After investing in PayPal and putting his financial weight behind households like Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Skype and Hotmail, U.S. entrepreneur Tim Draper, billionaire founder and managing partner of Draper Associates, announced his investment in Lord of the Trees (LOTT).
Lord of the Trees (LOTT) is an Australian-based drone planting eco-tech firm committed to revolutionising the way in which the planet is replanted. Funding by one of the giants of Silicon Valley increases the valuation of Lord of the Trees to AUD$7 million.
The investment comes from Draper Associates’ ESG fund that backs technology startups with inherent ESG principles and the potential to transform industries for a better future.
What does LOTT do?
LOTT is a global reforestation company that uses precision drone technology, AI and proprietary seed pods to restore ecosystems worldwide. Currently the company has projects underway in Townsville and the Sunshine Coast in Australia, and imminent plans for new planting to begin planting in Australia’s Daintree rainforest, Greece and parts of America.
Discussions for additional projects are under way with local and international government agencies, NGOs, environmental groups, mining corporations and agricultural landowners.
Tim Draper said: “For ages I had been wanting to invest in a company that’s committed to planet regeneration, and then I found LOTT! I was thrilled by their simple tech solution and business model, plus their commitment to meet the needs of carbon reduction. I marvel at the possibilities this company is creating and their commitment to restoring our ecosystems.”
The need for innovative, effective replanting of the planet has never been more urgent:
- 18.7 million acres of the forests are lost per year = 27 soccer fields per minute.
- About half of the world’s tropical forests have now been cleared.
- 80% of earth’s land animals and plants live in forests.
- Deforestation threatens species like the orangutan, Sumatran tiger and many bird species.
What makes LOTT stand out?
Aymeric Maudous, Lord of The Trees founder, said: “Not all planting is created equal. The old manual, hand planting methods were time-consuming and came with a high failure rate, so the entire approach to reforestation needed a major rethink.”
“By combining the knowledge of environment experts, scientists, engineers, animal protection agencies and indigenous communities we are able to deploy swarms of drones to undertake companion planting. Our planting rate of about 400,000 seed pods in 12 hours which enhances the plants’ symbiotic relationship to ensure success of the replanted areas.”
“I believe our significant research and technology capabilities really appealed to Tim Draper, and we are delighted to welcome him as Lord of the Trees’ lead investor.”
Within the framework of the UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, LOTT is poised to become an industry disruptor in upscaling environmental protection and habitat regeneration.
