Brainforest's October Updates and Impact Methodology

Dear Brainforest follower,

Welcome back to our monthly newsletter, we are very excited to share some of latest Brainforest updates:

🙋‍♂️ Team Composition: Ben O'Sullivan, will be staying on with us as our new full-time associate.

🛠️ Venture Program Update: Our Winter 2024 Venture Program is in full swing with 8 teams from 5 continents working on innovative nature-based solutions.

🌱 Xilva's Update: Our second spin-off venture, Xilva, has just won a major pitch contest for an American syndicate of carbon buyers. Stay tuned for their updates on this major milestone.

Spotlight: Brainforest Impact Methodology

At Brainforest, impact is at the core of everything we do. We're excited to introduce our newly released impact methodology white paper, a comprehensive guide detailing how we measure and manage our impact. This paper is not just a report - it's a reflection of our deep commitment to making tangible changes in forest restoration and biodiversity.

Why it Matters:

Forests and biodiversity are facing unprecedented threats. As an organization dedicated to regenerating 20 million hectares of biodiverse forests by 2030, we know that change requires more than ambition; it demands a clear strategy. This white paper lays out how Brainforest, as a venture platform, combines systemic change with venture-specific impact to ensure our work delivers measurable results.

Key Highlights from the White Paper:

• Dual Impact Strategy: Our approach balances systemic change goals at the platform level with the specific impact goals of each venture we support.

• Theory of Change: The paper details our Theory of Change, built with input from external impact advisors, which guides how we evaluate progress.

• Metrics that Matter: Each venture in our ecosystem is measured against key indicators, including the number of hectares restored, CO₂ sequestered, and income increases for local communities.

One of the most inspiring examples of our methodology in action is Muvuca Agroflorestal, a venture that is transforming traditional agriculture in Brazil into regenerative agroforestry systems. This case study demonstrates how setting up an impact strategy supports ventures from the ground up, enabling them to deliver both ecological and economic benefits to local farmers.

You can read the full white paper here.

Closing

"Tropical forests hold about one-third of the carbon stored in our atmosphere, with South American forests alone preserving around 82 gigatonnes - 30% of the world's forest carbon reserves."

- WWF UK, 10 facts about forests

Thank you for being part of the Brainforest ecosystem. Your support is vital as we strive to regenerate and protect 20 million hectares of biodiverse forests by 2030. 

Your Brainforest Team

First all-hands session with the Winter 2024 Venture Program cohort.