Dendra Systems

About Dendra Systems

Dendra Systems is an environmental technology company providing an end-to-end solution for large-scale ecosystem restoration. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Susan Graham, Matthew Ritchie, and Lauren Fletcher, the company, formerly known as BioCarbon Engineering, is headquartered in Oxford, UK. Dr. Graham, who serves as CEO, has a background in biomedical engineering from the University of Oxford and was motivated by the global environmental crisis to apply technology to ecological restoration. Co-founder Lauren Fletcher brought over 20 years of experience as an engineer and scientist at NASA.

The company's core offering is its RestorationOS™, an AI-powered platform that combines ultra-high-resolution aerial imagery from drones, ecology-trained machine learning, and aerial seeding technology. This system allows for detailed environmental monitoring, data analysis, and targeted interventions to restore biodiversity. Dendra's technology can map hundreds of hectares per day and identify numerous plant and animal species, providing insights that are thousands of times more accurate than traditional satellite imagery. Following data analysis and planning, custom drones are used for aerial seeding, capable of planting seeds significantly faster than manual methods.

Dendra Systems serves clients primarily in the mining, infrastructure, and government sectors, helping them meet regulatory requirements and manage environmental impacts. Its business model involves providing its integrated platform and services to these large asset owners for multi-year rehabilitation and management programs. Notable customers include Rio Tinto, Glencore, and BHP. The company has successfully restored diverse environments, including arid lands, mangrove forests, and post-mining sites across Australia, the UAE, and other regions. As of May 2024, Dendra was managing over 70,000 hectares.

The company has secured significant funding to scale its operations, including a $10 million Series A round in 2020 and a $15.7 million Series B round in May 2024, led by Zouk Capital with participation from investors like Aramco Ventures and Airbus Ventures.