Let’s talk about something most people never think about: the “first mile” of the supply chain. This is the place where your coffee beans, cotton shirts, and chocolate bars start their journey, from farms, forests, and fields. It’s also where most supply chain problems begin. And here’s the twist: nobody really knows what’s going on there.
That’s where Treefera comes in. It’s a London-based tech company that just raised $30 million to shine a very big, very smart flashlight on this often-overlooked part of the supply chain. The money will help Treefera grow around the world and make their AI-powered platform even smarter.
Treefera’s job is simple, at least in theory: help companies see where their raw materials really come from, and whether those places are following the rules. Sounds boring? Maybe. But when supply chains break (which they do, a lot), it costs companies millions. And now, with new laws in Europe demanding more transparency, businesses are being forced to care.
So how does Treefera do it?
With satellites, drones, and artificial intelligence. Yes, really. They’ve already mapped more than a trillion trees and turned all that information into an easy-to-use platform. Companies can use it to check if their ingredients are sourced legally, sustainably, and without harming the planet.
The company was started in 2022 by a husband-and-wife team: Jonathan Horn, who used to work in big banks and has a PhD in fluid dynamics (whatever that is), and Caroline Grey, who helped build big tech platforms at her last job. Together, they got tired of the fact that most businesses had no clue where their stuff was really coming from. So they built a tool to fix it.
Big companies from farming to insurance are already using Treefera’s tech. It plugs into their systems and gives them real-time updates on sourcing, risk, and compliance. Think of it like Google Maps, but for your soybeans.
Investors are excited. One called Treefera a “category-defining” platform. Another said it helps businesses get real climate data, not just fluffy promises.
And they’re all betting that as new environmental rules come into play, more companies will need tools like this to stay out of trouble, and stay in business.
So what’s next?
Treefera is planning to grow across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. They’re also working on better tracking tools, smarter AI, and faster ways to help companies follow the rules and reduce their carbon footprint.
In short: supply chains are a mess, especially at the start. Treefera wants to clean up that mess with smart tech, real data, and a trillion trees. And with $30 million in the bank, they might just pull it off.
