The Nature Conservancy

Regenerative Grazing E.I.R.

Regenerative Grazing E.I.R.

Challenging the paradigm that technology first solutions will increase adoption for regenerative ranching.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the world's largest environmental nonprofit organization, working to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends across 80+ countries and territories. Founded in 1951, TNC has protected more than 119 million acres of land globally and operates with over 1 million members, combining science-based conservation with innovative partnerships to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the world's largest environmental nonprofit organization, working to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends across 80+ countries and territories. Founded in 1951, TNC has protected more than 119 million acres of land globally and operates with over 1 million members, combining science-based conservation with innovative partnerships to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

Challenging assumptions and reframing regenerative ranching.

TNC's Regenerative Grazing Lands team wanted technology solutions to accelerate regenerative practices, but our strategic discovery revealed that the real challenge was much deeper than software.

Working closely with Nancy Labbe, Co-Director of Regenerative Grazing Lands Strategy, we discovered the assignment itself needed reframing. TNC hoped to find a one-size-fits-all technology solution that could drive their impact goals across diverse ranching operations. Our role as Entrepreneurs in Residence was to bring an entrepreneurial lens to uncover what would actually work at scale.

Reframing the Problem

TNC's Regenerative Grazing Lands team wanted technology solutions to accelerate regenerative practices, but our strategic discovery revealed that the real challenge was much deeper than software.

Phase 1: Comprehensive discovery and tool analysis

We embedded with TNC's team to understand their impact goals, core competencies, and available levers for change. Our team systematically reviewed over 200 software products and tools serving the ranching industry, identifying winning technologies and critical service gaps that could empower ranchers to improve both land and business outcomes.

Phase 1: Comprehensive discovery and tool analysis

We embedded with TNC's team to understand their impact goals, core competencies, and available levers for change. Our team systematically reviewed over 200 software products and tools serving the ranching industry, identifying winning technologies and critical service gaps that could empower ranchers to improve both land and business outcomes.

Phase 1: Comprehensive discovery and tool analysis

We embedded with TNC's team to understand their impact goals, core competencies, and available levers for change. Our team systematically reviewed over 200 software products and tools serving the ranching industry, identifying winning technologies and critical service gaps that could empower ranchers to improve both land and business outcomes.

Phase 2: Strategic synthesis and assumption challenge

Our team (a former venture capitalist, 6th generation rancher, and rancher-turned-data engineer) synthesized insights into a comprehensive business strategy. Through strategic synthesis, we concluded that sustainable ranching transformation required coordinated networks of trusted local advisors, not one-size-fits-all software solutions.

Phase 2: Strategic synthesis and assumption challenge

Our team (a former venture capitalist, 6th generation rancher, and rancher-turned-data engineer) synthesized insights into a comprehensive business strategy. Through strategic synthesis, we concluded that sustainable ranching transformation required coordinated networks of trusted local advisors, not one-size-fits-all software solutions.

Phase 2: Strategic synthesis and assumption challenge

Our team (a former venture capitalist, 6th generation rancher, and rancher-turned-data engineer) synthesized insights into a comprehensive business strategy. Through strategic synthesis, we concluded that sustainable ranching transformation required coordinated networks of trusted local advisors, not one-size-fits-all software solutions.

Impact and Deliverables

Strategic reframing that redirected investment

TNC shifted from software procurement to human capital strategy, fundamentally changing their approach to scaling regenerative practices. Our comprehensive analysis proved that successful conservation technology requires distributed expertise networks, not standalone platforms.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Strategic reframing that redirected investment

TNC shifted from software procurement to human capital strategy, fundamentally changing their approach to scaling regenerative practices. Our comprehensive analysis proved that successful conservation technology requires distributed expertise networks, not standalone platforms.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Strategic reframing that redirected investment

TNC shifted from software procurement to human capital strategy, fundamentally changing their approach to scaling regenerative practices. Our comprehensive analysis proved that successful conservation technology requires distributed expertise networks, not standalone platforms.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Actionable business strategy and financial framework

We delivered a complete fundraising strategy with financial modeling to support TNC's vision of scaling technical service providers. Our product strategy outlined how to create and sustain a distributed network of independent advisors specifically serving the ranching sector's unique needs.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Actionable business strategy and financial framework

We delivered a complete fundraising strategy with financial modeling to support TNC's vision of scaling technical service providers. Our product strategy outlined how to create and sustain a distributed network of independent advisors specifically serving the ranching sector's unique needs.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Actionable business strategy and financial framework

We delivered a complete fundraising strategy with financial modeling to support TNC's vision of scaling technical service providers. Our product strategy outlined how to create and sustain a distributed network of independent advisors specifically serving the ranching sector's unique needs.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Organizational impact and knowledge transfer

Our insights were disseminated broadly across multiple platforms and audiences. They were presented internally to hundreds of TNC agricultural employees during the organization’s bi-annual agricultural strategy meeting, shared at the 2024 National Grazing Lands Conference, and delivered through a webinar that drew hundreds of participants. In addition, the work was featured in various web publications, extending its reach to a wider professional and public audience. The comprehensive tool review and gap analysis has since become a foundational resource guiding TNC’s strategic decision-making in regenerative agriculture initiatives.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Organizational impact and knowledge transfer

Our insights were disseminated broadly across multiple platforms and audiences. They were presented internally to hundreds of TNC agricultural employees during the organization’s bi-annual agricultural strategy meeting, shared at the 2024 National Grazing Lands Conference, and delivered through a webinar that drew hundreds of participants. In addition, the work was featured in various web publications, extending its reach to a wider professional and public audience. The comprehensive tool review and gap analysis has since become a foundational resource guiding TNC’s strategic decision-making in regenerative agriculture initiatives.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

Transforming static research into a powerful membership acquisition asset.

"As the Entrepreneur in Residence, Celium Group was instrumental in helping TNC ‘get out of our own way’ in a sense and think outside the box. Instead of developing a concept that we thought we wanted to hear, the team helped us pivot and develop a much stronger idea that will have systems change in the grazing sector."

Nancy Labbe

Director, Regenerative Grazing Lands Strategy, North America Agriculture Program

Ready to transform your data into strategic advantage?

Strategy consultation includes assessment of current challenges, conservation-specific opportunity identification, and partnership model discussion.

Let's have a chat

Let's have a chat

Ready to transform your data into strategic advantage?

Strategy consultation includes assessment of current challenges, conservation-specific opportunity identification, and partnership model discussion.

Let's have a chat

Let's have a chat

Ready to transform your data into strategic advantage?

Strategy consultation includes assessment of current challenges, conservation-specific opportunity identification, and partnership model discussion.

Let's have a chat

Let's have a chat