The team behind the proof
We’re scientists, engineers, foresters who got tired of impact claims that couldn’t be verified. So we built the infrastructure to verify them.
Our story
OpenForests was founded in 2011 on a single conviction:
if you can’t measure it, you can’t protect it.
The founders had spent years in the field mapping forest loss, designing monitoring systems, structuring conservation finance. But they kept hitting the same wall. Projects were doing real work. Funders couldn’t verify it. OpenForests was founded to close that gap.
What makes us different
Most teams in this space speak one language. Field science, or finance, or software. We built a team that speaks all three, and more importantly, can translate between them.
Mission-driven
Grounded in science
All-in-one tech partner
Tailored & hands-on
From SaaS to fully custom builds, we adapt to your reality.
How we work
We come from both worlds. Part of our team spent years in the corporate sector, building structured processes, shipping products fast, managing complexity at scale. The other part comes from NGOs, research institutions, and the field itself.
We run on agile methodology. Not because it’s fashionable, but because the problems we work on are too complex and fast-moving for waterfall thinking. Short cycles, continuous feedback, real adaptability.
And we’re fully remote: 25 people across multiple time zones, coordinated around shared tools and a shared standard.
Agile
Co-creation over consultancy
Evidence at every level
Holistic approach
The team
The OpenForests ecosystem has grown into a multidisciplinary team: computer and data science, forest policy and governance, forest ecology, economics, natural resource management, sustainable development, and communications. We unite our complementary skills and experience through our shared values.
Alexander Watson
Co-Founder / CEO / CFO
Stefan Haas
Co-Founder / Chief Solution Architect
Dr. Patrick Ribeiro
Co-Founder / Chief Product Officer
Shivang Abrol
Chief Operating Officer
Léa Smadja
Chief Marketing Officer
Laura Beaujour
Social Media & Content
Gil Ribeiro
Client Support
Susanne Wörrlein
Finance & Accounting
Thilo Herbst
Chief Sales Officer
Mange Kumarasamy
Strategic Partnerships
Aurore Delaunay
Project Manager
Hanna Schmid
Key Account Manager
Alex Kuvallini
Backend Tech Lead
Mohammad Alavi
Back-End Developer
Moslem Deris
Back-End Developer
Rafael Carrasco
Back-End Developer
Sebastiano Ballotta
Back-End Developer
Johan Karlsson
Remote Sensing
Rafael Martins
Product Designer
Athira Pazhayakkal
UX/UI Designer
Felix Hinze
Front-end Lead
Emmanuel Gratuze
Front-End Developer
Brian O'Hare
Geospatial Developer
Isabelle Rzpecki
EUDR Specialist
Mikayel Petrosyan
Front-end Developer
Work with us
We’re a growing team driven by purpose and curiosity. If you’re passionate about nature, transparency, and technology, explore our open positions — we might be looking for someone like you.
Ready to prove your impact?
Join leading organizations who trust OpenForests to support their transparency, monitoring, and digital storytelling.