Start-up Terraformation has launched a new crowdfunding campaign on Republic so retail investors can support plans to scale global reforestation projects.
The group, founded by ex-Reddit chief executive and former engineer at PayPal and Facebook Yishan Wong, will use the funds to accelerate global forest restoration projects, support research and development as well as hiring more people.
The company provides tools and training to initiate and sustain successful, large-scale restoration to organisations involved in tree-planting.
The model centres on providing partners with durable and scalable solutions to the biggest challenges such projects face: seed supply, training & equipment, funding, and land and water availability.
Terraformation currently operates the world’s largest fully off-grid 100% solar-powered desalination facility, which helps with freshwater shortages for restoration.
It is also developing an open-source software suite to support restorationists worldwide.
“We want to solve climate change by restoring forests around the globe to activate massive carbon capture. Forest restoration is the solution most likely to succeed in the shortest amount of time - it’s low-risk, low-cost and immediately scalable. Our plan is bold, and the problem is enormous. But we don’t have a choice,” said Wong in the release.
The crowdfunded follows a US$30mln Series A funding in June of this year, which was led by Apollo Projects and included institutional investors and nearly 100 angel investors, such as Sundeep Ahuja, Lachy Groom, Sahil Lavingia, Joe Lonsdale, Susan Wu and OVN Cap.
The Republic platform, which counts 1mln members, allows retail investors to buy equity in start-up projects.