eDNA Explorer Secures $1.1 Million from Genome British Columbia
eDNA Explorer, Inc.
525 Mountain View Ave. Mountain View, CA 94041
NEWS RELEASE
June 5, 2025
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA & VANCOUVER, BC – June 5, 2025 – eDNA Explorer, a pioneering startup transforming environmental DNA (eDNA) biodiversity data into actionable insights for environmental stewardship, today announced it has secured $1.5 million CAD (approximately $1.1 million USD) in funding from Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) in collaboration with iTrackDNA at the University of Victoria. This significant investment from Genome BC’s Translation and Innovation Fund will accelerate eDNA Explorer's expansion and power the development of advanced AI-enabled tools for eDNA and geospatial data analysis, creating a unified platform for nature-positive economic and stewardship opportunities.
eDNA Explorer’s innovative platform empowers organizations, communities, and scientists to quickly identify endangered and invasive species, detect pathogens, and precisely assess ecosystem health. By analyzing trace genetic material (eDNA) left behind in natural environments – from water bodies to soil – the technology offers a non-invasive, more efficient, and highly accurate alternative to traditional methods. This allows users to understand and track biodiversity and ecological signals without directly observing organisms or relying on disruptive testing.
“This support will connect the eDNA map of nature and diverse data users from California to British Columbia, enabling better modeling of biodiversity and unlocking nature-positive economic opportunities,” said Dr. Rachel Meyer, Chief Science Officer of eDNA Explorer and Adjunct Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz. “I’m excited to help drive the development of ethical machine learning insight tools that are built within the U.S. and Canada—and that the world can use.”
A Cutting-Edge Tool for Conservation and Sustainable Development
Genome BC, a leading Canadian non-profit dedicated to growing a world-class life sciences sector, announced the funding on World Environment Day, underscoring British Columbia's commitment to leveraging genomics for pressing environmental challenges.
eDNA Explorer will leverage its robust software platform, refined through extensive work in California, to expand into eDNA Explorer Canada. This platform is designed as a powerful, user-friendly "magnifying glass" that allows anyone to understand, evaluate, and collaborate around the hidden life within an ecosystem. Since November 2023, eDNA Explorer has actively supported organizations in running eDNA studies for vital land and water management projects, including restoration and conservation efforts.
“We are breaking down the barriers to utilizing eDNA for informed ecosystem management and restoration decisions,” stated Julie Stanford, CEO of eDNA Explorer. “By offering intuitive tools for analyzing and collaborating on eDNA data, we aim to build confidence in eDNA as an essential resource for both conservation and fostering sustainable economic opportunities.”
eDNA Explorer’s track record includes collaborations with a diverse array of agencies in the United States and abroad, such as the California Water Boards, Portland’s Clean Water Services, the National Park Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, AfricanParks, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The startup has also garnered interest from international corporations like Zulu Ecosystems and Chevron, demonstrating its broad applicability and impact.
Tailored for Canadian Standards and Global Impact
eDNA Explorer will specifically focus on biodiversity monitoring with a platform customized to meet Canada's stringent environmental standards and data sovereignty needs. This ensures that generated insights are both scientifically reliable and legally compliant. Building on existing relationships with Indigenous and government agencies through the iTrackDNA project (which established Canada’s national eDNA standards in 2021 and 2023), the goal is to transform raw data into actionable insights that directly drive environmental protection and restoration efforts across the country. eDNA Explorer Canada expansion will be co-led by Dr. Rachel Meyer and Dr. Caren Helbing, a distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria.
Growing Support and Demand for eDNA Insights
The Genome BC funds are complemented by an additional $1.6 million USD in co-funding from projects supporting UC Santa Cruz’s CALeDNA program and eDNA Explorer. This includes $500,000 from AiiM Partners, a Silicon Valley VC firm that invests in technology-enabled companies addressing climate change and equity/access, $175,000 from the National Park Service to assess stream health in Alaska, with data integration on the eDNA Explorer platform promising co-benefits for all Pacific Coast managers. Further co-funding from the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and other philanthropic organizations will facilitate four crucial workshops across the United States and Canada in Fall 2025.
These eDNA-informed risk and resilience workshops, developed in collaboration with the Nature Tech Collective, will educate corporate executives, including insurers, economists, and environmental consultants, on leveraging eDNA in risk modeling. The initiative aims to generate open-source materials on applying eDNA in risk and resilience modeling, particularly for understanding the economic impacts of activities on coastal habitats. These workshops will involve UC Santa Cruz’s Genomics Institute, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and CCCR, contributing relevant use cases to drive broader adoption of eDNA insights in corporate decision-making.
eDNA Explorer spun out of the CALeDNA lab at UC Santa Cruz in November 2023. The startup was co-founded by Dr. Rachel Meyer (Chief Science Officer), Julie Stanford (CEO), and Jim Jeffers (CTO). Dr. Meyer is also an adjunct associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz and director of CALeDNA. Julie Stanford brings extensive experience in user research and design, and is also a lecturer in the Stanford Computer Science Department. Jim Jeffers is an expert systems architect and full-stack developer with a strong background in scalable software development.
Contact
For more information contact Julie Stanford at julie@ednaexplorer.com
About eDNA Explorer
eDNA Explorer is a pioneering startup dedicated to transforming environmental DNA (eDNA) biodiversity data into actionable insights for sustainable natural resource management and conservation. Spun out of the renowned CALeDNA lab at UC Santa Cruz, our innovative platform integrates cutting-edge eDNA analysis with powerful AI and geospatial data tools. We empower organizations, governments, and communities to accurately identify endangered and invasive species, detect pathogens, and precisely assess ecosystem health, all through a non-invasive and highly efficient method. By making previously invisible biodiversity information clear and accessible, eDNA Explorer is committed to driving nature-positive outcomes, fostering ethical machine learning for environmental decision-making, and accelerating global efforts in environmental protection and restoration. Our vision is to build a comprehensive platform for fast, easy, and accurate biodiversity insight, ensuring better decisions for a healthier planet.
About GenomeBC
Genome BC is a not-for-profit organization that has advanced genomics research and innovation for 25 years, growing a world-class life sciences sector in BC and delivering sustainable benefits for British Columbia, Canada and beyond. Genome BC has attracted over $1 billion in direct co-investment to the province, which has contributed to funding more than 550 genomics research and innovation projects. These initiatives enhance healthcare and address environmental and natural resource challenges, improving the lives of British Columbians. Genome BC also
integrates genomics into society by supporting responsible research and innovation and fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among educators, students and the public. www.genomebc.ca
Logo Images
Researchers collect eDNA soil samples at Paicines Ranch, California. Metabarcoding eDNA from the ranch will help the ranchers understand how their new regenerative practices are making a difference.
Credit: CALeDNA eDNA illuminates all the life hidden in ecosystems through genetic traces left in the environment
Credit: Julie Stanford Headshots of eDNA Explorer founders available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PhYnll1mceLUM5-iitFA8AUN63yj4yfy
Source document: Google Doc