EcoNature

What EcoNature does

EcoNature, operated by the French non-profit association "Ensemble pour la biodiversité," is a web-based marketplace that aggregates and curates more than 400 guided nature activities across France, connecting vetted independent nature guides, naturalists, and environmental educators with individual consumers, families, schools, local governments, and corporate clients. The core product is a self-serve activity discovery and booking platform organized into six thematic categories (Faune Sauvage, Flore/Fonge & Botanique, Savoir-faire Écologiques, Pratiques Créatives, Micro Aventure, and Se Ressourcer en Nature), with secure payments via Stripe, organizer calendar synchronization through the Google Calendar API, and OAuth sign-in via Google and Facebook. The platform is built on standard SaaS infrastructure (Vercel hosting in France, InfoManiak for media, Google Analytics and Tag Manager for measurement), with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML components.

The business model is hybrid and consistent with the non-profit status. For public activities, EcoNature does not charge a transaction commission; users are offered the option of a voluntary donation to support the association. For enterprise and local-government bookings under the Entreprises RSE RSO CSE packages, the platform charges a 15% commission, which funds association operations. Gift cards (€20, €50, €100, €200, or custom amounts, valid for one year) act as a one-time purchase channel, and there are no subscription tiers. Marketing is conducted through an educational biodiversity blog, an email newsletter filtered by postal code, organic and paid social, Google Ad Grants, and earned media (M6 Info, Les Echos Week-end, Paris), with distribution reinforced by partnerships with regional nature bodies including Île-de-France Nature, Les Chemins de la Biodiversité, PNR Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, and Provence Tourisme Innovation.

The organization operates with 11 employees from a Paris (20th arrondissement) headquarters and has no external investors or funding rounds disclosed. President Gilles BenZerrouk leads the association, which was recognized in 2025 as a Lauréat du Budget Participatif de la Région Île-de-France, providing regional co-financing. Activities are priced from €8 per person, the platform is single-country (France only), and there is no mobile app — the offering is exclusively web-based.

Name

EcoNature

Legal name

Ensemble pour la biodiversité

Website

https://eco-nature.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EcoNature is a French non-profit marketplace operating a web platform that aggregates over 400 vetted guided nature activities across France, connecting independent nature guides with individual consumers, families, schools, local governments, and corporate RSE clients via direct booking and gift cards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism & Nature Activity Marketplace

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife & Nature Interpretation Guides (Birding, Photography, Naturalist) (THAAALAE), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Nature activity booking
• Outdoor experience marketplace
• Biodiversity education activities
• Guided nature experiences
• Eco-tourism platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transaction Commission - Enterprise & Government: For corporate and local government activities, EcoNature charges a 15% commission on the transaction value between the organizer and client. This commission funds the association's operational expenses.
2. Optional Donations - Public Activities: For public (grand public) activities, EcoNature does not charge a commission on transactions between organizers and clients. Instead, the platform offers users the option to make a voluntary contribution to support EcoNature.
3. Gift Card Sales: Sale of gift cards valid for 1 year across 400+ activities. Cards are available in preset amounts (20€, 50€, 100€, 200€) or custom values.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EcoNature operates an online marketplace that aggregates more than 400 vetted guided nature activities and eco-friendly workshops across France, organized into six themes (Faune Sauvage, Flore & Botanique, Savoir-faire Écologiques, Pratiques Créatives, Micro Aventure, Se Ressourcer en Nature). Approved nature guides, naturalists, and associations publish and manage their activities on the platform, while individuals, families, schools, companies, and local governments discover, book, and pay for activities directly through the website, with a dedicated corporate (RSE/RSO/CSE) package and digital gift cards offered as complementary offerings.

Product overview

EcoNature operates as a unified marketplace platform connecting nature enthusiasts with approved local organizers offering guided outdoor activities. The core product is the EcoNature Activity Marketplace, which aggregates over 400 activities across six thematic categories (Faune Sauvage, Flore/Fonge & Botanique, Savoir-faire Écologiques, Pratiques Créatives, Micro Aventure, and Se Ressourcer en Nature). Supporting modules include Gift Cards (Cartes Cadeaux) for gifting activities, Corporate Activities (Entreprises RSE RSO CSE) for team-building and company events, and an educational Nature Blog. The platform serves both individual consumers and corporate clients, operating as a non-profit association ('Ensemble pour la biodiversité') that does not take commissions on public activities while charging a 15% commission on enterprise bookings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EcoNature Activity Marketplace Online marketplace aggregating 400+ vetted guided nature activities across France, connecting individuals, families, schools, companies, and local governments with approved nature guides and activity organizers across six themes: Faune Sauvage, Flore & Botanique, Savoir-faire Écologiques, Pratiques Créatives, Micro Aventure, and Se Ressourcer en Nature. Activities start from 8€ per person and are paid online via Stripe.
• Gift Cards (Cartes Cadeaux)

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ nature activities available across France
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Île-de-France NaturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional nature organization listed as a partner and supporter of EcoNature activities. EcoNature also features activities from Île-de-France Nature partners that require booking through third-party sites.
• Les Chemins de la BiodiversitécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization whose activities are featured on the EcoNature platform, with some activities requiring booking through third-party sites.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing partner handling secure transactions for paid activities. EcoNature does not store payment data; all payment information is transmitted securely to Stripe for processing in compliance with GDPR.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle Ad Grants beneficiary providing free advertising space for EcoNature's promotional activities. Also provides Google Calendar API integration for organizer agenda synchronization.
• Parc Naturel Régional de la Haute Vallée de ChevreuseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional nature park listed as a supporter of EcoNature, promoting nature activities in protected natural areas.
• Provence Tourisme InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tourism innovation organization supporting EcoNature's activities in the Provence region.
• Jupiter FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm distribution partner for the 'Wilding' documentary, for which EcoNature served as a partner in France to promote rewilding awareness.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Airbnb Experiences: Activities and experiences marketplace embedded within Airbnb's global accommodation platform. Provides generalist competition across the activity category including nature-based offerings.
• Viator: Tripadvisor-owned global activities marketplace offering tours, attractions, and experiences. Overlaps with EcoNature in guided outdoor activities but at significantly greater scale.
• GetYourGuide: Global marketplace for tours, activities, and experiences. Overlaps with EcoNature in guided nature activities but operates at much larger scale and serves a far broader experience category.

Direct peers

• Evaneos: French online marketplace connecting travelers with local guides for sustainable and customized trips, including nature and eco-tourism experiences. Most directly comparable peer given French base, curated local-guide model, and sustainability positioning.
• Terres d'Aventure: Long-established French adventure and nature travel operator offering guided hiking, wildlife, and discovery trips worldwide, including eco-friendly itineraries. Comparable in guided nature experiences, though primarily tour operator rather than marketplace.
• Allibert Trekking: French adventure travel specialist offering guided trekking and nature-based expeditions across the world. Comparable in guided outdoor/nature experiences and French market orientation.
• Voyageons Autrement: French directory and booking platform dedicated to sustainable, responsible, and nature-based tourism. Comparable niche positioning around eco-friendly travel experiences in France.

Others

• Colibris: French eco-citizen movement promoting ecological transition and sustainable lifestyles. Not a direct competitor, but thematically aligned with EcoNature's biodiversity education mission and shares French NGO/civic ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%C3%A9conature

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 EcoNature