Scaling biodiversity recovery: Venture Program winner, Ceres Seeding, joins Brainforest’s portfolio

Every year, vast areas of forests are lost, leaving landscapes degraded and biodiversity at risk. Restoring these ecosystems is a challenge, especially in remote or difficult terrains. At Brainforest, our mission is to accelerate nature-based solutions by supporting early-stage ventures through our Brainforest Venture Program, taking place twice a year. 

That’s why we’re proud to welcome Ceres Seeding as the winner of the Brainforest Winter Venture Program 2024 and the latest addition to our portfolio. Ceres Seeding develops drone-based technologies that make ecological restoration faster, more precise, and scalable in areas where traditional methods fall short. Their pitch stood out for its innovative technology, clear alignment with our mission, and the strength and motivation of the team behind it.

Since the program, we’ve had the chance to get to know the team more closely, including a recent conversation with co-founder Fernando de Lucca, which gave us a deeper appreciation of their story, values, and long-term vision. Read on to discover how this partnership is helping to push the boundaries of what’s possible in ecological restoration.

Ceres Seeding’s Innovation and Brainforest’s Support

To better understand Ceres Seeding’s mission, we spoke with co-founder Fernando de Lucca, whose journey is tied to local environmental challenges. 

He explained, that the inspiration to create the drone systems came through the story of their community in Itajubá, Brazil, where deforestation and illegal wildfires have devastated landscapes, traditional restoration methods struggled to keep up. When they went into the field, they met residents like Ms. Lila, who had experienced firsthand the devastating impact of environmental degradation. Her story, and those of others in the community, moved the team to find a better way to support local restoration efforts. That drive to make a real difference on the ground became the foundation for what would eventually become Ceres Seeding.

“The conditions in Itajubá highlighted an urgent need for restoration breakthroughs. Existing methods weren’t enough, we needed a scalable, high-impact approach to overcome both environmental and logistical barriers.”- Fernando

Ceres Seeding’s technological innovation makes ecosystem restoration faster, more effective, and accessible. Their drone technology allows for precise seed dispersal, effective data capturing and remote implementation in previously inaccessible areas, significantly reducing costs. This level of efficiency allows organizations to meet environmental restoration goals while aligning with global sustainability and ESG initiatives.

Brainforest’s collaboration with Ceres Seeding reflects the commitment to advancing scalable, innovative solutions for ecological restoration. By supporting Ceres Seeding’s growth in Brazil, Brainforest aims to accelerate large-scale restoration efforts and ensure their impact reaches the regions that need it most. With the financial backing, Ceres Seeding is refining techniques to boost biodiversity recovery and improving systems to monitor success more accurately. Beyond funding, Brainforest provides access to a strong network of experts, mentorship, growth resources, and operational support.

Scaling Restoration: Ceres Seeding’s vision and impact

Ceres Seeding has already made significant strides in advancing ecological restoration. In the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, they have restored more than 190 hectares, reintroducing over 75 native species and dispersing nearly 2 tons of seeds. Their operations now extend across Brazil’s Northeast, Central-West, and Southeast regions, reaching areas where traditional methods have often fallen short. 

The jury at the Brainforest Venture Program pitch event acknowledges this is an impressive start for a young company and a strong sign of their potential to lead large-scale ecosystem recovery across the country and beyond.

Looking ahead, they aim to expand into all tropical biomes in Brazil. Their vision includes restoring 5 million hectares of degraded land, beginning with a landmark project in the Amazon rainforest this year. With continued innovation in drone and seed dispersal technology, they are laying the foundation for restoration at an unprecedented scale.

Fernando de Lucca’s advice for entrepreneurs in the Brainforest Venture Program

For startups considering the Brainforest Venture Program, Fernando shares key lessons from his journey:

“Brainforest’s Venture Program is an incredible opportunity for businesses focused on nature-based solutions! It was one of the most hands-on programs we have participated in, with outstanding support. All the mentorship sessions, expert sessions, and workshops were extremely helpful in structuring our business. Throughout the program, we had the chance to discuss key priorities in our company, with great flexibility to advance quickly and effectively in solving our challenges!” - Fernando

Final thoughts: A new era for ecological restoration

With Brainforest’s operational and financial backing, Ceres Seeding is set to transform the future of ecological restoration. Their approach to biodiversity recovery, combined with their rapid progress and ambitious goals, reinforces why Brainforest’s team is proud to welcome them as the sixth venture in the Brainforest portfolio.

Brainforest’s investment reflects a strong belief in the potential to scale solutions that meet some of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. Inspired by Ceres Seeding’s vision, Brainforest believes in their continued growth across Brazil’s most vital ecosystems.

We’ll continue sharing updates on Ceres Seeding’s journey, celebrating key milestones, and offering insights from our collaboration. Follow us on LinkedIn to see how they are shaping the future of ecological restoration.

Brainforest’s Venture Program is open twice a year, and we’re always looking for bold, nature-based startups like Ceres Seeding. If you're interested in joining our ecosystem of innovators, you can already sign up on our website to join the waiting list.