Naturethings Marrying Ai And Greenery Urban Spaces
With the rise of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have developed a newfound appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Nalini Veeraghanta, a fourth-generation gardener, noticed this trend and saw an opportunity to help others care for their plants.
However, despite claiming to love plants, many people also confess to not having enough time or having a green thumb to properly care for them. Veeraghanta emphasizes that plants are living beings and require constant care, unlike furniture that can be placed in a corner and forgotten about. Through her experience, she identified service and maintenance as the biggest challenges for most plant owners.
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In response to this, she founded Naturethings in April 2021, which operates as a “nature-as-a-service” platform to assist clients with their plant care and maintenance. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) services, the platform caters to the needs of urban dwellers.
It all began with a WhatsApp chatbot that provided regular check-ups and health scans for plants. From there, Naturethings expanded to include programs that encourage daily habits of interacting with green spaces. As the platform grew to over 15,000 active users, the AI technology was able to learn and improve quickly.
Veeraghanta’s brother, Pavan Veeraghanta, who has experience in construction and sustainability in the UAE, joined the company as COO in 2022. His previous work in commercial real estate led to an increased demand for green spaces in offices, laying the foundation for Naturethings’ current B2B (business-to-business) platform.
As Naturethings evolved, others were inspired by its business model and joined the company. One of the first additions to the founding team was Ashwin Dhanasari, Veeraghanta’s college friend from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. He took on the role of CTO and is developing the digital twin technology for Naturethings. Another member is Kenneth Lim, a Singaporean tech professional and self-taught landscape designer and horticulturist, who joined as the head of design in 2023.
Lim, who has been working in the tech sector for 27 years, also has a passion for plants and gardening, passed down through his family. He views himself as a bridge between the tech and natural worlds and found a perfect fit at Naturethings. Before joining the company, Lim had already worked as a consultant for corporate clients on landscaping projects, but he now has a dedicated role in the company.
One of Naturethings’ notable projects is providing landscaping and biophilic design for a Fortune 500 company in Singapore. Utilizing digital twin technology and sensors, the company can monitor and optimize plant maintenance and design solutions to enhance productivity and meet corporate ESG goals.
Beyond commercial spaces, Veeraghanta also sees potential in greening the hospitality sector. She is currently in talks with Lucrum Capital to pilot Naturethings’ technology in managing and maintaining green spaces at a new hotel, including an urban rooftop farm.
In recognition of their innovative approach, Naturethings was awarded the Insead Business as a Force for Good Award in 2024. Veeraghanta hopes to continue driving change in the biophilic design and landscaping industry, bringing it into the modern era with the help of AI technology.