In this interview with our co-founders, Gordon Tveito-Duncan and Sebastien Kirk, discover why GaiaLens is not just another sustainability data provider. Read about how they met, their journey, their plans, and how they're using AI to gain deeper insights and encourage investors to make a difference.

Can you share the story of how you both met and decided to work together on GaiaLens? 

We met during our MScs in Data Science in London and became good friends after we had, by chance, sat next to each other during one of the first lectures. A fund manager's presentation initially sparked our interest in sustainable investing, and we soon realised there was a real opportunity to apply the latest data science techniques to this field. That inspiration led us to focus our dissertations on using machine learning to predict ESG ratings.

How did your dissertations inspire the creation of GaiaLens?

Our dissertations involved applying state-of-the-art data machine learning algorithms to sustainability data. We became fascinated by the space and the challenge of making sense of unstandardised, messy, and sparse sustainability data and researched more about the downfalls of existing sustainability data providers.

Then, after finishing our degrees in October 2020, we worked to commercialise our work and build a proof of concept. This was successful, and we were able to raise a seed round in April 2021 and officially launch GaiaLens!

What makes GaiaLens’ sustainability analytics platform unique compared to other sustainability data providers?

GaiaLens stands out from other sustainability data providers by offering an AI-powered sustainability analytics platform designed specifically for institutional investors and financial services companies. What makes us unique is our real-time evaluation and transparent ESG scoring; our platform compiles and analyses structured and unstructured data and traditional financial information to deliver up-to-date sustainability insights on over 22,000 companies across the E, S, and G pillars.

We go beyond ESG scoring by integrating advanced features like end-to-end SFDR reporting, a best-in-class Controversy Detection System, and a GenAI-powered PDF Chatbot that extracts and analyses data from uploaded reports. Our platform also offers customisable impact screens and comprehensive greenwashing analysis at both the company and fund level.

GaiaLens is fully modular, so clients can subscribe to individual tools or bundle them as needed, and our flexible, self-serve subscription model gives analysts instant access to sophisticated sustainability reporting without the usual barriers. We also pride ourselves on our holistic approach; unlike many providers who focus mainly on environmental data, we also ensure clear, real-time scoring for social and governance factors.

By combining AI, a transparent methodology, and a commitment to comprehensive coverage, GaiaLens encourages investors to make more informed, timely, and confident sustainability decisions.

How does your platform use AI and machine learning to deliver sustainability insights?

GaiaLens uses sophisticated large language models (LLMs) to process articles and tweets for its Controversy Detection System, generating controversy scores for ESG pillars and greenwashing. The platform also employs AI-powered tools like the PDF GenAI Chatbot to extract and analyse sustainability data from uploaded documents. 

How do you see GaiaLens contributing to more sustainable financial markets?

GaiaLens is dedicated to making financial markets more sustainable by equipping investors with the tools and insights they need to make responsible decisions. Our platform helps investors at every stage of the sustainable investment process, including deep-dive research, portfolio benchmarking, controversy detection, and greenwashing risk analysis, by delivering high-quality, real-time sustainability data and transparent analytics. By making it easier for institutional investors to integrate sustainability considerations into their strategies, GaiaLens encourages more informed investment decisions that are truly committed to sustainability. Ultimately, we believe that by providing clear, actionable sustainability insights, we can help drive positive change and encourage a more sustainable future for financial markets.

How has GaiaLens evolved since its launch, and what are your priorities for the next phase of growth?

Since our launch in 2021, GaiaLens has grown into a comprehensive sustainability analytics platform. We’ve built out a full suite of tools for sustainability research, portfolio benchmarking, controversy detection, and greenwashing risk analysis. We have significantly expanded our data coverage, now analysing sustainability data for over 22,000 public companies and more than 3.5 million private companies.

Our evolution has been driven by a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. We’ve embraced the latest advances in AI, including machine learning and large language models, to deliver real-time, transparent, and actionable sustainability insights. We also pride ourselves on our adaptability, regularly integrating new data types and responding to client feedback to ensure our platform meets the changing needs of the financial industry.

Looking ahead, our top priorities are to further enhance our product’s capabilities, broaden the range of client use cases we support, and continue leading the way in AI-powered sustainability analytics.

How do you see advancements in AI shaping the future of fintech?

We’re particularly interested in how AI, especially large language models, will impact the FinTech sector. There is excitement about the potential for AI-native consumer finance products and the use of LLMs to build personal finance assistants and agents. Additionally, we’re interested in the role of AI in bringing financial education to the masses and in the continued evolution of neo-banks and their market share in the financial sector.

What have been the most rewarding moments for you as founders of GaiaLens?

Some rewarding moments include partnering with a global financial services institution to whitelabel our platform for them, moving office to the beautiful Hamilton House, and team socials like our recent VR Squid Game social!