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Enabling Nature Intelligence for SMEs: Winners of the TNFD-led Grand Challenge

On May 12, 2026, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), together with Conservation X Labs (CXL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), revealed three winners of the Nature Intelligence for Business Grand Challenge. The winners—Dunya Analytics (USA), Mozaic Earth (UK), and Space Eagle Enterprises (South Africa—have developed innovative solutions aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating nature-related challenges.

The concept of nature intelligence encompasses the understanding and management of the dependencies, risks, and opportunities that businesses face concerning nature. Although SMEs represent a staggering 90% of businesses worldwide, they often lack the resources and expertise that larger corporations possess to effectively manage these dependencies.

The TNFD and UNDP initiated this Grand Challenge in 2025, seeking to create affordable and practical tools aligned with the TNFD's LEAP assessment principles. The objective is to empower SMEs to recognize their interactions with the natural world and to identify both risks and opportunities related to these interactions.

The three winners were selected from a robust pool of 380 applicants, illustrating the growing interest in sustainable business practices.

The Winning Solutions

1. Dunya Analytics (USA): This platform provides SMEs with tools to pinpoint vulnerabilities linked to nature and prioritize investments, helping businesses make informed decisions that are nature-positive.
2. Mozaic Earth (UK): They have created a mobile application that enables SMEs to gather ecological data, allowing for a detailed analysis of site-specific ecosystem conditions to guide their initiatives.
3. Space Eagle Enterprises (South Africa): Their focus is on developing broadband connectivity products and innovative Earth observation technologies that benefit various stakeholders, including governments and local communities across Africa.

The path to selecting these winners involved an intensive evaluation process, narrowing down candidates from 12 finalists who were also subjected to rigorous user testing. These finalists collaborated with SMEs to conduct preliminary assessments that adhered to the TNFD's LEAP principles.

Tony Goldner, CEO of TNFD, noted that the increased awareness among businesses, investors, and capital providers about the importance of nature's resilience is crucial. The Grand Challenge provided a platform for over 380 innovators to respond to real-world SME needs, focusing on delivering low-cost, effective solutions.

In addition to receiving a $20,000 grant, the winning teams will benefit from continued technical support and advice from challenge organizers and partners, further enhancing their ability to scale up access to nature intelligence tools for SMEs.

Maxim Vergeichik, Senior Nature Economist at UNDP, emphasized that developing a nature-positive business is not merely a trend, but an evolving necessity that equips SMEs with the means to understand their environmental dependencies, thereby bolstering resilience and contributing to a more sustainable economy.

The Nature Intelligence for Business Grand Challenge**, steered by TNFD, CXL, and UNDP, symbolizes a progressive effort to promote sustainable practices within SMEs globally, aiding them in effectively managing their operations in harmony with nature.

With successful partnerships and innovative solutions on the rise, SMEs are being equipped with the necessary tools to thrive as they navigate the delicate balance between profitability and ecological responsibility. This initiative promises to be a beacon of hope for sustainable enterprise practices, leading to a flourishing natural environment while fostering economic growth.