Crowther Lab
Crowther Lab is a non-profit research laboratory at ETH Zurich that combines satellite and ground-sourced ecological data to study global biodiversity and climate change, operating the Restor open data platform connecting 76,000+ restoration projects worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Crowther Lab does
Crowther Lab is an interdisciplinary academic research laboratory at ETH Zurich, founded in 2017 by Prof. Thomas Crowther, that studies global ecosystems to understand the relationships between biodiversity and climate change. Its work combines satellite observations with ground-sourced data from over 1.2 million forest plots (GFBI) and 11,000+ soil samples (GSBI), producing foundational ecological science including the landmark 2015 estimate of 3.04 trillion trees globally, the 2019 global tree restoration potential paper, and the 2023 Integrated Global Forest Assessment (IGFA) published in Nature, which quantified 226 Gt of forest carbon potential.
The lab operates a portfolio of interconnected platforms and programs rather than commercial products. Its core platform is Restor, a science-based open data platform founded by Crowther Lab and spun off as an independent not-for-profit in 2021 that connects 76,000+ conservation and restoration projects worldwide. Supporting initiatives include the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI) and Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) data networks, the Global Experiments Network (GEN) linking scientists with restoration practitioners, and the Flagship Cases program documenting 20 exemplary restoration sites across multiple continents.
Crowther Lab's business model is non-commercial: it is funded through ETH Zurich institutional support and research grants, with no product pricing. Its go-to-market is community-led open science—peer-reviewed publications, media engagement, advisory roles (UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, WEF 1T.org), and partnerships with NGOs (WWF, FAO, Plant for the Planet) and governments—serving scientists, policymakers, restoration practitioners, and indigenous and local communities as primary stakeholders.
Crowther Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crowther Lab
- Legal name
- Crowther Lab
- Website
- https://crowtherlab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Crowther Lab is a non-profit research laboratory at ETH Zurich that combines satellite and ground-sourced ecological data to study global biodiversity and climate change, operating the Restor open data platform connecting 76,000+ restoration projects worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crowther Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ecological Research and Conservation
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs (EUAHAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Brownfield Site Assessment & Remediation (BPALAKAA)
Keywords
Where Crowther Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crowther Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Research Grants and Academic Funding: Crowther Lab operates as an academic research institution at ETH Zurich, funded through research grants and institutional support rather than commercial revenue
- Platform Services: Restor launched as an independent not-for-profit organisation in 2021, providing a platform connecting restoration projects but operating as a non-profit entity
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Crowther Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crowther Lab is an academic research laboratory at ETH Zurich that conducts interdisciplinary research on global ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change. It operates several interconnected platforms and programs: the Restor open data platform connecting 76,000+ conservation and restoration projects worldwide, the Integrated Global Forest Assessment (IGFA) combining satellite and ground data from 1.2 million+ forest locations, the Global Experiments Network linking scientists with restoration practitioners, and research networks GFBI and GSBI managing the world's largest tree-level and soil biodiversity databases.
Product overview
Crowther Lab is a research laboratory at ETH Zurich focused on studying global ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change. Rather than offering commercial software products, the lab operates several interconnected platforms and programs: Restor is the core science-based open data platform connecting the global restoration movement with over 76,000 conservation projects worldwide. The Integrated Global Forest Assessment (IGFA) is a landmark research initiative combining satellite and ground data from over 1.2 million forest locations. The Global Experiments Network connects scientists with restoration practitioners to study best practices, while Flagship Cases documents 20 exemplary restoration case studies. Supporting these are the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI) managing tree inventory data and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) focused on soil microbiome research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Integrated Global Forest Assessment (IGFA): A collaborative assessment bringing together over 200 leading scientists to address controversies in forest-climate science, published in Nature in 2023.
- Restor
- Global Experiments Network (GEN)
Products and services
- Restor A science-based open data platform that supports and connects the global restoration movement, providing ecological insights, transparency, connectivity, and high-resolution satellite imagery to conservation and restoration projects worldwide. Currently connects over 76,000 projects.
- Integrated Global Forest Assessment (IGFA) A collaborative research assessment combining satellite observations with ground-sourced data from over 1.2 million forest locations worldwide, featuring both aboveground plant biomass and belowground data on soil, roots, dead wood, and litter. Published in Nature in 2023.
- Global Experiments Network (GEN) A partnership initiative connecting scientists with on-the-ground restoration projects to identify successful restoration approaches and best practices through direct collaboration between academic researchers and restoration practitioners.
- Flagship Cases A collection of 20 selected restoration case studies from around the world documenting effective and long-lasting restoration practices that provide social and environmental benefits, documented on the Restor platform.
- Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI) A consortium of foresters and forest scientists managing the world's largest tree-level forest inventory database, with over 1.2 million tree-level plots from over 70 countries, supporting cutting-edge research and forest education internationally.
- Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) A global network of scientists promoting expert knowledge on soil biodiversity in environmental policy and sustainable land management, with a dataset of over 11,000 soil samples from over 50 countries.
Quantifiable outcome
- Forests can capture 226 Gigatonnes of carbon if allowed to recover in regions with low human footprint - representing ~30% of carbon drawdown targets
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Crowther Lab
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Crowther Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Crowther Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.
- RestorcoreFounded by Crowther Lab, Restor is a science-based open data platform to support and connect the global restoration movement. It provides transparency, connectivity, and ecological insights to restoration efforts worldwide. Launched as an independent not-for-profit in 2021.
- UN Decade on Ecosystem RestorationcoreFocused on preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Prof. Thomas Crowther serves as chair of the advisory council, helping scale up global ecosystem restoration efforts.
- 1T.org (Trillion Trees Initiative)coreMobilising, connecting, and empowering the global reforestation community to conserve, restore, and grow one trillion trees by 2030. Launched by World Economic Forum in support of the UN Decade. Crowther Lab serves as scientific advisor.
- Together With NatureflagshipGlobal coalition of leaders in science, conservation, restoration, development, and sustainability convened by Crowther Lab. Provides a framework for responsibly tackling the climate crisis, restoring biodiversity, and benefiting human well-being.
- Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI)coreConsortium of foresters and forest scientists studying the world's largest tree-level forest inventory database. Supports cutting-edge research and has gathered more than 1.2 million tree-level plots from over 70 countries.
- Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI)corePromotes expert knowledge on soil biodiversity in environmental policy and sustainable land management. Global network of more than a hundred scientists with dataset of over 11,000 soil samples from over 50 countries.
- WWFsupportingListed as partner/collaborator of Crowther Lab restoration networks.
- NASAsupportingListed as partner/collaborator supporting Crowther Lab research efforts.
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)supportingListed as partner/collaborator of Crowther Lab restoration networks.
- Plant for the PlanetsupportingListed as partner/collaborator supporting Crowther Lab restoration initiatives.
- Global Experiments Network (GEN)coreConnects scientists with on-the-ground restoration projects to reveal which restoration approaches work best. Partners academic researchers with restoration practitioners.
- Forestoration InternationalflagshipResponsible for researching, verifying, and documenting flagship case studies selected from thousands of restoration actions around the world, showcasing how effective restoration provides social and environmental benefits.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Crowther Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- World Resources Institute (Global Forest Watch): WRI operates Global Forest Watch, the closest direct comparable platform to Restor. Both combine satellite observations with ground-level ground data to track forests globally and publish open-access datasets for researchers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners.
- MapBiomas: MapBiomas is a multi-institution collaboration producing annual land cover and land use change maps from satellite data, conceptually similar to Crowther Lab's Restor and IGFA. Both rely on multi-country collaboration, open-access data, and integration of satellite observations with ground-based verification.
- Global Fishing Watch: Global Fishing Watch is an open-access platform using satellite and AIS data to monitor global ocean activity — same architectural pattern as Restor/IGFA: combining satellite observations with ground/machine-sourced data to expose a previously opaque global system to researchers and the public.
Broad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy: TNC is a major conservation NGO combining scientific research with on-the-ground restoration projects across millions of acres globally. Their combination of restoration practice and science overlaps with Crowther Lab's research-plus-Restor model and comparable biodiversity monitoring capabilities.
- Conservation International: Conservation International conducts biodiversity research, supports restoration projects, and advises global policy — closely mirroring Crowther Lab's positioning at the intersection of biodiversity science, restoration practice, and international policy advisory.
- World Wildlife Fund: WWF is a global conservation organization with parallel focus on biodiversity research, ecosystem restoration, and policy advisory. WWF is also an active collaboration partner of Crowther Lab and overlaps directly in restoration networks, soil/forest research programs, and international policy influence.
Emerging players
- Sylvera: Sylvera combines satellite analytics with ground data to monitor forest carbon projects and rate nature-based carbon credits. Their use of satellite + ground data and forest monitoring methodology overlaps with Crowther Lab's GFBI/IGFA approach, while their commercial focus contrasts with the lab's non-profit model.
- Pachama: Pachama is a forest carbon credit marketplace leveraging satellite data and ML to assess forest projects. Its focus on forest carbon quantification and restoration aligns with Crowther Lab's 226 Gt quantification work and the carbon-credit ambitions of GFBI/Restor, though operating in a different business model.
- Planet Labs: Planet Labs operates one of the largest commercial satellite constellations producing daily Earth imagery. Its data underpins much of Crowther Lab's satellite-based forest and biodiversity monitoring work and represents the foundational data layer adjacent to Crowther's research outputs.
- Microsoft AI for Good Lab: Microsoft's AI for Good Lab applies AI to environmental challenges including biodiversity and forestry. While broader in scope, the program competes with Crowther Lab for AI-driven biodiversity monitoring capability and represents a well-capitalized entrant in the same applied AI + ecology category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Crowther Lab social profiles
Digital presenceCrowther Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crowther Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Crowther Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Crowther Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Crowther Lab
What does Crowther Lab do?
Crowther Lab is an academic research laboratory at ETH Zurich that conducts interdisciplinary research on global ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change. It operates several interconnected platforms and programs: the Restor open data platform connecting 76,000+ conservation and restoration projects worldwide, the Integrated Global Forest Assessment (IGFA) combining satellite and ground data from 1.2 million+ forest locations, the Global Experiments Network linking scientists with restoration practitioners, and research networks GFBI and GSBI managing the world's largest tree-level and soil biodiversity databases.
Is Crowther Lab a public or private company?
Crowther Lab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Crowther Lab founded?
Crowther Lab was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Crowther Lab based?
Crowther Lab is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Crowther Lab make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research Grants and Academic Funding is the primary driver. The others are platform Services.
Who are Crowther Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are World Resources Institute (Global Forest Watch), MapBiomas and Global Fishing Watch. Broad incumbents are The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund. Emerging players are Sylvera, Pachama, Planet Labs and Microsoft AI for Good Lab.
Does Crowther Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crowther Lab.
What industry is Crowther Lab in?
Crowther Lab's product category is Ecological Research and Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAHAE, Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs, with a secondary code of BPALAKAA, Brownfield Site Assessment & Remediation. Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8731.