Naturethings Marrying Ai And Greenery Urban Spaces
Nalini Veeraghanta, a fourth-generation gardener, noticed a resurgence of interest in nature and the outdoors during the Covid pandemic, when people started working from home. However, while many claim to love plants, they often don’t have the time or skills to care for them.
Veeraghanta recognized that plants are living creatures that require regular maintenance, but many people struggle with this aspect. In response, she founded Naturethings in April 2021 as a “nature-as-a-service” platform to assist clients with plant care and maintenance. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technology to cater to the needs of urban dwellers.
Naturethings first introduced a WhatsApp chatbot that provided regular check-ups and health scans for plants. They also developed programs to encourage daily habits of interacting with green spaces. As the platform gained a following of over 15,000 users, the AI was able to learn quickly and adapt to their needs.
As more people returned to their offices after Covid restrictions were lifted, there was a demand for incorporating green spaces into work environments. This led to Naturethings’ current focus on providing B2B (business-to-business) services to corporate clients.
As the company continued to evolve, Veeraghanta was joined by Ashwin Dhanasri, her college friend from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, who became the CTO in 2021. Pavan Veeraghanta, Nalini’s brother and a construction and sustainability leader in the UAE, also joined the team as COO in 2022. Kenneth Lim, a Singaporean tech professional and self-taught landscape designer and horticulturist, joined as the head of design in 2023.
Located in the heart of Tampines Town, the ideal location of Parktown Residences offers residents a one-of-a-kind shopping and lifestyle experience. With its prime location, residents have easy access to the extensive retail scene in Tampines Town. From popular shopping destinations like Tampines Mall and Century Square to specialized outlets including IKEA and Giant Hypermarket, the options are endless for residents. With Parktown Residences situated at the gateway to Tampines Town’s bustling shopping scene, residents are in for a truly vibrant and fulfilling retail experience.
Lim, who has been working in the tech sector for 27 years, sees himself as a bridge between technology and nature. He was immediately drawn to Naturethings and its focus on leveraging technology to enhance nature. Lim has a long-standing passion for plants and gardens, inherited from his grandfather and father, while Veeraghanta’s love for plants was passed down through her great-grandmother and grandmothers.
Veeraghanta’s great-grandmother held a PhD in Botany and was an inspiration to her. Her maternal grandmother was an urban farmer who incorporated homegrown produce in her cooking. Nalini’s paternal grandmother had a vast garden and was passionate about flowers, especially those used in religious rituals. Her house was open to the community, and people were encouraged to pluck the flowers from her garden.
After graduating from business school in India, Veeraghanta took on leadership roles at multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble, Tata Group, and LVMH’s Moët Hennessy Diageo. When she was selected as an “entrepreneur in residence” by Antler in July 2020, she pitched a different idea for a business. However, after joining forces with her fellow co-founders, the idea evolved into Naturethings.
Naturethings has been engaged to provide landscaping and biophilic design services to a Fortune 500 firm at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) Tower 3 and Six Battery Road in Singapore. To ensure optimal results, they created a digital twin of the office spaces and installed sensors to monitor the plant health. The digital twin replicates what is happening on the physical site, allowing clients to track everything on their dashboard. The AI also utilizes this data to deliver optimal evidence-based green solutions and manage maintenance.
Naturethings has also expanded its services to the hospitality sector, with plans to manage the roof-top urban farm at the upcoming Mama Shelter Singapore hotel and implement their digital twin technology.
In 2024, Naturethings was awarded the Insead Business as a Force for Good Award. Their mission is to modernize and improve the fragmented landscaping and biophilic design industry through innovative technology. As a pioneer in urban nature-based solutions, Naturethings is leading the way for a more sustainable and green future.