awana digital
Awana Digital is a San Francisco-based non-profit that co-develops free, offline-first open-source tools with Indigenous and frontline communities worldwide. Its flagship CoMapeo platform enables territory monitoring, mapping, and environmental documentation in 38 countries without internet connectivity.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What awana digital does
Awana Digital is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization (founded 2008 as Digital Democracy, rebranded in 2023) that builds decentralized, open-source technology tools in close collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities defending their territories and rights. Its flagship product is CoMapeo, a free, offline-first mobile and desktop application that enables communities to document environmental threats, biodiversity, sacred sites, and human rights abuses through GPS, photo, and audio capture, with all data stored locally on devices via a peer-to-peer database. The tool is designed to operate without internet connectivity in remote regions and is engineered around data sovereignty—data never resides on Awana or third-party servers unless users explicitly export it. CoMapeo supports 23+ languages with customizable categories and icons reflecting local ecosystems and cultural contexts, and integrates with satellite monitoring (Imazon), conservation analytics (Conservation Metrics' Guardian Connector/Remoto), and mapping libraries (Mapbox, MapLibre, Leaflet).
The organization operates a portfolio that includes the Earth Defenders Toolkit (a resource and community hub), Terrastories (place-based storytelling), Āhau (genealogy and cultural records), and several open-source developer tools (Mapbox Storytelling Upgraded, MapLibre Storytelling, Map Printer, Leaflet Side by Side). Awana Digital employs a community-led go-to-market model: it co-designs tools with Indigenous partners, conducts field training, and relies on cascading partner-led adoption—partners like CIPDP, Mulokot Foundation, and Islands Knowledge Institute now train other communities independently. The organization is funded entirely through donations and grants from entities including Daughters for Earth, Eurofins, and VOICE Global, and serves communities across 38 countries spanning South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
As of December 2025, partners have used Awana's tools to map, monitor, and defend approximately 17 million hectares of land across 75+ projects, and the organization has set a strategic goal of reaching 100 million hectares mapped by end of 2027. The company is led by Co-Founder and Executive Director Emily Jacobi with a small distributed team including Technology Director Gregor MacLennan, Product Manager Ximena Becerra, Lead Backend Developer Mauve Signweaver, and Program Lead Jen Castro. Awana Digital is not a venture-backed or publicly traded entity and generates no commercial revenue—all tools are provided free of charge.
awana digital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- awana digital
- Legal name
- Awana Digital
- Website
- https://awana.digital
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Awana Digital is a San Francisco-based non-profit that co-develops free, offline-first open-source tools with Indigenous and frontline communities worldwide. Its flagship CoMapeo platform enables territory monitoring, mapping, and environmental documentation in 38 countries without internet connectivity.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
awana digital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Territory Monitoring Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data App Builders (Forms, Portals & Internal Tools) (HDAEAKAK)
Keywords
Where awana digital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
awana digital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organization, Awana Digital operates primarily through donations and grant funding. The website prominently features donation options, and the organization mentions support from funders including Daughters for Earth and Eurofins. Revenue supports tool development, community training, and organizational operations.
- Free Tool Distribution: CoMapeo and other tools are provided completely free to communities. The organization builds open-source technology and contributes to open-source libraries. Tools are free or inexpensive with hardware-agnostic, cross-platform design.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free and open-source for all users |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
awana digital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Awana Digital develops free, open-source, offline-first software tools — most notably CoMapeo, a mobile and desktop territory monitoring and mapping application — that enable Indigenous and frontline communities to collect GPS points, photos, and audio data without internet connectivity. The tools are co-designed with partner communities, store all data locally on user devices through a peer-to-peer database, and are distributed along with training, multilingual support, and an Earth Defenders Toolkit resource hub.
Product overview
Awana Digital is a non-profit organization that builds decentralized, open-source technology hand-in-hand with Indigenous partners. The product portfolio centers on CoMapeo — a free, offline-first mobile and desktop toolset for territory monitoring, mapping, and collaborative data collection — supplemented by the Earth Defenders Toolkit, an online resource hub that houses Terrastories (place-based storytelling) and Āhau (genealogy/cultural records). Additional supporting tools include Mapbox Storytelling Upgraded, Maplibre Storytelling, Map Printer, Leaflet Side by Side, and the Mapeo Icons Generator. These tools are designed to work in remote environments without internet access, emphasize community data sovereignty, and support Indigenous territorial defense, biodiversity monitoring, and cultural heritage preservation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CoMapeo Free, open-source mobile and desktop toolset for territory monitoring and mapping projects and teams. Enables communities to document environmental threats, biodiversity, and human rights abuses entirely offline with data stored locally on devices via a peer-to-peer database.
- Earth Defenders Toolkit Collaborative online space providing resources, training materials, community networks, and case studies for communities defending critical ecosystems around the world. Houses supporting tools including Terrastories and Āhau.
- Terrastories Application for communities to map, protect, and share stories about their land by connecting audio or video content to places on a map. Supports place-based storytelling and cultural heritage documentation.
- Mapbox Storytelling Upgraded Fork of Mapbox's Storytelling template by Awana Digital adding additional optional configuration options to customize scrollytelling map stories.
- Maplibre Storytelling Template for data journalists and digital storytellers to build scrollytelling map stories with MapLibre without coding experience.
- Map Printer Tool for exporting massive high-resolution PNG images from Mapbox map styles.
- Leaflet Side by Side Leaflet control adding a split screen to compare two map overlays, useful for before/after comparisons and overlay analysis.
- Mapeo Icons Generator Web tool for generating SVG icons for use in Mapeo and other mapping applications, supporting customization of map categories.
- Āhau Indigenous community platform supporting genealogy and cultural records by linking stories to places.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17 million hectares mapped and defended by partners as of December 2025
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use awana digital
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
awana digital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature7 records
awana digital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Guerreiras da FlorestacoreGuajajara environmental guardians and leaders co-organizing women's gatherings in Brazilian Amazon. Four leaders (Maisa, Marcilene, Paulinha, and Poliana Guajajara) co-designed gathering focused on Rights of Nature, Women's Rights, and Climate Change.
- PAGES Project (with Secretary of Agricultural Family of Maranhão)minorRecent partnership supporting Indigenous land defense work in Brazilian state of Maranhão.
- Tech4RuralminorYouth-led organization in Nigeria using CoMapeo to train 40 monitors documenting oil spills in Niger Delta. Vision to build volunteer network of thousands.
- IMPECT ThailandminorPartner supporting Karen communities in Thailand to use CoMapeo for ecosystem and climate resilience monitoring.
- Forest Peoples Programme (FPP)coreLong-time strategic partner supporting Indigenous communities with rights-based legal and advocacy support. Brought Awana Digital in to support community partners across Central and Eastern Africa, Colombia, Peru, and Thailand. Collaborated on Ogiek mapping work since 2020.
- Conservation MetricscoreDeepened collaboration on joint work for biocultural monitoring workflow grounded in Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Partner behind Guardian Connector and Remoto deployment in Solomon Islands, integrated with CoMapeo for analysis and reporting.
- ImazoncoreSatellite monitoring partner providing forest change alerts that point rangers to areas requiring ground verification. CoMapeo used to verify satellite detections on the ground, recording observations, photos, audio, and tracks.
- Nia TerocoreStrategic partner supporting Indigenous land defense work. Supported Awana Digital's work in Solomon Islands alongside Islands Knowledge Institute and Conservation Metrics.
- Islands Knowledge Institute (IKI)coreLeading CoMapeo trainings across Solomon Islands including Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Western Province. Now leading national monitoring effort independently, conducting trainings without Awana Digital present.
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science at Oxford UniversityminorCollaborating on Ogiek biodiversity monitoring work that blends scientific methods with Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
- One Earth (Daughters for Earth)coreFunder and co-convenor of Daughters for Earth gathering that brought together 50+ Indigenous Peoples from Central and East Africa. Supported sharing of mapping methodologies and territorial defense strategies.
- Mai-Maasina Green Belt (MMGB)coreSolomon Islands partner since 2022 who began relationship with Awana Digital. MMGB office served as training location for CoMapeo trainings and continues supporting monitoring work.
- Amazon FrontlinescoreKey partner in Waorani mapping project that helped protect Ecuadorian rainforest. Played role in designing and supporting participatory mapping process that enabled Waorani community to document sacred sites, hunting areas, and living territories.
- Alianza CeibocoreStrategic partner working alongside Waorani leaders and Amazon Frontlines on territorial defense in Ecuadorian Amazon.
- Mulokot FoundationcoreWayana-led foundation in Suriname now supporting Wayana communities in French Guiana - demonstrating peer-to-peer growth where partners train others.
- Chepkitale Indigenous Peoples Development Project (CIPDP)coreLong-term partner leading Ogiek of Mt. Elgon mapping work since 2020. Women-led mapping team used Mapeo to collect 5,000+ data points. Now trains other communities including Sengwer and has shared methodologies at regional gatherings.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
awana digital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Conservation Metrics: Provides Guardian Connector and Remoto platforms for satellite-to-ground conservation monitoring. Direct technology partner of Awana Digital, integrating field records from CoMapeo with satellite alerts and dashboards.
- Open Data Kit (ODK): Open-source toolkit for mobile data collection in offline environments, used globally by researchers, NGOs, and field teams. Closely comparable to CoMapeo in offline-first mobile form/data architecture and open-source distribution model.
- KoboToolbox: Open-source mobile data collection platform widely used by humanitarian, environmental, and research organizations for offline field surveys. Directly comparable to CoMapeo in open-source, mobile-first, NGO-targeted data collection.
- Forest Peoples Programme: Long-time strategic partner supporting Indigenous communities with rights-based legal and advocacy support, including in Africa, Colombia, Peru, and Thailand. Directly comparable as a partner ecosystem organization working on Indigenous land rights and territorial defense.
Broad incumbents
- Mapbox: Commercial mapping platform whose map styles, Storytelling templates, and tiles underpin Awana's Mapbox Storytelling Upgraded and Map Printer tools. Broad incumbent in the mapping technology stack Awana builds on.
- Global Forest Watch: World Resources Institute platform providing near-real-time forest monitoring via satellite, with country- and concession-level analytics. Comparable as a forest monitoring platform Awana partners with and whose users may also adopt CoMapeo for ground-level verification.
- Planet Labs: Commercial satellite imagery provider with high-cadence Earth observation used for forest and land-use monitoring. Comparable as a satellite-based environmental monitoring player increasingly paired with ground-truth tools like CoMapeo.
- Rainforest Foundation Norway: International NGO supporting Indigenous and traditional peoples' rights to rainforest protection, including through community mapping and monitoring programs. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the Indigenous-led rainforest monitoring space where Awana's tools are deployed.
Regional players
- Imazon: Brazilian Amazon research institute operating SAD satellite deforestation alert systems. Direct integration partner with CoMapeo for ground-truthing satellite detections in the Brazilian Amazon.
Emerging players
- Nia Tero: Strategic partner supporting Indigenous-led land defense globally, including co-supporting Awana's work in Solomon Islands. Comparable as an emerging funder/organization focused on Indigenous land stewardship that complements CoMapeo's data collection.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
awana digital social profiles
Digital presenceawana digital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
awana digital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
awana digital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
awana digital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about awana digital
What does awana digital do?
Awana Digital develops free, open-source, offline-first software tools — most notably CoMapeo, a mobile and desktop territory monitoring and mapping application — that enable Indigenous and frontline communities to collect GPS points, photos, and audio data without internet connectivity. The tools are co-designed with partner communities, store all data locally on user devices through a peer-to-peer database, and are distributed along with training, multilingual support, and an Earth Defenders Toolkit resource hub.
Is awana digital a public or private company?
awana digital is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was awana digital founded?
awana digital was founded in 2008.
Where is awana digital based?
awana digital is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does awana digital make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are free Tool Distribution.
Who are awana digital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Conservation Metrics, Open Data Kit (ODK), KoboToolbox and Forest Peoples Programme. Broad incumbents are Mapbox, Global Forest Watch, Planet Labs and Rainforest Foundation Norway. Imazon is listed as a regional player. Nia Tero is listed as an emerging player.
Does awana digital have an API?
No public API is recorded for awana digital.
What industry is awana digital in?
awana digital's product category is Territory Monitoring Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAKAK, Data App Builders (Forms, Portals & Internal Tools). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.