Space4Good has raised new funding to expand its satellite-based forest intelligence platform and strengthen its global operations.

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The Hague-based Space4Good, an environmental data scale-up, has completed a funding round led by Arches Capital, with participation from Empower Impact and Indigo Ventures.

Diederik Stolk, Partner at Arches Capital, says, “We see in Space4Good a rare combination of deep technical expertise and genuine drive to improve natural ecosystems. Their ability to transform satellite data into actionable intelligence has the potential to redefine how organisations and stewards monitor and protect natural ecosystems globally.”

Environmental intelligence for sustainable impact

Founded by Alexander Gunkel, Space4Good is a social enterprise utilising earth observation technology for social and environmental impact. 

Since 2017, the company has worked with local impact leaders to deliver operational insights that support data-driven ecosystem management.

In 2024, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), Space4Good introduced FORESTER, a subscription-based platform for forestry companies and conservation organisations addressing illegal deforestation. 

The platform provides near-real-time alerts, deforestation risk forecasts, and streamlined reporting to support compliance and enforcement.

By combining multiple satellite systems, AI, and trained forest guards, FORESTER has shown reductions in illegal deforestation and related monitoring costs.

Rutger van Zuidam of Indigo Ventures says, “Space4Good’s AI platform FORESTER is already preventing forest fires and illegal deforestation at scale. Their collaboration with rainforest engineer Willie Smits and partners in Indonesia shows an inspiring ability to co-create with clients and local stakeholders.”

The platform is being piloted in Indonesia and Brazil, currently covering over 350,000 hectares of tropical rainforest. Clients report a 60 per cent drop in deforestation rates and an 80 per cent reduction in monitoring expenses through the integration of satellite-based forest intelligence.

Capital utilisation

The Dutch company is on a mission to protect 50 million hectares of tropical rainforest through satellite-based analytics and predictive AI.

The funds will help Space4Good to scale its FORESTER platform, which provides deforestation insights for regions in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. 

The company also plans to expand its team and operations to meet demand for verifiable environmental data and to strengthen its product portfolio based on customer feedback.

Alexander Gunkel, CEO of Space4Good, says, “This investment marks a major milestone for Space4Good as it enables us to leverage 8 years of project experience into scalable and therefore more impactful products.”

“With backing from Arches Capital, Empower Impact and Indigo Ventures, we can make FORESTER more powerful and accessible, thereby empowering more and more businesses and communities to safeguard their forests and their people.”

Gunkel adds, “As we approach several ecological tipping points and exceed our planetary boundaries, the importance of protecting and regenerating our natural ecosystems is more pressing than ever. Space4Good aims to be at the forefront of this global mission by providing actionable environmental insights everywhere, anytime.”

Brief about the investors

Arches Capital is a group of angel investors in the Netherlands backing Benelux B2B software firms.

Empower Impact invests in B2B SaaS ventures focused on sustainability and impact.

Indigo Ventures, led by Rutger van Zuidam, founder of DutchChain and Odyssey, backs purpose-driven technology ventures.