SPAIA Build Notes #2
Dear friends ??,
It’s been four months since our last update. While the first part of the year was deeply frustrating for the team, searching for that elusive product market fit, we're now proud to share some significant progress:
Joining forces to monitor wild bees in Switzerland
We're extremely proud to announce our partnership with long-time collaborators and friends, Wildbiene + Partner . On 12 April, we launched our first formal insect detection tests using the SPAIA Research Assistant hardware devices.
Who are WildBiene + Partner?
For over a decade, WildBiene + Partner has been a pioneer in promoting and protecting wild bee populations across Switzerland and Europe. Their advocacy has significantly increased citizen support for wild bees while developing a comprehensive database on these essential pollinators. Our partnership is designed to further expand their efforts, enriching their existing data sets and fostering greater understanding of, and advocacy for, bee populations.
The Pilot Project
Our pilot project is designed to rigorously test the effectiveness of SPAIA’s advanced insect monitoring hardware and the usability of our collaborative software dashboard, in partnership with a specialist in the field. While this pilot primarily focuses on wild bees, our objectives extend beyond monitoring and measurement. We aim to demonstrate that even small interventions can lead to a noteworthy increase in biodiversity. This underscores our commitment to showing that positive changes can be implemented through relatively simple means in various environments.
Exploring the Scope and Methodology
Over the next three months, our pilot will unfold at a selected site in Walenstadt and on Wildbiene + Partner's specially designed bee home at the Ph?nomena Expo site just outside of Zurich. Using SPAIA’s platform, equipped with camera, smart sensors and data analytics software, we will monitor and analyze insect activity in conjunction with environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation and light conditions. Our efforts are enhanced by WildBiene + Partner's expertise in pollinator ecology, ensuring a thorough and integrated approach to our studies.
Promising Initial Results
Our SPAIA devices have proven their durability under the conditions of heat, rain, and snow in Walenstadt. Meanwhile, at the Ph?nomena site in Dietikon, after a short period of inactivity, bees such as Osmia cornuta and bicornis (mason bees), followed by hungry Vespula vulgaris (common wasps) and various Dipterans (flies), have begun to populate the new bee home, creating a buzz of activity to create a neat hockey stick curve on our graphs. For us, this already illustrates the substantial impact of even minor ecological interventions. We are excited to delve deeper into this data, especially to explore how it can be adapted and visualized both for businesses focused on biodiversity reporting and various research projects.
领英推荐
Although our vision-based detection has shown promising results, we've encountered some challenges with radar technology's noise levels. We anticipate that our upcoming discussions with experts at Fraunhofer IZM will yield enhancements in this area.
As we look ahead, our focus will shift towards significant improvements in image quality, specifically targeting enhancements in frame capture speed and focus depth, ranging from 20 to 50cm. This refinement will better equip us to capture the subtle nuances of insect activity, furthering our understanding of their behaviors and environmental interactions.
Join Us as a Pilot Partner!
As SPAIA continues to refine our technologies and expand our impact, we are thrilled to engage with a range of exciting partners for further pilot projects. This week, we're particularly excited to reconnect with Dr Joe Roberts at Harper Adams University . We're actively seeking collaboration with forward-thinking businesses, particularly those in construction, urban rewilding, and regenerative agriculture. As a pilot partner, you'll not only gain the opportunity to demonstrate and enhance the visibility of your biodiversity efforts but also lead the way in ecological innovation.
If you're ready to make your biodiversity conservation efforts more tangible and visible, get in touch with us via our website spaia.earth or mail us at [email protected].
60 seconds at Change Now
Our whirlwind trip to ChangeNOW France , for our 60-second pitch at Hectar 's regenerative agriculture accelerator, was full of insights and networking. Although we didn’t secure a spot, Hectar’s feedback on our team and innovative approach was encouraging, though their concerns with being the first to pilot our then-untested community platform were understandable. We’re grateful to Francis Nappez for recommending us to Bright Tide , another promising accelerator we will be exploring.
The winning pitch at Hectar by Synature AG showcased a novel signal-processing technique for biodiversity monitoring, already successful in Oregon and Switzerland. While still refining their business model, their team dynamic and innovative approach set a high standard. We applaud their efforts and look forward to their continued progress. Biodiversity loss is a complex problem that needs multiple solutions!
At the conference, standout interactions included engaging with Inverto.earth about their impactful work on land acquisition and community involvement in mangrove plantations, and reconnecting with Gerrit Jan van 't Veen from We Are Changemakers , discussing their latest innovative programs in biodiversity and tech. Another key highlight was discovering the potential of airborne eDNA sampling, notably demonstrated by NatureMetrics , pointing to exciting new directions in biodiversity assessment.
Change Now Paris was a powerhouse of energizing projects and potential collaborations. We’re thankful for the doors it has opened for SPAIA and the insights gained.
A special thanks to Sabine Martin , our advisor and mentor, for her invaluable support during the event!
Mass Challenge Round 2
In other news, we're pleased to announce that SPAIA has progressed to Round 2 of MassChallenge Switzerland . We're busily preparing for our 10-minute pitch to the judges on May 7th. Joining Mass Challenge aligns perfectly with our strategic approach, as their model focuses on connecting startups with potential large business customers—emphasizing venture clients over venture capital. We're keen to discuss the pros and cons of this approach with our community. And of course, any 10-minute pitch tips would be greatly appreciated.
Join SPAIA at Demo Day!
MotionLab.Berlin Demo Day is around the corner (??). We're giving away one ticket to the best question or insight in this edition's comments. So hit us with your best shot and join us for inspiring presentations, networking and of course the legendary MotionLab rave on 31.05.2024. Learn more here ?? https://lnkd.in/eqUEKr9n