In April 2025, Ramo Earth joined the Brainforest Venture Program, where we work closely with a small group of early stage ventures that are building bold solutions for forests and biodiversity. Over ten weeks we had the chance to see their team in action, learn about their vision, and watch them grow. From the very beginning, they impressed us with their determination to solve one of the hardest problems in climate finance: making sure funding truly reaches the people and places that need it most.

Ramo built NatureOS, a digital platform that makes it faster and easier to launch trustworthy carbon projects. These projects create new income for landowners and communities by rewarding them for restoring forests, protecting ecosystems, and storing carbon. As part of their win, Brainforest is investing in Ramo Earth and supporting them with guidance, mentoring, and connections to help scale their impact. We recently spoke with co-founder Matthew Jordan to hear more about their journey and future plans.

A journey from the field to technology

Matthew spent more than ten years working with farmers in Mozambique. During this time, he saw how difficult it was for rural communities to benefit from climate finance. Promising ideas often fell apart because project developers faced high costs, unclear rules, and slow processes.

“I watched good projects die on the vine simply because the system was too complex and too slow,” Matthew explains.

To find a better way, Matthew partnered with co-founder Miguel Correia, a data scientist and AI engineer. Miguel had been building artificial intelligence tools to support climate resilience, and together they realized they could combine their strengths. Matthew brought years of experience on the ground with farmers and communities, while Miguel contributed deep technical expertise. That mix of field knowledge and technology became the foundation for Ramo Earth.

Why carbon projects are so slow

The promise of carbon finance is simple: pay communities to protect and restore nature. In practice, however, the path to getting a project started is full of obstacles. The initial feasibility check alone can take over a year, with developers often waiting for fragmented data, lengthy approvals, and complex methodologies.

As Matthew puts it:

“Carbon projects are slow because the system was never built with speed or access in mind. Communities cannot wait twenty-four months just to find out if they are eligible. By then, many opportunities have already disappeared.”

For Brainforest, this challenge perfectly illustrates why bold new solutions are urgently needed in the carbon market.

The solution: NatureOS

Ramo’s answer to this problem is NatureOS, a platform that allows developers to upload a map of their land and quickly identify opportunities for nature-based solution carbon projects. The platform can estimate how much carbon could be stored and whether the project meets the standards. An AI assistant called Copa guides users step by step, helping them avoid mistakes and saving months of time.

“The goal is not only speed but also credibility,” Matthew says. “With NatureOS, a farmer cooperative can access the same level of insight that previously only expensive consultants had. Our vision is that every landowner, from smallholders to governments, can use this tool to unlock new income streams while restoring ecosystems.”

Why it matters

The potential of this technology is already visible. In Ghana, Ramo mapped national restoration opportunities in only six weeks, supporting a climate finance deal worth 25 billion dollars. What would have taken a year and half with traditional methods was made possible in less than two months.

By making the tools practical and accessible, Ramo ensures that not only consultants but also local partners and cooperatives can benefit.

“We believe technology must serve the people closest to the land,” Matthew notes. “That is why we combine the software with hands-on capacity building, so local implementers can use it directly.”

Working with Brainforest

The connection with Brainforest began with the Venture Program, where Ramo stood out for its unique mix of local experience and cutting edge technology. Over the course of ten weeks, the team refined their business model, strengthened their strategy, and explored new ways of working with investors. A main focus was bringing more structure and organization into the company. Together we helped them prepare their materials, update their story, and build a professional data room where investors could learn more about them and follow their progress with confidence.

“The Brainforest Venture Program helped sharpen our business model and connect us with peers tackling similar challenges,” Matthew recalls. “Their investment gives us the runway to test new features for NatureOS, expand into new regions, and onboard more communities. We felt real alignment with their mission to bring finance and nature based solutions together.”

Looking ahead

Ramo Earth’s goals are ambitious. By 2030, the company aims to support 20 million hectares of land restoration and reach 10,000 carbon developers. The immediate next steps include strengthening their presence in Africa, expanding to Portugal and Brazil, and scaling their digital monitoring and reporting tools.

Matthew is clear about the scale of the task.

“If we want to shift the way nature is valued, we need to move faster and at a larger scale. That means building tools that can handle the complexity but remain simple enough to be used everywhere.”

Matthews advice for founders

For other entrepreneurs working in climate and nature, Matthew has a piece of honest advice:

“Be ready to grind. Nature has never been profitable outside the extractive sense. We are experiencing a change in how nature assets are valued, but it will take persistence. Do not expect shortcuts.”

He also shares a specific tip for startups considering the Brainforest Venture Program:

“Focus on your data room. Investors need to see clarity and structure. The program gives you a unique chance to prepare and to get this right.”

Final thoughts

With Ramo Earth, Brainforest is proud to welcome its eighth portfolio company. Our investment and partnership reflect our strong belief in their potential to unlock climate finance for landscapes and communities at scale. We are excited to begin this journey together, to stand by their side, and to support them as they grow. We wish the team every success and look forward to the milestones we will celebrate along the way.