AMES Foundation

What AMES Foundation does

AMES Foundation gGmbH is a Berlin-registered, German-tax-supervised non-profit (gemeinnützige gGmbH) founded in 2020 by Marlon Braumann and a group of co-founders drawn from the German venture, private equity, and digital ecosystems. Its mission is to halt the decline of endangered African species — elephants, rhinos, lions, and pangolins — through direct habitat control, anti-poaching operations, rehabilitation, and community development in southern Africa. Since May 1, 2021, AMES has held legal control of a reserve in South Africa's Waterberg region previously founded in 1994 by veterinarians Peter and Pam Oberem, and it has extended operations into Namibia via a partnership with EHRA.

The organization operates three pillars: a Guardian Community of vetted individual and corporate members; Conservation Tech built around drone-based aerial survey, AI-powered image and video analysis (claimed >90% species identification accuracy), IoT camera traps, and an in-development AR/Metaverse Biodiversity App; and a Habitat pillar managed through the AMES Habitat Fund for land acquisition. On-ground operations are coordinated by Les Brett and include anti-poaching units, ranger training via the Dung Beetle Bush School, and animal rehabilitation centers.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual Guardian membership dues (individuals and corporates), one-off and recurring donations (PayPal and bank transfer), merchandise sales via the AMES Collection e-commerce storefront, animal sponsorship (Tierpatenschaft), and (in development) biodiversity credit issuance via the Biodiversity Credit Alliance. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; membership is application-based and inquiry-driven. Distribution is direct-to-consumer, supplemented by community events, exclusive travel experiences to the South African reserve, organic social media, a MailChimp newsletter, earned media in German business outlets, and limited paid search.

Name

AMES Foundation

Legal name

AMES Foundation gGmbH

Website

https://ames-foundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AMES Foundation is a Berlin-registered German non-profit (gGmbH) that protects endangered African species through habitat control, anti-poaching operations, and conservation technology, funded by vetted Guardian memberships, corporate partners, donations, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Anti-poaching services
• Habitat protection
• Conservation technology
• Animal rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Guardian Membership Dues: The primary revenue source is membership fees paid by individual Guardians (adults) and Corporate Guardians. Members receive access to exclusive events, the Guardian network, and the opportunity to participate in AMES trips to South Africa. The fees fund conservation projects, anti-poaching units, habitat management, and community development in Southern Africa.
2. Corporate Membership and Sponsorship: Corporate Guardians and Corporate Supporters pay annual contributions in exchange for recognition, network access, and advisory involvement. Support includes knowledge, contacts, experience, and ideas beyond financial support.
3. Direct Donations and PayPal: One-time or recurring donations from supporters via PayPal and bank transfer (IBAN: DE10 5109 0000 0005 3877 01, Wiesbadener Volksbank). Donations are tax-deductible via German donation certificates.
4. AMES Collection Merchandise: High-quality apparel and merchandise sold through the AMES Collection online shop (ames-collection.com). Proceeds flow directly into AMES Foundation projects such as training opportunities for locals and anti-poaching unit support. Full cost transparency is provided for each item.
5. AMES Animal Sponsorship (Tierpatenschaft): Supporters can become sponsors of specific animals in the AMES reserve, providing targeted funding for individual animal welfare and habitat maintenance.
6. Biodiversity Credits: AMES is working on generating and trading Biodiversity Credits, which could provide a future revenue stream tied to measurable conservation outcomes. This is tied to participation in the Biodiversity Credit Alliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AMES Foundation is a German-registered non-profit (gemeinnützige gGmbH) that funds and operates African wildlife conservation through a Guardian membership program, corporate partnerships, animal sponsorships, merchandise sales (AMES Collection), and exclusive conservation travel experiences (AMES Experiences). It manages a reserve in South Africa's Waterberg region with anti-poaching units, ranger training, rehabilitation centers, and develops conservation technologies including drones, AI image analysis, and camera traps.

Product overview

AMES Foundation is a non-profit organization structured as a charitable gGmbH (limited liability company) registered in Germany, founded in 2020 with the mission to make biodiversity conservation in Africa scalable and profitable. The organization operates as a 'for impact' entity with three core pillars: Guardian Community (membership-based funding), Conservation Tech (technology-driven protection), and Habitat (land management). Product offerings include annual Guardian Memberships that fund operations, the in-development Biodiversity App featuring AR capabilities, Conservation Tech Solutions (drones, camera traps, AI analysis), Biodiversity Credits for market-based conservation, the AMES Collection merchandise line, and AMES Experiences travel programs. The organization also operates field programs including anti-poaching units, ranger training through their bush school, rehabilitation centers, and community development initiatives. The Habitat Fund enables land acquisition for wildlife protection in southern Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Guardian Membership Annual subscription membership for individuals (entrepreneurs, founders, investors, creatives) providing access to the Guardian network, exclusive events, newsletters, and AMES travel experiences to the South African reserve. Funds anti-poaching units, habitat protection, and conservation technology.
• Corporate Guardian Membership Annual corporate membership offering brand recognition, exclusive networking with the Guardian community, advisory involvement, and unique experiences at the South African reserve. Targeted at companies seeking CSR/impact engagement.
• AMES Collection (Merchandise) High-quality apparel and accessories sold through ames-collection.com. Produced under fair conditions, with proceeds funding training opportunities for locals and anti-poaching unit support. Full cost transparency on each item.
• AMES Experiences & Travel Exclusive week-long travel experiences to the South African AMES reserve for Guardians, combining wildlife education, ecology courses, anti-poaching training, and guided safari experiences. Small groups (max 10 Guardians per trip).
• AMES Tierpatenschaft (Animal Sponsorship) Annual sponsorship program allowing supporters to directly sponsor specific animals in the AMES reserve, providing targeted funding for individual animal welfare and habitat maintenance.
• AMES Habitat Fund Investment vehicle for acquiring and managing land in southern Africa to create safe habitats for wildlife. Managed by AMES to protect, transform, and preserve biodiversity-rich habitats.
• Direct Donations (PayPal / Bank Transfer) One-time or recurring donations accepted via PayPal and bank transfer (IBAN: DE10 5109 0000 0005 3877 01, Wiesbadener Volksbank). Donations are tax-deductible in Germany via official donation certificates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drone mapping covers 20,000 hectares in 3-4 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ICUservercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Founded in 2015 in Austria, ICUserver specializes in Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence solutions for wildlife conservation and management worldwide, particularly in challenging environments. They provide wildlife cameras as a Corporate Supporter of AMES, helping monitor and protect wildlife in the AMES reserve.
• Dorfjungs.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Dorfjungs. is a digital agency that develops brands for the digital age and creates standout websites. As a Corporate Partner, they have given AMES Foundation its digital home and face, helping introduce the entrepreneurial mindset into the NGO world. They handle development, web design, and digital strategy for AMES.
• Gerlich Bönig Partnerschaft von RechtsanwältenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm listed as a Corporate Partner. Philipp Bönig serves as Legal contact for AMES. They provide legal advisory services to the foundation.
• EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid), NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMES collaborates with EHRA on a comprehensive approach to protect desert elephants in Namibia, Africa. EHRA focuses on human-elephant conflict resolution and elephant protection in Namibia's desert environment.
• Peter and Pam OberemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African veterinarians who founded the AMES reserve in 1994 by transforming a livestock farm into a nature reserve. They remain as external advisors with their deep knowledge and passion. Their vision was to restore original biodiversity and allow the land to be wild again. Since May 1, 2021, the reserve is controlled by AMES, with Peter and Pam continuing as invaluable local advisors.
• Biodiversity Credit AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMES is part of the solution for the development and implementation of functioning and tradable Biodiversity Credits. This is a global initiative to create market-based instruments for financing biodiversity conservation. AMES contributes its experience from on-the-ground reserve management.
• Dung Beetle Bush SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA bush school run by Les Brett where locals are trained as rangers. The school provides environmental education and field guide training, contributing to job creation and capacity building for local communities near the AMES reserve.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Wild Tomorrow Fund: Smaller, donor-driven African wildlife conservation organization focused on land acquisition and reserve management in southern Africa. Highly comparable to AMES on size, geography, and HNW-donor-driven model.
• Great Plains Conservation: Conservation tourism and reserve management company operating in Kenya and Botswana with a high-end donor/guest model. Comparable to AMES on combining HNW engagement, experiential travel, and direct reserve management.
• Conservation X Labs: Technology-focused conservation organization developing and deploying tech tools (drones, sensors, AI) to address species and habitat threats. Closely comparable to AMES' Conservation Tech pillar.

Direct peers

• Wildlife Conservation Network: Venture-philanthropy-style wildlife conservation organization that incubates and funds field programs, including technology-enabled conservation. Comparable to AMES in combining an entrepreneurial donor base with field conservation execution.
• Save the Elephants: Specialist elephant conservation organization combining field research, anti-poaching, and technology-based monitoring in Africa. Comparable to AMES on species focus (elephants are a headline AMES species) and conservation-tech approach.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African wildlife conservation NGO operating habitat protection, anti-poaching, and community programs across multiple African range states. Closely comparable to AMES in mission and geographic focus, though with a far larger donor and operational footprint.
• Peace Parks Foundation: Facilitates transfrontier conservation areas in southern Africa, integrating reserve management, anti-poaching, and community development. Highly comparable to AMES on southern African geographic focus and reserve-management model.

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Global conservation NGO with significant African presence, corporate partnerships, and growing focus on nature-based finance (including biodiversity credits). Comparable on mission and on emerging biodiversity-credit monetization strategy.
• WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature): Global incumbent in species and habitat conservation with massive donor base, brand, and policy influence. Comparable mission but vastly larger scale; represents both a partner opportunity and competitive incumbent for donor attention.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest global conservation organizations, with significant land-holding, corporate partnerships, and emerging nature-finance activities. Comparable to AMES on long-term habitat stewardship ambition, though at an entirely different scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/amesfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amesfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/amesfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 AMES Foundation