The Big Wild

What The Big Wild does

The Big Wild is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 (per company history; firmographics also note a 2005 date) and headquartered in Middleton, that applies AI, ML, and GIS technology to wildlife conservation, environmental valuation, and climate-related nature-based solutions, with programs aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals 13, 14, 15, and 17. Its core technology stack is built around proprietary wildlife facial recognition and computer vision pipelines that identify individual animals from camera trap and field photographs, supporting species census, trafficking detection, and population monitoring across flagship projects covering mountain lions in San Mateo County, polar bears in the Arctic, cheetahs in the Horn of Africa, tigers and other species in India's Western Ghats, and ecosystems in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Its flagship software product is the Wetlands for Life App (in beta since August 2023), a mobile/web tool that guides agricultural landowners and developing-nation communities through constructing Bio-Garden Wetlands with personalized annual impact reporting on water filtration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and soil health. Supporting products include Wildlife Data Libraries aggregating photographs, videos, and sound recordings into a collaborative research network; Data Collection Expeditions partnering with travel companies; and a Wildlife Ambassadors photography program.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining individual donations via PayPal (preset tiers of $10-$1,000 plus custom amounts), foundation and corporate grants, environmental valuation projects delivering ESG/SDG impact reports (forest protection, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, re-wilding), and emerging ESG credit partnerships such as the engagement with the Colombian Government to value the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta ecosystem. Distribution is primarily direct via the company website and email, self-serve through the Wetlands for Life app, channel partnerships with conservation-focused travel operators, and field-driven enterprise sales to governments and foundations. Customer segments include agricultural landowners and developing-nation communities (primary), local and indigenous communities, conservation organizations and researchers, and foundations, corporations, and impact investors.

Name

The Big Wild

Legal name

The Big Wild

Website

https://thebigwild.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Big Wild is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that applies AI, ML, and GIS technology to wildlife conservation and environmental valuation, serving conservation organizations, governments, researchers, and agricultural landowners through facial-recognition wildlife monitoring, data libraries, and the Wetlands for Life app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Technology Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs (EUAHAHAE), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation technology
• AI wildlife monitoring
• Environmental valuation services
• Conservation data analytics
• Wetland construction app

Headquarters

HQ city

Middleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donors can contribute via PayPal with preset donation amounts ($10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1000) or custom amounts. Large donations, grants, and partnership proposals are handled through direct email contact at [email protected].
2. Environmental Valuation Projects: Maximizing ESG/SDG impact through a global portfolio of SDG programs. Projects include forest protection, carbon sequestration credits, oil cleanup credits, freshwater quality reports, ocean acidification reports, biodiversity reports, and re-wilding initiatives. Each project has an annual impact report and is scientifically vetted by The Big Wild's scientists, ecologists, and partners.
3. Grants and Foundation Funding: The organization accepts grants from foundations and corporations for specific conservation programs and partnerships.
4. ESG Credits Partnerships: Establishing large partnerships for ESG credits to support vital ecosystems. Working with the Colombian Government, local communities, and partners to establish valuations of key ecosystems for ESG credit programs.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Big Wild is a nonprofit technology-for-conservation organization that applies AI, ML, and GIS tools to collect and annotate wildlife and nature-based data, identify individual animals (including via facial recognition), and run environmental valuation programs aligned with UN SDG Goals 13, 14, 15, and 17. Its primary commercial offering is the Wetlands for Life App (Beta) that guides agricultural landowners and developing-nation communities in constructing Bio-Garden Wetlands with personalized impact reporting, supplemented by Environmental Valuations, Endangered Wildlife & Trafficking Data, Data Libraries, and Data Collection Expeditions.

Product overview

The Big Wild is a nonprofit technology-for-conservation organization offering a portfolio of programs and one primary software product (Wetlands for Life App in Beta). Their offerings combine disruptive AI, ML, and GIS technology with data collection, wildlife identification, and environmental valuation programs. The core Wetlands for Life App enables users to construct bio-garden wetlands with impact tracking, while companion programs include Data Libraries for wildlife behavioral data, Endangered Wildlife & Trafficking Data with facial recognition for individual animal ID, Environmental Valuations for ESG/SDG projects, and regional species-specific projects (Mountain Lions, Polar Bears, Cheetahs). Programs are supported by Data Collection Expeditions and Wildlife Ambassadors photography initiatives, all aligned with UN SDG Goals 13, 14, 15, and 17.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wetlands for Life App Mobile/web application (currently in Beta) that enables agricultural landowners and developing-nation communities to construct Bio-Garden Wetlands for water purification through a user-friendly step-by-step questionnaire, with incentivized programs and personalized annual impact reports on water filtration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity corridors, and soil health.
• Data Libraries Collaborative platform aggregating photographs, camera trap images, videos, and sound recordings for wildlife behavioral and social data analysis, providing the technical foundation for a distributed research network for migratory and global species with an easy-to-use software suite extended to wildlife project needs.
• Environmental Valuations Global portfolio of SDG programs delivering ESG/SDG impact through scientifically vetted annual impact reports, covering forest protection, carbon sequestration credits, oil cleanup credits, freshwater quality reports, ocean acidification reports, biodiversity reports, and re-wilding initiatives.
• Endangered Wildlife & Trafficking Data Wildlife identification program developing face recognition software for individual animal monitoring using camera traps and photographs, addressing illegal wildlife trafficking through individual identification, prosecution support, and population monitoring of endangered species including cheetahs, pangolins, and rhinos.
• Data for Climate, Earth & Society Program utilizing technology, science, innovation, and development to strategically support natural capital, social capital, and human capital, focused on UN SDG Goals 13, 14, 15, and 17 for climate action, life below water, life on land, and partnerships.
• Data Collection Expeditions Small group travel tours to wilderness locations (India, Galapagos, Africa) for wildlife photography and data collection, partnered with conservation-focused travel companies that support local and indigenous communities and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
• Wildlife Ambassadors Program showcasing and supporting wildlife photographers dedicated to conservation photography, featuring photographers who donate images for fighting poaching, trafficking, and wildlife data collection.
• Mountain Lions Project Individual mountain lion identification project in San Mateo County, California using facial recognition to identify priority habitats, key wildlife corridors, and promote ecosystem conservation, with outreach to help residents deter mountain lions from livestock and pets.
• Arctic Polar Bear ID Project Individual identification project for polar bears providing researchers with population data, migratory patterns, prey information, and human-wildlife conflict data to support studies on polar bear survival linked to declining sea ice.
• Cheetah Range Mapping and Individual ID Pilot Program Program protecting Northeast African cheetah subspecies in the Horn of Africa through baseline data gathering and individual identification, addressing the illegal wildlife trade moving approximately 300 cheetah cubs per year into the Arabian Peninsula.
• Western Ghats Region Project Environmental valuation project in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Western Ghats of India, a global biodiversity hotspot, providing innovative applications to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, support endangered species (tigers, elephants, lion-tailed macaques), and enable land valuations for local land stewards.
• Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Project Environmental valuation initiative in Colombia's isolated mountain range, an essential carbon sink ecosystem with 3,000+ vascular plant species and 440 bird species, working with the Colombian Government and local communities to establish ESG credits for forest protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fewer than 7,000 adult cheetahs remain in the wild (2010-2019 estimates); more than 3,600 live cheetahs sold illegally worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Cal BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of California, Berkeley for the Wetlands for Life app development. Cal Berkeley contributes academic rigor and research capabilities to the app's design and scientific validation.
• RCD (Resource Conservation District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Resource Conservation District programs for the Wetlands for Life app, providing essential programs and expertise for agricultural landowners constructing wetlands.
• Wild Me (Wildbook Project)coreTechnology or IntegrationWild Me is a non-profit home of the Wildbook project bringing together computer vision, crowdsourcing, and conservation. Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf is co-founder and director. The Big Wild builds upon Wildbook's AI for conservation technology.
• Mission Blue - The Sylvia Ealle AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJonathan Knowles serves as Science and Exploration Fellow at Mission Blue. Mission Blue is a leading ocean conservation organization working on protecting marine ecosystems.
• Frontier Development Lab (NASA AI Research Accelerator)majorTechnology or IntegrationJonathan Knowles serves as Exploration and Ideation Director. NASA-affiliated AI research accelerator applying artificial intelligence to space exploration and Earth observation challenges.
• Travel Partner CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel companies offering small group conservation tours. These partners are dedicated to wildlife conservation, local and indigenous community support, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Tours include safari lodges to wilderness camps in conservation areas worldwide.
• Colombian GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with the Colombian Government, local communities, and partners to establish valuation of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta ecosystem. Currently establishing large partnerships for ESG credits to support this vital region.
• International Conservation Organizations and Policy MakersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with international conservation organizations and policy makers to ensure data collected by images is only accessible to and utilized by organizations needing accurate identifications and counts of wildlife for conservation initiatives.
• Wildlife Photographers (Ambassadors)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWildlife photographers like Scott Ramsay who donate images for conservation purposes and help raise awareness through their platforms (Instagram: @scottramsay.africa, website: scottramsay.africa).
• Local and Indigenous CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborations with local and indigenous communities including the Arhuacos, Koguis, Wiwas, Kankuamos (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), and communities in Western Ghats, Horn of Africa, and other project regions. Communities provide local knowledge and serve as essential land stewards.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smart Parks: Deploys AI-powered sensors and wildlife monitoring technology in protected areas. Direct peer on the tech-for-wildlife-monitoring axis that The Big Wild's facial recognition pilots compete with.
• NatureServe: Non-profit that maintains authoritative biodiversity data and species range maps used for conservation decisions. Closely comparable on the wildlife data library and conservation-decision-support function The Big Wild is building.
• Rainforest Connection: Uses acoustic monitoring and AI to detect illegal logging and wildlife poaching in real time. Comparable tech-for-conservation non-profit combining field hardware, AI, and community engagement.
• Wild Me: Non-profit home of the Wildbook project that uses computer vision and crowdsourcing for wildlife identification. Most directly comparable peer — Founding Advisor Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf is co-founder and director, and The Big Wild explicitly builds on Wildbook's AI stack.
• Conservation Metrics: Applies computer vision and AI to camera trap imagery for wildlife population monitoring. Direct technical peer to The Big Wild's endangered wildlife and trafficking data programs.

Emerging players

• Pachama: Technology platform for nature-based carbon credits using satellite and AI verification. Emerging peer in the nature-credit market where The Big Wild is also building ESG credit methodologies for ecosystems like Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Large established conservation NGO that increasingly deploys technology for biodiversity monitoring and ESG valuations. Comparable in mission and biodiversity hotspot engagement (Western Ghats, Sierra Nevada) but operates at vastly greater scale.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One of the largest global conservation NGOs, active in wildlife trafficking prevention and species monitoring across the same geographies. Broad incumbent that competes for the same donor and grant dollars.
• Fauna & Flora International: Long-established international conservation NGO working in biodiversity hotspots (including Western Ghats) with growing technology adoption. Comparable as a donor-funded conservation organization operating across the same geographies.
• Microsoft AI for Earth: Large-scale Microsoft initiative funding and developing AI applications for conservation, agriculture, and biodiversity. Represents the broader incumbent threat — substantially more capital and engineering depth than The Big Wild.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheBigWildOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCS8JulD0yj37A4swbe7rgWw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-big-wild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 The Big Wild