Forward Earth Raises €4.5M to Broaden Its AI-Enabled Environmental Solutions

Forward Earth, an innovative AI-powered environmental management software company, has successfully raised €4.5 million in Seed funding to enhance its mission of simplifying environmental management for businesses. By embedding environmental management tools into the existing software of hundreds of thousands of companies, Forward Earth streamlines the process of data collection, reporting, and regulatory compliance, empowering organizations to meet evolving regulations and reduce their environmental impact.

The company was co-founded by industry experts Cari Davidson, Giuseppe Gentile, and Micha Schildmann, who recognized the pressing need for efficient carbon management solutions, particularly as regulatory pressures mount globally. Prior to Forward Earth’s introduction, carbon management was a labor-intensive and cumbersome process, often requiring continuous data collection and complex calculations that did not scale effectively.

Schildmann describes Forward Earth as “the next generation of environmental management software.” By integrating its tools into the existing business software ecosystems of various companies, Forward Earth addresses the unique challenges faced by businesses as they navigate increasing regulatory demands, especially in regions like the EU, UK, and US.

Forward Earth’s flagship product offers companies a robust framework for maintaining compliance with an ever-growing array of stringent environmental regulations. By providing access to cutting-edge solutions for Corporate Carbon Footprints, Product Carbon Footprints, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and other environmental key performance indicators (KPIs), the platform empowers businesses to significantly reduce their carbon footprints and achieve their sustainability goals.

The company places particular emphasis on supply chain activities, which are responsible for a substantial portion of carbon emissions. Schildmann notes, “Literally hundreds of thousands or even millions of mid-sized companies in the supply chain need to generate data to appease enterprise company clients, buyers, and regulators.” This recognition drives Forward Earth’s mission to develop software that effectively addresses these challenges while generating valuable data for larger enterprises to manage their supply chain and sustainability efforts, including Scope 3 emissions.

Many mid-sized companies are increasingly motivated to engage in carbon reduction initiatives, driven by buyer demand and regulatory requirements. Schildmann explains that these companies often feel their existence is threatened if they cannot provide necessary data, losing contracts as a result. However, they typically lack the resources to hire full-time staff dedicated to carbon accounting. Forward Earth seeks to alleviate this burden by leveraging AI automation, making the process as straightforward as possible for mid-market companies. The platform can calculate emissions across the supply chain and product levels, showcasing Forward Earth’s deep knowledge of the carbon landscape and scientific methodologies. The software is designed to be multilingual from the outset, catering to the global nature of supply chains.

Forward Earth provides an embedded whitelabel solution that integrates seamlessly with compliance, supply chain management, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and procurement management software. This enables software partners to offer carbon and environmental management solutions to their customers without the need to develop or maintain complex systems independently. “They don’t want multiple solutions; they want one solution,” Schildmann explains. This streamlined approach not only addresses the needs of end customers effectively but also offers revenue opportunities for partners while allowing them to focus on their core value propositions.

The company has demonstrated impressive growth, rapidly gaining traction in the market. In just the past three months, Forward Earth has signed several significant partnerships, with additional contracts in the pipeline. The recent funding round and partnership with Mosaic Ventures are pivotal in supporting Forward Earth’s entry into the U.S. market, with operations expected to commence shortly. Schildmann emphasizes the urgent demand for the company's services, stating, “We were fortunate to be in a comfortable financial position.” The recent funding follows a previous successful round of €3.2 million secured in June, which included private investment and a European Union grant.

This latest funding round was led by Mosaic Ventures, with participation from Speedinvest and Revent. Chandar Lal from Mosaic Ventures expressed enthusiasm about joining Forward Earth, stating, “We’re thrilled to join forward earth on their mission to decarbonise global supply chains. Humans alone cannot solve this problem at the required scale – and Micha, Cari, and Giuseppe are the first team to bring a truly AI-first approach to market.” Schildmann brings significant experience in entrepreneurship and sustainability to Forward Earth, having previously worked at Planetly, which was acquired by U.S. company OneTrust in 2021. His experience in scaling operations and focusing on core objectives has been invaluable. “We avoid distractions by not spending our current energy expanding into other industries,” he notes.

His time at OneTrust also provided insights into effective sales strategies, particularly in adapting to the American market’s expectations. “It’s an approach that is very much story-driven, and OneTrust taught me how to bring someone along the journey with you, which is how we now do partner sales,” Schildmann adds.

With ambitious plans for the future, Forward Earth is poised to rapidly scale its operations, particularly as it prepares for expansion into the U.S. market and potentially into Asia. The company aims to support businesses in meeting new sustainability requirements as environmental regulations tighten, focusing on the increasing importance of supply chain activities.

As the world confronts pressing environmental challenges, Forward Earth stands at the forefront of technological innovation, equipping businesses with the tools they need to manage their carbon footprints effectively and contribute to a sustainable future. Through its unique AI-driven approach and commitment to simplicity, Forward Earth is set to redefine environmental management across the globe, empowering organizations of all sizes to participate in the vital effort to decarbonize the global economy.