Dendra Systems

Founding Story

Dendra Systems was founded in 2014 by a team of visionaries, including Dr. Susan Graham, who completed her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford. Motivated by the escalating global crisis of ecosystem degradation, they envisioned leveraging cutting-edge technology to restore natural habitats at scale. Their mission was to develop tools that combine ecology, AI, and automation to empower environmental managers worldwide.

The founders recognized that traditional methods of ecosystem restoration were labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often lacked scalability. By integrating high-resolution data capture with AI-driven analytics and drone-based interventions, they discovered a transformative approach to monitor, manage, and restore ecosystems efficiently.

Dendra's early projects demonstrated the efficacy of their platform in diverse environments, from arid lands to coastal mangroves. Their innovative approach attracted partnerships with major organizations, validating their technology's potential to revolutionize environmental management.

A significant milestone was the successful closure of a $15.7 million Series B funding round in May 2024, led by Zouk Capital with participation from Aramco Ventures and Airbus Ventures. This funding enabled Dendra to expand its operations and enhance its AI-based ecology platform, solidifying its position as a leader in large-scale ecosystem restoration.

Impact to Date

Dendra Systems has redefined ecosystem restoration by combining AI, drones, and ecological expertise to rehabilitate over 70,000 hectares across 12 countries.

Impact Use Case #1:
Restoring Koala Habitats in Australia

In the wake of the catastrophic 2019–2020 bushfires, which devastated vast swaths of Australia’s native ecosystems, Dendra Systems partnered with WWF-Australia under the Regenerate Australia initiative to restore critical koala habitats. Using their AI-driven aerial seeding platform, Dendra dispersed millions of native eucalyptus and acacia seeds across fire-affected regions—covering areas that were previously inaccessible or too dangerous for manual planting. Their drones mapped the terrain in high resolution, analyzed ecological conditions, and tailored seed dispersion strategies to each site’s unique profile. This effort not only accelerated the natural regeneration process but provided immediate shelter and food sources for koalas and hundreds of other displaced species. The project set a new benchmark for post-disaster ecological recovery—offering a scalable blueprint for future reforestation efforts in the face of climate-related disasters.

Impact Use Case #2:
Mangrove Restoration in the UAE

Dendra Systems joined forces with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi to support the UAE’s national goal of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030—a critical strategy for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and blue carbon capture. Dendra’s technology enabled precise mapping of the UAE’s coastal zones, identifying optimal planting sites based on soil salinity, tidal flow, and historical vegetation patterns. Their drones then executed precision seed planting with minimal environmental disturbance, while AI models continuously monitored seedling growth and survival. This data-driven approach dramatically improved efficiency over traditional planting methods, ensuring higher success rates and long-term sustainability. Beyond ecosystem benefits, the project supports local communities by restoring fisheries and mitigating coastal erosion—demonstrating how environmental restoration can also drive economic resilience in climate-vulnerable regions.

Impact Use Case #3:
Mine Site Rehabilitation in Australia

Post-mining land rehabilitation is one of Australia’s most pressing environmental challenges, requiring large-scale remediation of degraded and contaminated land. Dendra Systems has been deployed by several leading mining companies to bring precision and accountability to the rehabilitation process. Their drones provide continuous high-resolution mapping of active and decommissioned mine sites, while their AI models assess vegetation cover, soil stability, and hydrological patterns. This allows for real-time feedback on the effectiveness of rehabilitation strategies and ensures compliance with strict environmental and regulatory standards. Dendra’s solution helps companies reduce restoration costs, demonstrate ESG performance to stakeholders, and accelerate the return of native biodiversity to previously barren lands. This work is also reshaping industry expectations—positioning ecological restoration not as an obligation, but as an integrated part of responsible resource management.

Impact Use Case #4:
Strategic Partnership in the Middle East

In early 2025, Dendra Systems entered a landmark strategic partnership with FEDS Drone-powered Solutions, a leading aerial technology provider in the Middle East. Together, they aim to bring AI-driven ecosystem restoration capabilities to the region’s most ecologically stressed environments, from desertified interiors to coastal mangrove zones. This partnership combines Dendra’s ecological modeling and machine learning platform with FEDS’ regional expertise and deployment capacity, enabling the large-scale execution of restoration projects in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The initiative is aligned with national sustainability and biodiversity goals, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where governments are committing billions to land rehabilitation and carbon removal initiatives. With climate change intensifying across the region, this collaboration represents a bold step toward regional resilience, ecological security, and nature-based climate adaptation at scale.

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