NGO Micofilos

What NGO Micofilos does

NGO Micófilos (ONG Micófilos Chile) is a Chilean non-governmental non-profit organization founded in 2018 by biologist Viviana Salazar-Vidal, dedicated to research, education, conservation, and scientific dissemination on the Fungi Kingdom in Chile. Its core physical asset is the fungarium MICOCL, registered in the New York Index Herbariorum and housing approximately 2,000 documented samples of macrofungi and lichens, which functions as a reference collection for ongoing Chilean mycological research. The organization complements the fungarium with a research network of more than 20 Chilean and international institutional partners, the Mycology Clubs for Children program (originated in 2016), free downloadable educational materials (books, infographics, games, manuals, illustrations), and biannual Chilean Mycology Meetings (2019 and 2021).

The NGO's revenue model is donation-led, with a WebPay donation portal and book sales as secondary streams; specifically, two published books - 'Mushrooms from the central zone of Chile' and 'Native Edible Wild Mushrooms of Chile' - are sold through the organization's website, while all educational content is otherwise free. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, reaching audiences through schools and universities, social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), earned media coverage in Chilean outlets (El Mercurio, La Tercera), and partnerships with foundations such as Fundación Mustakis and Ladera Sur through the Guardians of the Future initiative.

The organization is founder-led, with a small core team comprising Salazar-Vidal, a Second Generation team that includes Carolina Sobarzo and Felipe, and a wider community of nine mycophotographers plus named contributors such as Eitel Thielemann, Carola Venegas, and Daniela Pérez Orellana. It collaborates with CONAF, the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Explora Program, and a roster of Chilean universities (UDEC, UCHILE, UFRO, UACH, PUC, UMAG, PUCV, UCM, UTAL), and has received external recognition including the 2022 Rufford Fund grant and a 2019 IMA Fungus Magazine feature.

Name

NGO Micofilos

Legal name

ONG Micófilos Chile

Website

https://micofilos.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NGO Micófilos is a Chilean non-profit founded in 2018 by Viviana Salazar-Vidal, dedicated to fungi research, education, conservation, and scientific outreach. It operates a 2,000-sample fungarium (MICOCL), runs the Mycology Clubs for Children program, and is funded by donations and book sales in Chile.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Mycological Research

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Mycology research
• Fungal conservation
• Environmental education
• Scientific outreach
• Fungarium collections

Headquarters

HQ city

Chile (location not specifically disclosed)

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Accepts donations through WebPay portal with payment reason 'Donation NGO Micófilos'. No public pricing as this is a non-profit organization.
2. Book Sales: Published books including 'Mushrooms from the central zone of Chile' and 'Native Edible Wild Mushrooms of Chile' launched through the NGO.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NGO Micófilos delivers free mycological education, scientific outreach, and conservation services to the Chilean public, schools, and researchers. Its core offerings include a Fungarium (MICOCL) with 2,000 fungal specimens, Mycology Clubs for Children, downloadable didactic materials, school talks and field trips, and published books on Chilean fungi, all supported through donations and a partner research network of 20+ institutions.

Product overview

NGO Micófilos is a Chilean non-governmental organization dedicated to research, education, conservation, and scientific dissemination around the Fungi Kingdom. The organization operates as a unified initiative with multiple interconnected offerings: a Fungarium (registered herbarium for fungi with 2,000 samples), Mycology Clubs for Children for educational outreach, free downloadable educational materials (books, infographics, games), scientific outreach activities (talks, field trips, courses, workshops), and a research network. The NGO also publishes books on Chilean fungi and organizes the Chilean Mycology Meeting. All activities focus on promoting knowledge, conservation, and sustainable practices related to fungi in Chile.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fungarium MICOCL A fungarium (herbarium for fungi) registered in the New York Index Herbariorum with code 'MICOCL' (Micófilos Chile), housing approximately 2,000 samples for research, documentation, and conservation purposes. Open to researchers and collaborators for specimen reference and study.
• Mycology Clubs for Children Educational clubs deployed in schools that teach children about the Fungi Kingdom through hands-on activities. Designed for school deployment and supported by Explora Program and various sponsoring institutions.
• Free Educational Materials Free downloadable didactic materials including books, infographics, games, and guides oriented to the general public for teaching about fungi characteristics. Distributed digitally from micofilos.cl.
• Scientific Outreach Program Free activities including talks, field trips, courses, and workshops delivered in schools and higher education institutions across Chile, focused on fungal education, edible wild mushroom identification, and conservation.
• Mushrooms from the Central Zone of Chile (book) Book publication covering mushroom species found in the central zone of Chile, sold directly by NGO Micófilos for educational and identification purposes.
• Native Edible Wild Mushrooms of Chile (book) Book publication documenting edible wild mushrooms native to Chile, sold directly by NGO Micófilos to support edible species identification and conservation awareness.
• Collaborative Research Network A research network comprising national and international institutions dedicated to the study and divulgation of the Fungi Kingdom, supporting collaborative research efforts, postgraduate training, and internships for Chilean and foreign colleagues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ participants at I Chilean Mycology Meeting 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidad de Concepción (UDEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding institution for founders Viviana Salazar-Vidal and Sandra Troncoso. Home institution for mycophotographer Carola Venegas. Collaborates on research network and mycological activities.
• Universidad de Chile (UCHILE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for I Chilean Mycology Meeting 2019 at Faculty of Sciences. Collaborates on fungal research and education initiatives.
• Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of II Chilean Mycology Meeting 2021 with UFRO Fungi Group. Home to Dr. Leonardo Almonacid and EcoFungi project. Collaborates on research and education in La Araucanía region.
• Universidad Austral de Chile (UACH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in research network. Contributes to collaborative mycological research initiatives.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Garden Club of Chile for online talk 'Fungi of Chile and their role in the ecosystem' by Viviana Salazar-Vidal.
• Explora ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration since NGO beginnings. Viviana served as Scientific Advisor to Explora Program. Supports educational outreach and Mycology Clubs for Children.
• Fundación MustakisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-founder of 'Guardians of the Future' initiative with Ladera Sur. Supports environmental education programs.
• Ladera SurminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental platform co-founder of 'Guardianes del Futuro' initiative. Publishes articles about Chilean fungi and mushroom education.
• Fundación FuturominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Mycology Clubs for Children program. Organizes educational conversatories about fungi in classrooms.
• Lemu Rehue: Pensar como un BosqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Mycology Clubs for Children. Viviana Salazar-Vidal serves as director. Collaborates on forest conservation and mycological education.
• NGO Madre MiceliominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in organization of I Chilean Mycology Meeting 2019.
• CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment forestry agency partner. Eitel Thielemann is certified mountain guide under CONAF Sendero de Chile program.
• MMA (Ministerio del Medio Ambiente)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Environment partner. GBIF Chile falls under MMA. Collaborates on biodiversity and environmental education initiatives.
• Libro VerdeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Mycology Clubs for Children program. Environmental organization partner.
• Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in research network for Patagonia region mycology studies.
• Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in research network.
• Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in research network.
• Universidad de Talca (UTAL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in research network.
• MNHN (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural History Museum partner. Hosted Fungi Cycle MHNC 2021 educational event.
• Senda DarwinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch foundation partner in biodiversity and conservation initiatives.
• Fundación Huilo HuilominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation foundation partner in mycology research network.
• Naturalistas ChileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative platform for online talks about fungi education. Hosted multiple talks by NGO members including Viviana Salazar-Vidal.
• British Mycological Society (BMS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mycology organization partner from UK, supporting global mycological community.
• MicosechaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean mycology project partner in research network.
• SouthMycorrhizaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMycorrhiza research network partner.
• Restauremos ChileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest restoration initiative partner, aligning with conservation mission.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• British Mycological Society: UK-based registered charity promoting mycology through research, education, and conservation. Most directly comparable to Micófilos as a peer NGO/membership organization focused on fungal literacy, with an international network and field events.
• North American Mycological Association (NAMA): US-based mycological society with affiliated local clubs, educational programs, and annual forays. Closely comparable to Micófilos in mission (education, conservation, citizen science) and structure (volunteer-led, club-based model).
• Australian Fungi Map / Fungimap: Australia-based citizen-science NGO mapping native fungi. Comparable to Micófilos in its volunteer-led, community-driven NGO model and focus on documenting and conserving native fungal biodiversity.
• Fungi Foundation: Chilean-founded international NGO dedicated to fungal conservation, awareness, and research. Closely comparable to Micófilos in mission and regional origin, with a stronger global footprint and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Mycological Society of America (MSA): Academic scientific society that publishes the journal Mycologia and supports research on fungi. Comparable to Micófilos in its research and education mission, but anchored in a formal scientific-membership model with broader international scope.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Mycology Section): Global research institution maintaining one of the world's largest fungarium collections. Comparable to Micófilos in that its fungarium functions as a research asset, but operates at vastly larger scale and with multiple research priorities beyond fungi.

Regional players

• Fundación Hongos de Argentina / Fungus Argentina: Argentine platform for citizen science, education, and conservation of fungi. Comparable to Micófilos in its mission, regional focus, and community-led educational outreach on native fungi.
• Asociación Micológica Carlos Spegazzini: Argentine mycological association conducting research and educational outreach on South American fungi. Comparable to Micófilos as a Latin American counterpart advancing regional mycology, but based in Argentina.
• Sociedad Mexicana de Micología: Mexican scientific society promoting mycological research, congresses, and education since the 1960s. Comparable to Micófilos as a regional mycology society hosting regular congresses and publications, but with a longer institutional history.

Others

• Atlas of Living Australia (fungi records): Australian government-supported biodiversity informatics platform that curates fungal occurrence records. Comparable to Micófilos' fungarium and citizen-science ambitions, but operates as a government-backed data infrastructure rather than a nonprofit society.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbZnxebExq1_ez6clmZ7mPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/micofiloschile
• Instagraminstagram.com/micofiloschile
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ong-mic%C3%B3filos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NGO Micofilos