From Frustration to Innovation: The Birth of Forward Earth
Startup veterans often channel their experiences—both good and bad—into groundbreaking new ventures. For the co-founders of Forward Earth, a disappointing exit from their previous company became the catalyst for their next big move.
Cari Davidson (CTO), Giuseppe Gentile (CPO), and Micha Schildmann (CEO) were early employees and C-level executives at Planetly, a carbon accounting startup acquired by OneTrust in late 2021. Despite OneTrust’s promises of “heavy investment” in ESG, Planetly was shuttered within a year, leaving the team disillusioned—and motivated to try again.
A Fresh Start with AI at the Core
Armed with lessons from Planetly, the trio launched Forward Earth with an AI-first approach to carbon accounting. Their mission? To serve the underserved “long tail” of mid-market companies often overlooked by existing solutions.
Key Differentiators:
- AI-powered automation: Streamlines complex CO2 footprint calculations
- Supply chain focus: Tracks emissions across entire supplier networks
- Scalability: Designed for mid-market affordability and ease of implementation
The startup recently secured €4.5 million in seed funding led by Mosaic Ventures, with participation from Speedinvest and Revent.
Why Investors Are Betting on This Approach
Chandar Lal of Mosaic Ventures explains the appeal: “We wanted an AI-first solution in this space. These founders had unique perspective—they’d built Planetly, seen its $100M acquisition, but weren’t satisfied with the outcome. With large language models now available, they’re reimagining carbon accounting from the ground up.”
Navigating a Competitive Landscape
Forward Earth enters a market with established players like Climatiq and Greenly, but brings distinct advantages:
- Deep industry expertise: Founders’ Planetly experience provides invaluable insights
- AI-driven efficiency: Automates processes typically requiring expensive consultants
- Strategic integrations: Embeds directly into existing supply chain management systems
Schildmann describes their “Trojan Horse” strategy: “We integrate with platforms companies already use for procurement and compliance, making adoption frictionless.”
Addressing Critical Market Gaps
Current solutions often fail mid-market companies because:
- Traditional methods are cost-prohibitive
- Data collection from suppliers remains challenging
- Manual processes don’t scale
“Without accurate supplier data,” Schildmann notes, “companies rely on assumptions. Our AI generates the missing data points automatically.”
Regulatory Readiness and Global Expansion
The platform helps companies comply with emerging regulations like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Currently operating in Europe and the U.S., Forward Earth plans expansion into Asian markets.
The Future of Accessible Carbon Accounting
Lal summarizes the opportunity: “Solutions like Watershed require enterprise-scale budgets. Forward Earth’s AI approach finally makes sophisticated carbon accounting accessible to the mid-market.”
By combining hard-won experience with cutting-edge AI, these founders are turning past frustrations into future-focused innovation—and potentially transforming how businesses approach sustainability.
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