Hum develops multimodal foundation models that combine satellite remote sensing with ground truth data to monitor and understand natural systems. The company's approach extends beyond traditional artificial intelligence to create what it frames as planetary superintelligence - technology capable of observing environmental dynamics across the Earth's surface.
The company's models are already deployed by customers spanning nature conservation organisations, carbon dioxide removal initiatives, and government agencies. Hum has secured over $10 million in funding from investors including HF0, Inovia Capital, and Propeller Ventures, alongside angel backing from James Tamplin (cofounder of Firebase) and Sid Gorham (cofounder of OpenTable). The company works with Amazon AWS and the United Nations on its applications.
Hum was founded at the University of Waterloo and is staffed primarily by PhDs and engineers. The company's technical focus centres on using satellite data and real-world observations to build AI systems capable of tracking environmental change, with applications ranging from monitoring carbon removal efforts to supporting conservation work and informing policy decisions.
