The Cacophony Project
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
The Cacophony Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cacophony Project
- Legal name
- The Cacophony Project
- Website
- https://cacophony.org.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Cacophony Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of thermal cameras (DOC AI Cam) and High Interaction Rate Traps through commercial partner 2040.co.nz. The organization is non-profit focused on conservation outcomes rather than profit maximization.
- Grant Funding & Donations: Non-profit organization funded through grants from Department of Conservation, Predator Free 2050 Ltd, NEXT Foundation, and public donations via Givealittle.
- Software Platform Services: Cacophony Monitoring Platform provides data management and AI classification services for uploaded recordings from thermal cameras and bird monitors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | High Interaction Rate Trap - Target price around $980 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | DOC AI Cam Thermal Camera - Significantly reduced from previous version |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Cacophony Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cacophony Project develops open-source hardware and software for wildlife monitoring and predator management in New Zealand. Their core offerings include thermal cameras with AI-based predator classification and a high-efficiency predator trap, complemented by a cloud-based monitoring platform and mobile app for field use. All technology is released as open source and commercialized through their manufacturing partner 2040.co.nz.
Product overview
The Cacophony Project offers a modular ecosystem of open-source conservation technology products. The core hardware consists of the Thermal Camera (DOC AI Cam) for predator detection using thermal vision and AI classification, and the High Interaction Rate Trap for efficient predator elimination. These devices connect to the Cacophony Monitoring Platform for centralized data management, automated AI analysis, and real-time notifications. The Sidekick Mobile App enables field configuration and data retrieval via wireless connection. The Bird Monitor and Cacophonometer extend the ecosystem for audio-based bird population monitoring. All components share a common REST API backend and are designed to work together as an integrated conservation monitoring system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DOC AI Cam: Thermal camera with machine vision specifically designed for fast moving small animals like mice, rats, weasels, stoats. Includes AI classification for predator identification.
- Cacophony Monitoring Platform
- Sidekick
- Cacophony Index
- High Interaction Rate Trap (HIRT)
Products and services
- Thermal Camera (DOC AI Cam) A thermal camera featuring a FLIR Lepton 3 thermal sensor, always-on motion detection using 19,200 pixels, AI-powered predator classification (rats, stoats, possums), automated data upload, and real-time email notifications. Detects 10+ times more rodents and 3+ times more possums and feral cats than standard trail cameras. Sold through 2040.co.nz for conservation professionals and organizations.
- High Interaction Rate Trap A high-efficiency predator trap designed like a set net with a larger opening for 10x higher interaction rates than traditional traps. Features a digital trigger, automatic reset for up to 4 catches, and targets all NZ predator species including rats, mustelids, possums, hedgehogs, and feral cats. Sold through 2040.co.nz.
- Cacophony Monitoring Platform A cloud-based data management platform that automatically receives and processes all recordings from deployed devices. Features AI-powered predator classification, dashboard views, timeline analysis, email notifications for predator detection, and integration with trap.nz for combined monitoring and trapping management. Used by conservation organizations and DOC staff.
- Sidekick Mobile App A mobile companion application for Android and iOS that wirelessly connects to Cacophony thermal cameras for live viewing, device configuration, GPS location updates, video download, and data upload without requiring physical SD card access. Available for free on app stores.
- Bird Monitor An audio recording device using a MEMS microphone to record and identify over 60 different bird species. Powers the Cacophony Index, which measures birdsong duration as a biodiversity indicator. Functions as a standalone unit or integrates with the thermal camera ecosystem.
- Cacophonometer An Android application that transforms mobile phones into audio recording devices for bird song monitoring. Records GPS-located, timestamped audio data with automatic upload to the API server for storage and analysis. Targets conservationists and community groups.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3-50x more predator detections than trail cameras
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use The Cacophony Project
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Cacophony Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
The Cacophony Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- 2040.co.nzflagshipPrimary commercial partner that manufactures, sells, and provides professional support for Cacophony Project products including thermal cameras and traps. They also publish case studies demonstrating technology effectiveness in the field.
- Department of Conservation (DOC)coreDOC provides funding through Tools To Market program for development of new thermal camera versions and monitoring platform improvements including trailcam support. DOC also uses Cacophony technology in conservation programs including Motutapu Island eradication.
- OSPRIcoreFunded possum detection trials comparing AI heat camera sensitivity and cost against trail cameras and chew cards. Provides access to ZIP trail facilities for experiments.
- Lincoln UniversitycoreResearch partnership conducting cost analysis studies and contributing authors to trial result papers (James Ross). ZIP facilities at Lincoln used for experiments.
- Living SpringsminorHost for field testing and meetings.
- Banks Peninsula Conservation TrustminorConservation partner organization listed as supporting the project.
- ZIP (Zero Invasive Predators)minorProvides trail facilities at Lincoln University for experiments. Recommended trail camera models for comparison testing. Has reviewed trail camera options extensively.
- South Island Kōkako Charitable TrustminorCacophony Project technology being modified to help locate potentially extinct South Island Kōkako birds through audio monitoring.
- Beta Solutions LimitedminorElectronic Product Design & Production partner for hardware development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Cacophony Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reconyx: Manufacturer of professional trail cameras used for wildlife monitoring. Direct competitor in the predator/animal detection camera category that Cacophony's thermal camera displaces with higher sensitivity.
- Wildlife Acoustics: Bioacoustics monitoring hardware and software for wildlife surveys and species identification. Direct competitor in the wildlife/bird monitoring hardware space, with overlapping AI-powered audio classification capabilities for conservation.
Others
- 2040 Limited: Manufacturing and commercial partner of Cacophony Project that sells its products. Also develops its own conservation products including trapping solutions, making it both a partner and adjacent competitor in the NZ predator-control hardware market.
- Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP): NZ-based conservation research organization working on predator eradication technologies including advanced trapping. Strategic partner/advisor of Cacophony, providing trial facilities and acting as a peer in developing next-generation predator control tools.
- Predator Free 2050 Ltd: NZ government-backed entity funding predator eradication research and tools. Major funder and ecosystem enabler for Cacophony, shaping the demand landscape rather than directly competing in hardware.
Emerging players
- Lotek Wireless: Wildlife telemetry and biologging technology used for animal tracking and movement studies. Adjacent in the wildlife monitoring IoT ecosystem with overlap in sensor-based conservation technology.
- Smart Parks: Conservation tech company providing IoT-based sensors, cameras, and AI for wildlife monitoring and anti-poaching in reserves. Comparable in deploying remote IoT sensors with AI for conservation outcomes.
- Arribada Initiative: Open-source conservation technology nonprofit building low-cost hardware and tools for wildlife monitoring. Close peer in the open-source conservation tech space with similar ethos and overlapping IoT device approach.
Broad incumbents
- Bushnell Outdoor Products: Major consumer and hunting-grade trail camera brand. Broad incumbent in wildlife/outdoor cameras, competing with Cacophony's DOC AI Cam at the lower-cost end of the market.
- Spypoint: Large trail camera manufacturer with cellular-connected camera offerings. Broad incumbent in remote wildlife monitoring cameras competing against Cacophony's thermal IoT solution on connectivity and price.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Cacophony Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cacophony Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cacophony Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Cacophony Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cacophony Project 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 The Cacophony Project
What does The Cacophony Project do?
The Cacophony Project develops open-source hardware and software for wildlife monitoring and predator management in New Zealand. Their core offerings include thermal cameras with AI-based predator classification and a high-efficiency predator trap, complemented by a cloud-based monitoring platform and mobile app for field use. All technology is released as open source and commercialized through their manufacturing partner 2040.co.nz.
Is The Cacophony Project a public or private company?
The Cacophony Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Cacophony Project founded?
The Cacophony Project was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does The Cacophony Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding & Donations and software Platform Services.
Who are The Cacophony Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reconyx and Wildlife Acoustics. Others are 2040 Limited, Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) and Predator Free 2050 Ltd. Emerging players are Lotek Wireless, Smart Parks and Arribada Initiative. Broad incumbents are Bushnell Outdoor Products and Spypoint.
Does The Cacophony Project have an API?
Yes. The Cacophony Project operates a REST API server that serves as the central data store for all video and audio recordings. All components of the project interact with the API server. The API is well documented at api.cacophony.org.nz. The server is backed by a PostgreSQL database for metadata and an object store (Minio/S3 compatible) for recordings themselves. Developer documentation is at api.cacophony.org.nz.