Wilder Sensing Secures Investment to Propel Growth and Innovation in Biodiversity Monitoring
Wilder Sensing, a developer of software for biodiversity monitoring using audio and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has secured a £300,000 equity investment from the South West Investment Fund, via appointed Fund Manager The FSE Group. This forms part of a £700,000 investment round that also includes Oxford Innovation Finance and Cambridge Angels. The new funding will enable the company to create 15 new jobs, increasing its capacity to deliver cutting-edge solutions in biodiversity data collection and analysis.
Wilder Sensing has developed an innovative AI-based platform designed to measure and report on biodiversity through the analysis of audio data. The platform uses commercially available bioacoustic recording equipment to deliver accurate analysis of wildlife sounds, currently focusing on birds, and expanding over time to include bats, insects and other species. This continuous data collection offers more detailed and consistent insights compared to traditional static and human-led surveys.
Wilder Sensing’s platform has already attracted a diverse range of customers, including Somerset Wildlife Trust, ecological consultancies and large-scale farming businesses, as well as a project for BBC’s Springwatch. With potential applications across many sectors including Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Mining, Oil & Gas and Construction, the company is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation efforts.
“The biodiversity collapse is one of the top global risks identified by the World Economic Forum, with over half of the world’s GDP relying on nature. Our technology addresses the urgent need for accurate, scalable, and unbiased biodiversity monitoring around the world. This investment will enable us to enhance our platform and expand our reach, helping industries and government bodies make informed decisions backed by solid data.”
Geoff Carss, CEO and co-founder of Wilder Sensing, which is based near Wedmore in Somerset
“Wilder Sensing’s innovative approach to biodiversity monitoring aligns perfectly with current market drivers and new legislative requirements. The company’s participation in respected incubator and accelerator programs, along with its strong intellectual property potential, demonstrates its commercial viability and scalability. We are excited to support Wilder Sensing as they lead the way in this growing market.”
Matt Browning, Investment Manager at The FSE Group
As businesses and governments increasingly prioritise sustainability and nature regeneration initiatives, Wilder Sensing offers a robust solution to ensure activities are backed by data, enhancing environmental accountability and reducing the risk of greenwashing.
“Wilder Sensing represents the kind of innovative, fast-growing business that the South West Investment Fund is dedicated to supporting. The team’s technology offers a powerful tool for industries looking to achieve meaningful sustainability goals, providing the accuracy and scale needed to make data-driven decisions for environmental stewardship. This investment reflects our commitment to nurturing businesses in the South West that contribute not only to the region’s economic strength but also to positive environmental impact.”
Paul Jones, Senior Manager from the British Business Bank
“Wilder Sensing has been generating significant interest for its pioneering technology which accurately measures and analyses biodiversity. With an increasing focus on corporate environmental goals, it is well positioned to lead the market for precise ecological data and reporting, and support environmental management efforts.”
Richard Cooper, Managing Director at Oxford Innovation Finance
The purpose of the South West Investment Fund is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. It offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million. The fund is increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for South West smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to break down barriers in access to finance.
About the South West Investment Fund
Operated by the British Business Bank, the South West Investment Fund provides a mix of debt and equity funding. It offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million. It works alongside various funding organisations as well as local intermediaries such as accountants, fund managers and banks, to support the South West’s smaller businesses at all stages of their development.
The South West Investment Fund is open to businesses with material operations, or planning to open material operations, in: Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset, Somerset, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Plymouth, Torbay, Devon, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Supported by Nations and Regions Investments Limited, a subsidiary of British Business Bank plc, the Bank is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. Neither Nations and Regions Investments Limited nor British Business Bank plc are authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
About The FSE Group
The FSE Group has been providing high-growth SMEs with accessible market-gap funding since 2002. We work with stakeholders and partners, including British Business Bank, Finance Yorkshire, Funding London and Local Enterprise Partnerships, to deliver regional funding that supports job creation and economic prosperity. With a range of funds that combine commercial return with an economic impact rationale, FSE is committed to investing in sustainable businesses that will grow, provide employment, and generate economic benefit in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
About Wilder Sensing
Wilder Sensing offers cloud bases Software as a Service biodiversity monitoring and reporting through a highly scaleable process of recording soundscapes with commercial-grade equipment and AI based analysis providing user-friendly analytic tools for interpreting the resulting large datasets. This provides deep insights as to how biodiversity is changing over time and better quantify the impact at a site or landscape level. Some sites are generating over two million species level records per year.
About Oxford Innovation Finance
Oxford Innovation Finance is an Oxford-based financial services provider specialising in funding solutions for innovative early-stage businesses and high-growth ventures. Through its EIS capital and angel investing models, Oxford Innovation Finance bridges the gap between dynamic investors and pioneering enterprises. Leveraging its deep industry expertise and networks, Oxford Innovation Finance supports the next generation of UK science and technology companies in scaling up and achieving long-term growth, whilst enabling investors to engage with impactful opportunities.
