Vancouver-based cleantech startup Veritree, originally spun out from sustainable apparel brand Tentree, has raised $9.1 million CAD ($6.5 million USD) in a Series A round.
The company helps businesses manage and verify nature restoration efforts such as reforestation, mangrove planting, kelp farming, and post-wildfire recovery. Veritree has already surpassed 100 million trees pledged through its platform.
Investors and funding goals
The all-equity round was led by Pender Ventures, with participation from Diagram’s ClimateTech Fund and existing investors Garage Capital and Northside Ventures. Veritree plans to use the funds to expand its AI-powered monitoring tools, integrate with new auditing platforms, and grow into new ecosystems across South America and Asia. The startup’s ultimate goal: support its clients in planting one billion trees by 2030.
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Building restoration tech from the inside
Founded in 2019 by Tentree co-founder Derrick Emsley, Veritree began as an internal solution for tracking Tentree’s own tree-planting initiatives. Following interest from global brands like Samsung, it spun out into its own venture in 2022. Emsley says the company aims to make nature restoration valuable to business—not just a cost—by providing transparency, real-time reporting, and measurable ESG outcomes.
Veritree’s platform and use cases
The spinout focuses on five key restoration verticals: agroforestry, kelp seaforestation, mangrove, post-wildfire, and general reforestation. Its SaaS platform helps clients track and audit environmental impact, turning nature-based restoration into a credible, data-driven effort. As investor Isaac Souweine of Pender Ventures noted, “Veritree is solving one of climate tech’s biggest blind spots — trust in nature-based solutions.”
Continued growth despite ESG pushback
While ESG investing has faced increasing political resistance in North America, Emsley claims Veritree’s focus on tangible outcomes like tree planting keeps it relatively shielded. “Restoration needs to scale,” he said, emphasizing that credible, science-backed impact still holds value for corporate clients seeking both sustainability results and brand equity.
What’s next
With over $15.4 million CAD raised to date, the cleantech company is positioning itself as the go-to infrastructure layer for the emerging “nature economy.” Future plans include broader integrations, AI analysis tools, and partnerships with corporates looking to combine environmental goals with measurable business benefits.
