Berlin-based startup forward earth has raised €3.2M to advance its AI-powered environmental management software, which simplifies compliance and sustainability efforts for businesses worldwide. The funding round was led by Speedinvest, with participation from Revent, Lucid Capital, the European Union (ERDF), and serial entrepreneurs Anna Alex and Benedikt Franke.
Revolutionising environmental management with AI
forward earth is dedicated to revolutionising environmental management through AI-powered software solutions. The company’s tools enable businesses to comply with environmental regulations and drive sustainability across their supply chains, providing a crucial step towards a greener future.
Founded by industry experts Dr Micha Schildmann, Cari Davidson, and Giuseppe Gentile, forward earth provides AI-automated software that integrates seamlessly into existing compliance and supply chain platforms. This innovative solution offers a comprehensive overview of compliance, risk management, and supply chain data, helping businesses meet stringent environmental standards efficiently and cost-effectively.
About the founders of forward earth
Dr Micha Schildmann, CEO of forward earth, is a former co-owner and Chief Strategy Officer at Planetly, which was acquired by US-based OneTrust in 2023. Following the acquisition, Micha joined OneTrust as VP of Strategy for ESG. He also played a key role as a founding member of the climate change service line at McKinsey & Co. His extensive background in environmental strategy and corporate sustainability enables him to drive forward earth’s mission to revolutionise environmental management.
Cari Davidson, the CTO, has an impressive background as the former CTO of Planetly, VP of Engineering at OneTrust, and Venture CTO at Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures (now BCG X). With over 20 years of experience leading engineering teams across various industries, including manufacturing, SaaS, and e-commerce, Cari’s expertise in building scalable technology solutions is critical to forward earth’s development of cutting-edge AI-powered software.
Giuseppe Gentile, CPO, brings over 10 years of experience as a product executive in sustainability and white-label products. He previously served as CPO of Planetly and VP of Product at Global Savings Group. Giuseppe’s extensive knowledge in product management and sustainability initiatives contributes significantly to forward earth’s strategic direction.
Dr Micha Schildmann explained the company’s mission, “Decarbonisation has become a crucial regulatory requirement for businesses globally, yet the vast majority of companies still do not have clear visibility into their environmental impact, especially deeper down the supply chain. We have built a product that empowers businesses worldwide to become sustainable and compliant with little effort and cost. By embedding our AI-automated environmental management software into our partners’ software, we will support hundreds of thousands of businesses with a critical part of their reporting lifecycle as they embark on their decarbonisation journey in the years to come.”
Addressing the $100bn carbon market
The environmental management market is poised to grow significantly, from $15 billion to an estimated $60-100 billion by 2032, driven by increased regulatory pressure and commercial demand for transparency. forward earth’s software helps businesses generate necessary environmental data within their existing systems, addressing requirements from regulations like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations.
Strategic partnerships and global expansion
forward earth has already established strategic partnerships across North America, Europe, and Asia. These collaborations include software providers in compliance, supply chain management, and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) sectors. The new funding will be used to enhance the company’s AI technology and expand its footprint globally.
Fred Hagenauer, Partner at Speedinvest, highlighted the significance of the investment, “Micha and the rest of the team bring an absolutely unique wealth of experience from our former portfolio company, Planetly, to tackle a still unsolved problem. forward earth’s product will unlock detailed carbon and environmental data for anyone offering ESG, GRC, or supply chain intelligence globally.”
