Biodiversity & sensing: Introducing Spaia, the new Basecamp ambassador looking to bring technology to the world of insects

Meet Spaia: founded by Tom Cox and Colette Wasielewski, this ambitious initiative is a wonderful kick-off to the Basecamp incubator’s newest thematic addition - the Biodiversity & Sensing. Spaia aims to help reverse critical biodiversity declines, aiding both businesses and their clients alike to better understand their own environmental and biodiversity impact. They do this through an insect activity indicator, a novel tool which ties together the world of technology with that of insects.

Scared of insects, or picturing a robotic, post-metamorphosis Gregor Samsa currently in the works at the Spaia lab? No need to; as Colette herself says, insects, as a form of accessible wildlife, can be fascinating creatures, acting as the foundation of healthy ecosystems. Plus, the technology that Spaia uses has to do, first and foremost, with the realm of data collection (so, no, really – no robotic insects!). In Tom’s words, his own work with other startups in building software and AI solutions for managing insect populations has led him to realize how primitive data collection methods often are. This sparked one of Spaia’s main goals: to explore how new, accessible sensing technology and data processing techniques can help bridge the data gap.

Why is this so urgent? Well, according to the founders’ own observations, backed up by scientific research (such as a 2017 study by Hallman et al.), insect populations are suffering a steady decline. Whatever your own take on insects may be, it is undeniable that these species are crucial to maintaining biodiversity (and assessing any risks to it), and thus must be carefully monitored and supported. It is particularly in the business and finance sectors that better measurement tools are necessary, as the European Banking Agency expands the factors they take into account in risk analysis to also include biodiversity.

Of course, creating accurate tools of biodiversity measurement may be very much necessary, but it is no easy feat at all. There are over 1 million insect species currently identified – and probably at least as many yet undiscovered. In order to effectively train AI, comprehensive and labeled data is necessary, which can be daunting to obtain in light of the sheer number of species that need to be taken into consideration (not to mention that some species, such as invertebrates, are particularly hard to get data on). According to its founders, Spaia has found some ways to tackle certain issues that come along with this type of work. For example, while environmental variability can affect sensor performance, Spaia has built adaptable sensors and machine learning algorithms to filter and process data effectively. Also, rather than focusing on quantity, they are more interested in quality, striving to create low-cost monitors that reduce hardware and computer costs and to improve battery life for better on-the-ground monitoring.

As mentioned before, Spaia is the ambassador of the newly launched theme, focusing on early-stage ventures looking to tackle biodiversity challenges, with priority for projects using sensing technology to understand & monitor ecosystems and the changes within them. If you align with this mission – or if Spaia inspired you – do not hesitate to join Basecamp!

For entrepreneurs and teams like Spaia, our Changemaker Platform offers a wealth of tools, resources, and collaborative opportunities to turn visionary ideas into impactful realities. From expert advice and skill-building to networking with like-minded thinkers, it’s where ideas grow into meaningful change. Join the Changemaker Platform here.