Dunya Analytics, which has built science-based digital tools to simplify the measurement and management of biodiversity risks, has raised $1.2 million in seed funding led by New York-based Synovia Capital. Other investors backing the Wilmington, Del., startup include StockBridge, Mass.-based Persei Venture and Palo Alto, Calif.-based KDX.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley engineer Megan Pillsbury, Dunya is named for the word that means “Earth” or “World” in languages spoken by two billion people. The languages include Hindi, Greek and Arabic.
‘Nature Positive’
“Our solution is particularly valuable for companies at the beginning of their nature-positive journeys, guiding them to focus their resources where they can have the greatest impact,” said Pillsbury, who held a senior position at The Climate Service, which today is part of S&P.
“This funding allows us to accelerate our mission of simplifying the complex landscape of biodiversity risk for companies,” she added. Pillsbury earned an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an M.B.A. from INSEAD.
Synovia Capital’s founder and managing director, Holt Thrasher, said Dunya’s solution uses “powerful proprietary risk methodologies to interpret biodiversity data and screen for risks across a company.” The company’s analytics strengthens the ability of companies to scale risk analysis at the pace we need to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, or GBF, targets, he added.
Commercial Real Estate
MacKenzie Companies
Advertising / Media / Communications / Public Relations
Nevins & Associates
Financial Services / Investment Firms
Chesapeake Corporate Advisors
Commercial Real Estate
Monday Properties
Venture Capital
Blue Delta Capital Partners
Internet / Technology
Foxtrot Media
Mitigating Risks
Among other things, Synovia Capital focuses on ecosystem management in data analytics and previously funded The Climate Service in which Pillsbury was vice president for business development. Its other portfolio companies include SeerAI, FLINTPro and Hydrosat.
Dunya says its platform can be used by risk managers, sustainability leaders and finance teams to make critical decisions and to meet specific targets. Also, global companies at increasing risk from biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and unsustainable resource use can benefit from mitigating significant financial risks.
“Many companies overlook the deep connections between their operations and natural ecosystems. These hidden risks are often missed in traditional financial reporting,” said Dunya.
