Nature is not a nice-to-have: How Nala Earth is making nature a business imperative
An interview with the co-founder of Nala Earth, Nick Zumbühl.
In every industry, there is a moment when the conversation shifts—when what once felt optional suddenly becomes essential. For the team at Nala, that moment came with a hard look at the numbers: over half of global GDP relies directly on the natural world. Forests, watersheds, soil quality, pollinators—these are not abstractions. They are the invisible scaffolding of our global economy.
But that scaffolding is under strain. And when it breaks, the business risk becomes anything but theoretical.
In this edition of our “Meet the Founder” series, we speak with a spokesperson from Nala, a company building the infrastructure to help businesses understand, manage, and act on nature-related risk. The conversation spans market shifts, early bets, and why traditional industries are far more ready to engage than people think. This is not about climate in generalities. It is about data, ecosystems, and the future of business grounded in natural resilience.
The Interview: Inside Nala Earth
Q: What was the “aha” moment that made you realize this was the right problem to solve?
“It was recognizing just how fundamentally our societies and economies depend on nature,” Nick Zumbühl, co-founder of Nala Earth explained. “Over 50% of global GDP is directly tied to natural systems—clean water, healthy soil, pollination, flood protection. As biodiversity declines, that dependency becomes a growing liability. Yet very few companies have the tools to see it clearly. That gap is where Nala began.”
Q: Can you share a recent success story where your technology created real value?
“One of our clients uploaded over 1,000 supplier locations into our platform to assess nature-related risks across their global supply chain,” he noted. “The results uncovered key vulnerabilities. It allowed them to engage directly with high-risk suppliers and explore targeted strategies to reduce exposure. That kind of insight creates a clear path from awareness to action.”
Q: What is the biggest risk you have taken so far—and how has it shaped your journey?
“Every meaningful company requires bold decisions,” Nick shared. “For us, the boldest was trusting our view of where the market was headed—before the demand was obvious. We invested early in building a world-class product tailored to that future. That focus helped us stay ahead, even as awareness around nature risk rapidly accelerates.”
Q: What unexpected lesson have you learned from working with traditional industries?
“We were surprised—pleasantly—by the level of curiosity and openness,” Nick shared. “Even in legacy sectors, leaders want to act. They may not have had the right tools or frameworks, but when presented with clear, data-driven pathways, they engage. Education is key. Support is essential. But the willingness is absolutely there.”
Q: What are the broader ripple effects if your technology is widely adopted?
“When businesses begin to understand their value at risk from nature loss, the ripple effects are enormous,” Nick explained. “Procurement shifts. Supplier decisions evolve. Operational strategies adapt. It moves the entire system toward resilience. By connecting ecology and economics, we give leaders the clarity to act—not out of compliance, but out of conviction and business logic.”
Learn More
Nala is helping companies move from blind spots to balance sheets—making nature a measurable part of business risk and resilience.
To explore how they are changing the nature of enterprise decision-making:
Visit their website: www.nala.earth
View their one-pager in our portfolio: Nala at Our Firm
More founder interviews coming soon in our KOMPAS “Meet the Founder” series—where early insight meets global impact.
