What Map of Life does

Map of Life (MOL) is a biodiversity intelligence company that translates global species and ecosystem data into actionable insights for corporations, governments, NGOs, and conservation practitioners. Founded in 2012 as a research initiative at Yale University's Center for Biodiversity and Global Change under Professor Walter Jetz, the company originated as an academic platform integrating species distribution models, remote sensing data, and geospatial analytics to assess biodiversity at global scale. In May 2025, the team created Map of Life Solutions as a university spin-off (with Yale Ventures support) to commercialize the technology, with a corporate office in Middletown, Delaware and operations spanning 260+ countries and territories.

The company's platform is built around an AI-powered biodiversity intelligence stack covering 450,000+ species via a tiered SaaS architecture (CORE free tier and PRO premium tier), a programmatic API for system integration, and Consulting services for tailored assessments. Three proprietary indicators—the Species Habitat Index (SHI), Species Protection Index (SPI), and Species Information Index (SII)—were formally adopted as component indicators in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Monitoring Framework at COP15 in December 2022. The technology leverages Google Earth Engine, Google Cloud Platform, and Esri spatial analytics to run species distribution models at 1km resolution, with proprietary AI capabilities spanning computer vision, acoustic processing, and environmental DNA analysis. The MOLRA (Map of Life Rapid Assessments) sub-brand uses semi-autonomous drones with multimodal sensors for biodiversity data collection in remote locations, demonstrated by a second-place finish and $2 million prize at the 2025 XPRIZE Rainforest competition.

Map of Life generates revenue through annual PRO subscriptions, API licensing, and consulting engagements, distributed via a hybrid go-to-market combining product-led growth (free CORE tier with self-serve signup) and enterprise field sales (contact-based PRO demos and custom pricing). The company targets four customer segments: corporate enterprises seeking nature-related supply chain risk and disclosure compliance (SBTN, CSRD, TNFD), government agencies and NGOs managing protected areas and GBF reporting, local project managers conducting site-level conservation, and C-suite executives requiring strategic nature intelligence. Strategic technology and funding partners include Google, Esri, NASA, National Geographic, Sony, Microsoft, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the National Science Foundation, alongside 500+ research and conservation organizations providing scientific credibility and data infrastructure.

Name

Map of Life

Legal name

Map of Life

Website

https://mapoflife.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Map of Life delivers AI-powered biodiversity intelligence to corporations, governments, and NGOs via species distribution models covering 450,000+ species across 260+ countries. Its GBF-adopted indicators and MOLRA drone assessments support supply chain risk, regulatory compliance, and conservation planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biodiversity Intelligence Software

akta.pro primary industry

Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs (EUAHAHAE), Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Ecological/Habitat & Land-Use Change Modeling (Biodiversity, Conservation Planning) (EUAHAKAI), Environmental Data QA/QC, Validation & Governance (Data Quality, Metadata, Lineage) (EUAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Biodiversity intelligence platform
• Nature risk analytics
• Species distribution modeling
• Supply chain biodiversity
• Conservation data services

Headquarters

HQ city

Middletown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Platform SaaS (CORE & PRO): Map of Life offers a tiered platform subscription model with CORE (free access with basic features) and PRO (premium tier with advanced features, custom reporting, and enterprise capabilities). PRO tier requires contacting sales for pricing and is likely sold as annual subscriptions.
2. API Access: API integration services allowing customers to embed nature data into their own systems for analysis, monitoring, and reporting. Likely sold as usage-based or subscription access.
3. Consulting Services: Expert support for tailored biodiversity assessments, site-level studies, and strategic guidance. Professional services sold directly to enterprise and government clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Map of Life provides a unified biodiversity intelligence Platform that turns species-level data on 450,000+ species across 260+ countries into actionable insights for nature-related risk, supply chain resilience, and regulatory disclosure (SBTN, CSRD, TNFD). It complements the platform with a Nature Data API for system integration and Consulting services for tailored assessments, and operates MOLRA drone-based rapid biodiversity assessments for remote-area data collection.

Product overview

Map of Life offers a unified biodiversity intelligence platform with three core offerings: Platform (nature intelligence for operations and supply chains), API (for integrating nature data into existing systems), and Consulting (expert biodiversity assessments). The core platform integrates multiple product modules including Species Data Exploration, Risk & Significance Assessment, Supply Chain Intelligence, Suggested Mitigation Efforts, and Reporting Enablement. The company also provides three GBF-adopted biodiversity indicators (Species Protection Index, Species Habitat Index, Species Information Index) that serve as the technical foundation for their analytics capabilities. Additional offerings include the Regions Tool for species list generation and the MOLRA Dashboard for rapid field assessments using UAV/drone technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CORE: A biodiversity intelligence platform providing species data exploration, risk assessment, and reporting capabilities.
• PRO
• Map of Life Rapid Assessments (MOLRA)

Products and services

• Map of Life Platform Unified biodiversity intelligence platform delivering real-time actionable insights on nature-related risks and opportunities across operations and supply chains for businesses, governments, and NGOs.
• Map of Life API

Quantifiable outcome

• Global documented protected area networks are about halfway toward meeting protection goals for terrestrial vertebrates (SPI ~50.9) and 60% toward marine fish and mammal protection goals (SPI ~62.1) as of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMap of Life is the flagship initiative of the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change. The center, led by Professor Walter Jetz, provides the scientific foundation, research expertise, and academic credibility for Map of Life's biodiversity intelligence platform.
• GEO BON (Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on the development of biodiversity indicators (SHI, SPI, SII). GEO BON has encouraged the use of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) as core variables supporting the development of high-level biodiversity indicators adopted in the GBF Monitoring Framework.
• Half-Earth Project / E.O. Wilson Biodiversity FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation's Half-Earth Project for the Half-Earth Project Map, which provides National Report Cards for each nation and area-of-interest tools for biodiversity analysis. The SPI is the central metric for the Half-Earth Project's 30x30 tracking.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing Google Cloud Platform, Google Earth Engine, and Google BigQuery for data storage, computational, and mapping capabilities. Enables scaling of indicator calculations to tens of thousands of species globally.
• Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing spatial analytics platform and co-development of Half-Earth Project Map. Supports the GIS community and enables detailed, map-based biodiversity decision-support tools.
• The Field MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in biodiversity dashboards development (since 2017) and XPRIZE Rainforest competition. The Field Museum provides taxonomic expertise, coordinates local species experts, and supports conservation applications through the Keller Science Action Center.
• SonysupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for XPRIZE Rainforest competition, providing support for drone-based biodiversity assessment technologies.
• Rutgers University Environmental DNA LabsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MOLRA XPRIZE team providing environmental DNA (eDNA) processing techniques and expertise for species identification.
• Federal University of AmazonassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MOLRA team providing local expertise in Brazilian biodiversity and supporting conservation insights for local communities.
• eBirdsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBird observation data partner contributing to species occurrence information and biodiversity intelligence.
• GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)supportingTechnology or IntegrationData partner providing access to global biodiversity occurrence records and supporting data integration.
• Encyclopedia of LifesupportingTechnology or IntegrationSpecies information partner contributing to comprehensive biodiversity data and species profiles.
• Max-Planck-GesellschaftsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing to biodiversity science and conservation research initiatives.
• National Geographic SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and conservation partner supporting biodiversity mapping and indicator development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Open-data infrastructure aggregating global biodiversity occurrence records. Comparable as a foundational data layer for species distribution intelligence, and an actual data partner of Map of Life.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Author of the IUCN Red List and global authority on species conservation status. Comparable to Map of Life in producing standardized species risk indicators adopted into international policy frameworks.
• eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology): Citizen-science bird occurrence database with global coverage. Comparable as a real-time biodiversity occurrence data source that feeds into Map of Life's species intelligence.
• Wildlife Insights: AI-driven camera-trap analytics platform for wildlife monitoring. Comparable to MOLRA in applying machine learning to biodiversity field data and listing Map of Life as a partner.
• NatureServe: Nonprofit provider of biodiversity data, conservation status assessments, and ecosystem mapping across the Americas. Directly comparable to Map of Life in offering species distribution and habitat data to conservation and government customers.

Broad incumbents

• Esri: Dominant GIS platform provider with ArcGIS-based biodiversity, conservation, and environmental mapping solutions. Comparable as both a partner and broad incumbent that could integrate competing biodiversity intelligence layers.
• Sphera: Enterprise ESG, EHS, and sustainability software vendor covering environmental compliance and nature-related disclosures. Comparable broad incumbent in the corporate sustainability reporting category Map of Life targets.
• Microsoft (AI for Earth / Sustainability): Major cloud and sustainability-software incumbent offering biodiversity and environmental modules within its broader enterprise stack. Comparable as a hyperscaler with deeper enterprise distribution and listed as a Map of Life supporting partner.
• Google Earth Engine: Google's planetary-scale geospatial analysis platform powering Map of Life's computations. Comparable as a broad incumbent earth-observation platform that could surface biodiversity analytics directly to its own enterprise users.

Emerging players

• Watershed: Enterprise sustainability platform focused on climate and nature disclosure (CSRD/TNFD) reporting. Comparable as an emerging SaaS competitor addressing the same corporate sustainability buyer with bundled nature data offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MapofLife_ai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/map-of-life

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Map of Life