Ocell develops local climate protection projects that are transparent, measurable, and effective. The goal is to harness the full potential of forests and contribute to climate protection. To this end, the Munich-based greentech startup processes aerial photographs and data from other sources to create "digital twins" of forests using artificial intelligence. These provide information about forest growth, current CO2 storage capacity, and other metrics, and can predict optimal forest management to store more CO2 in the forests in the long term. According to the company, over 800,000 hectares of sustainable forest areas in a total of eleven countries are currently managed with Ocell's software.
Ocell also provides forestry companies with its "Dynamic Forest" software for evaluating these "digital twins." This is a forest management system that provides forestry companies with data-driven, precise, all-round insights into all forestry-relevant metrics, such as tree species, location, and age classes. This approach is intended to enable efficient and sustainable management in a previously under-digitalized industry.
The Munich-based company is now receiving €10 million in a Series A round to drive its expansion in Europe and further develop its AI-supported platform for the development of high-quality CO₂ certificates. These certificates support climate-optimized forest management, which is intended to significantly increase carbon storage in forests and promote biodiversity and the urgently needed forest conversion for greater climate resilience.
The current financing round is led by venture capital investor Capnamic. Other investors include Bayern Kapital, Aenu, and Summiteer, as well as business angels such as Max Viessmann.
“Drivers for the transformation of European forests”
David Dohmen, co-founder and co-CEO of Ocell, says:
"In recent years, the reputation of carbon credits has suffered greatly due to often inadequate data, but they remain a crucial tool in the fight against climate change – if done right. With Ocell, we want to restore trust in the market by combining cutting-edge AI technology with nature-based solutions. Forests offer the advantage of being readily available, scalable, and comparatively cost-effective, while our technology enables measurability, accuracy, and transparency. We are pleased to have experienced partners like Capnamic and Bayern Kapital at our side, who have already successfully supported numerous tech companies. The renewed investment from our existing investors also confirms Ocell's potential to become a key driver of the transformation of European forests."
Christian Knott, Managing Partner at Capnamic, continues:
"The Ocell team is deeply rooted in the forestry industry. They have a deep understanding of the daily challenges and decisions forestry professionals face. Ocell not only provides them with a high-quality product but also offers them the opportunity to diversify their revenue streams. At a time when the market is undergoing significant changes in terms of regulation and transparency requirements, Ocell's offering stands out. No other solution knows the forest so well because it actively helps forest owners manage it. We are delighted to support Ocell in its ambitious international growth goals."
And Ferry Heilemann, founder and partner of existing investor Aenu, adds:
"We're big fans of the Ocell team. Their holistic forest management software and modern primary data capture enable commercial forest owners worldwide to generate high-quality carbon credits. This increases their profitability while simultaneously storing more CO2 in their forests."
