The phrase “digital business” gets tossed around a lot these days. It’s often used to describe companies with sleek apps, AI-infused dashboards, or some “game-changing” gadget. But if we’ve learned anything in the past decade, it’s that technology alone isn’t enough to sustain success.
Lots of opinions, with fancy slide decks and pithy bullet points that, in the end, don’t really say much of anything. Too often they are skewed along a single critical dimension (information that connects you with your customers … data that transforms your products and markets … analytics that let you see the future …) but no concrete plans. Usually, “digital strategy” comes across as a sales demo for some cloud or SaaS offering, an introduction to a major $$ consulting engagement, or maybe a pitch for organizational change as the Marketing group tries to take over IT (or, the IT team makes a play to bring in Marketing).
Or maybe Engineering wants to take control of it all. Hmm, wouldn’t that be interesting …
Framework: The Five Components
A great digital business doesn’t just adopt technology—it integrates it into the DNA of how the company operates, creates value, and connects with people. To get there, you need a framework—a way to think about all the moving pieces that make up your business, how they fit together, and how technology can help them work better.
That’s where the Five Core Components come in: Customers, Products, Operations, Data, and People. This framework isn’t a checklist or a rigid set of rules. It’s a way to focus your efforts on the areas that matter most and build a strategy that evolves with your business.
The magic of this framework is its adaptability. It has helped industries as diverse as logistics, healthcare, and forestry innovate and thrive. Yup, I said it … forestry. If you’re wondering what drones, IoT sensors, and carbon credits have to do with trees, lets look at some examples, and explore how framing our thinking in this way can drive innovation in ForestTech and beyond.
Customers: Innovating Experiences That Create Value
In a digital world, serving customers is about more than offering products and service. It’s about understanding their needs, anticipating their expectations, and building experiences that keep them coming back. From call centers and outbound marketing efforts, to websites and e-commerce tools that bring products directly to the customer (and return detailed feedback), to CRM systems that help us track and analyze complex market relationships – data-enabled connections can tie us tightly with our customers, and help us grow. But have we connected with our internal systems, to eliminate transactions and speed the value? And can we move beyond transactions, to develop tighter relationships with customers – maybe bringing them into product development or strategic planning?
In forestry, this isn’t just about timber buyers looking for sustainably sourced wood. The “customers” in this space are more diverse than you might think:
Landowners need tools to monitor and manage their forests remotely, especially when they’re balancing profitability with sustainability.
Investors are looking for data-backed insights into forest health, carbon capture, and long-term yield potential. Carbon credit systems are creating entirely new market opportunities.
Conservationists and NGOs want transparency—proof that forests are being managed responsibly and biodiversity is being protected.
A digital business in forestry might use AI-powered platforms to help landowners predict the best times to harvest or deploy blockchain for timber traceability, reassuring buyers and regulators alike. Innovating around customer experiences creates trust, strengthens relationships, and differentiates your business from competitors. For all types of customers, the key is to listen to their voice and solve problems that matter.
Products: Embedding Innovation into Core Offerings
Here’s where things get interesting. Products in a digital business aren’t just physical objects or static offerings – they are dynamic platforms for delivering value. This doesn’t mean you need to turn your product into the next iPhone, but it does mean rethinking how your product interacts with and incorporates technology. Information about our products, operating in the field, is becoming easier to gather – and is quickly becoming an assumption, table-stakes expectations from our customers and markets. Can we generate new forms of revenue, and deliver differentiating features in our products and services?
Forestry is full of opportunities to embed technology into products:
Smart Forest Management Systems: Think IoT-enabled sensors that monitor soil moisture, growth rates, and pest activity, sending real-time data straight to a landowner’s phone.
Carbon Credit Platforms: Tools that help landowners quantify their forest’s carbon capture potential open up new revenue streams while driving sustainability.
Remote Sensing Services: Drones, lidar, and satellite imagery turn a vast forest into a detailed digital map, providing insights that would have taken months to gather on foot.
Innovating your products doesn’t just create differentiation—it unlocks entirely new ways to engage with your market.
Operations: Driving Efficiency and Agility Through Innovation
If customers and products are what you see on the surface, operations are the engine under the hood. They’re the processes, systems, and workflows that make everything run smoothly (or not). Digital businesses take operations seriously—not just to cut costs, but to make their entire organization more agile and scalable.
Do your teams really understand the systems and processes that automate internal transactions – the details of running your business every day – and use them to their full potential? This covers an amazing range of systems, from the daily and mundane (email, calendaring, basic communications), to accounting systems that tick and tie your order-to-cash, purchase-to-pay, and make-to-ship processes (ERP). Most of us have reasonably mature systems in place for all of this – but our “revolution” here will focus on deeper training, richer data, and integrations with other systems.
Forestry operations are ripe for digital transformation:
Predictive Harvesting Models: Algorithms can optimize when and where to harvest, reducing waste and increasing yields.
Supply Chain Transparency: Timber supply chains are complex. Blockchain can help verify sourcing, ensuring compliance and ethical practices.
Fire Management Tools: Using predictive analytics to mitigate wildfire risks creates operational resilience and protects valuable resources. Fire management tools illustrate this perfectly.
Great operations aren’t just efficient—they’re adaptable. When the unexpected happens, innovation in operations can keep you ahead of the curve.
Data: Transforming Information into Innovation
Access is only half the battle; to really get the benefit, decision-makers and influencers will need to truly understand how to work with the data, asking it questions and working out the answers. And this won’t work if you’re going to be like every other organization, relying on a core set of data geeks and report writers for the analytics. High-performing individuals and teams must be able to access and manipulate information quickly and effectively. This has less to do with fancy visualization tools, and much more to do with skills training and intellectual curiosity. People need to take ownership of their data, in every sense of the word.
In forestry, the potential for data is exciting:
Forest Health Monitoring: IoT sensors, drones, and satellite imagery create a constant stream of information about tree growth, pest infestations, and fire risks.
Carbon Sequestration Analytics: Landowners and investors need accurate, real-time data to participate in carbon credit markets.
Inventory Management: Tracking timber resources—by species, age, and location—helps forest managers make smarter decisions about harvest planning and replanting.
Turning raw data into actionable insights requires innovation in how data is captured, processed, and used.
People: Empowering Innovators for the Digital Age
It may seem counterintuitive at first, but a deeply digital world relies on people – individuals with advanced skills and learning agility, working in distributed teams across multiple locations, collaborating and sharing in an effective and fluid manner. This is much tougher than it sounds, believe me – many societal factors must be overcome. But when you crack this code and bring highly engaged teams together – your buzzword targets (Innovation! Engagement! Productivity! Growth!) will sound less like wishful thinking, more like success metrics.
In forestry, this means bridging the gap between traditional expertise and modern technology:
Training Programs: Forestry teams need to be comfortable with drones, remote sensing tools, and data analytics platforms. These aren’t just tech add-ons—they’re becoming essential skills.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Bringing foresters, data scientists, and engineers together can spark innovation, whether it’s developing a new product or solving an operational challenge.
Leadership in a Digital Age: The best leaders create a culture that embraces experimentation, continuous learning, and adaptation.
Empowered people are the driving force behind innovation, ensuring your business can adapt, experiment, and thrive.
Call to Action
Your Digital Strategy statement <a href=”https://www.makerturtle.com/the-internet-of-things-and-applied-digital-strategy/”>has to explain</a> what you’re trying to achieve, where you will play, and how you will win. But if you’re trying to really transform your company, a Great Digital Business will nail each of these five components:
Who you serve
What you deliver
How you work
Using data to your advantage
The people that make it happen
Looking for more insights? Join our mailing list for updates or share your thoughts in the comments below.
As I write this (early September 2024), the Line Fire rages across Southern California, reminding me of the fires that shaped my childhood. Just a few miles from where I grew up, wildfires became a regular part of life. But for me, they were more than just background noise—they became the driving force behind my passion for Forestry and the founding of Talking Tree Ventures.
The flames I witnessed as a child were more than terrifying; they left an indelible mark on my memory and worldview. These formative experiences led me to build a career focused on using technology to optimize Forest Restoration, Forest Economics, and Fire Management. I didn’t just see fires as a natural phenomenon — I saw them as a call to action. And it all started in my backyard.
The Early Days: Fire on the Horizon
My family moved to California when I was seven years old. My father, an Air Force officer, settled us in San Bernardino, where our backyard opened up to the foothills of the San Bernardino mountains. It wasn’t long before I understood that fire was part of life in Southern California. One day, I found myself standing on the playground, watching glowing red embers drift down from above as the wind carried them to us from the nearby fires. The sky was dark, tinged with a strange greenish-brown hue, and everything seemed unreal and urgent.
That night, my dad stayed up on the roof, hosing down the tinder-dry cedar shingles, keeping our house cool while my mom packed the van with five kids and essentials, ready to evacuate. First thing in the morning, however, Dad had to put on his uniform and get to the airbase. Fire or no, my mom was on her own with five young kids, none of us really knowing what was going on. It was the kind of memory that sticks with you—an early realization that while nature’s forces are overwhelming, people can fight back with preparation, resilience, and strategy.
Citrus Avenue was just to the north of our house, and Mom likes to tell how they woke up in the middle of the night to the eerily silent flashing lights from a line of fire trucks, strung along the road like sentinels. Everyone north of that line was being evacuated, and the marshals were thinking about moving the line a little farther south – which would have added us to the evacuation list. Thankfully, the wind shifted and we were able to dodge that bullet.
Fire Management, I would later come to understand, is not just about reacting to fires—it’s about preventing them in the first place. The foundation for Talking Tree Ventures was laid that night as I watched my dad tirelessly work to protect our home.
The Panorama Fire: A Defining Moment
Fast forward to 1980, and I was a high schooler watching a nightmare unfold just a few miles away. The Panorama Fire, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, tore through Waterman Canyon in November of that year, devouring homes in minutes. The flames didn’t discriminate, swallowing entire neighborhoods in seconds. At the time, it was the fourth-most destructive fire in California history.
That fire wasn’t just another event for me—it was personal. The hills where I had hiked and camped were scorched beyond recognition. Worse, it was set by an arsonist, an unforgivable act in my teenage mind. But the emotional weight of the disaster didn’t end with the fire itself. A few months later, in January, the rains came—and with them, mudslides.
Without vegetation to hold the soil, entire neighborhoods were buried under heavy, thick mud. My high school crew felt we should pitch in and help, so we grabbed our shovels and went to see if we could dig anyone out. The rain and mudslides had stopped, but the houses were covered – literally covered – with heavy brown mud. Everything was starting to dry, and it seemed like the houses had just sunken into the earth. I vividly remember walking up to standing next to one house, where the mud had reached up to the roof. No joke – the roof line was right above my ankles. One low step up and I was on the roof! We went around the corner, climbed down a hill to the driveway and we were able to see the front door. After a busy hour of digging, there was a clear path to get to the front door so the homeowners could venture in to retrieve any remaining valuables.
That day, I learned an important lesson: disasters have knock-on effects. Fires aren’t just a threat when they burn—they continue to wreak havoc long after the flames have been extinguished.
From Fire to ForestTech: Building a Future Through Digital Forestry
The lessons from my youth sunk in crystallized as I’ve grown older. Forest Restoration, Forest Economics, and Fire Management have became more than abstract concepts — they are now central to my career mission. When I founded Talking Tree Ventures, I knew I wanted to address the pressing need for sustainable, technology-driven forestry solutions. The wildfires of my childhood weren’t just tragedies—they were catalysts for innovation.
Today, Talking Tree Ventures is focused on using data and digital tools to help prevent the kind of devastation I saw in California. By leveraging ForestTech, we can monitor fire risks in real-time, develop more efficient forest management plans, and help ecosystems recover after disasters. This isn’t just theory — it’s a mission grounded in my own experience with the destructive power of fire.
The future of fire management and forest restoration lies in the hands of entrepreneurs and investors who understand the value of sustainable solutions. Join our mission at Talking Tree Ventures — subscribe to our mailing list, share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for more insights into how technology and entrepreneurship can save our forests and our planet.
When we think about the future of our planet, forests stand as both sentinels and solutions. As climate change accelerates and natural resources become increasingly strained, the role of Forestry is gaining unprecedented attention. But beyond traditional logging and conservation, a burgeoning frontier holds immense potential for entrepreneurs and investors: Forestry Innovation. This is not just about planting trees – it’s about reimagining the entire Forestry ecosystem with new tools, data, and strategies that drive value and sustainability.
Forestry has long been a crucial sector, quietly supporting industries from construction to pharmaceuticals. However, as the global focus shifts towards sustainability, the need for innovative approaches in Forestry is more urgent than ever. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the critical role of forests in achieving a sustainable future. Forestry is directly linked to SDG 15 – Life on Land – which focuses on managing forests sustainably, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss. But it doesn’t stop there. Innovations in forestry also tie to other SDGs, such as SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
In this first installment of our series, we’ll explore the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and Forestry. Over the next three articles, we’ll dive deeper into specific niches – Forest Restoration, Forest Economics, and Fire Management – each presenting unique opportunities for those ready to think differently and act boldly.
Forest Restoration: Rebuilding Our Natural Capital
Forest Restoration isn’t just about replanting trees – it’s about rebuilding ecosystems, restoring biodiversity, and revitalizing degraded land. Entrepreneurs are developing cutting-edge technologies like drone-assisted planting, AI-driven monitoring systems, and new methods for carbon sequestration. The potential for value creation is enormous, not only in terms of environmental impact but also in generating new revenue streams. Investors who recognize the long-term benefits of these innovations are positioned to lead in a market that blends profit with purpose.
Forest Economics: The Business of Sustainability
As we shift towards a green economy, the economics of Forestry are evolving rapidly. Forest Economics now encompasses sustainable timber production, carbon credits, and the valuation of ecosystem services. Data analytics and digital tools empower startups to optimize forest management, reduce waste, and tap into new financial models. By embracing these innovations, businesses can enhance their profitability and contribute to a more sustainable global economy.
Fire Management: Preventing the Next Crisis
Wildfires are one of the most pressing challenges in forestry today. Climate change has made fire seasons longer and more intense, leading to devastating impacts on forests and communities alike. However, innovation in Fire Management is opening new pathways for prevention and response. Startups are developing predictive analytics, satellite monitoring, and automated fire suppression technologies that could revolutionize how we manage wildfires. By investing in these technologies, entrepreneurs and investors can play a crucial role in safeguarding our forests and those who depend on them.
Forestry Innovation and Impact
The convergence of technology and forestry presents a rare opportunity to create profitable and impactful solutions. For entrepreneurs, this means bringing fresh ideas to an industry that has historically been slow to change. For investors, it means recognizing the potential for high returns in a sector essential to our planet’s future. As you explore these opportunities, consider the broader implications of your work – how it contributes to global sustainability goals, drives economic growth, and, ultimately, protects the natural world we all rely on.
Stay ahead of the curve in forestry innovation. Join our mailing list for the latest insights, share your thoughts in the comments, and keep an eye out for the next article in this series.
Today marks a special milestone — Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday. For decades, Smokey has been a symbol of wildfire prevention, reminding us of our crucial role in protecting our forests. But as we celebrate his legacy, it’s also a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much further we still have to go, especially in a world where technology can unlock new avenues for conservation.
In recent years, my focus has shifted significantly. After a long career in applied digital technology, I’ve found myself diving headfirst into the world of Venture Capital, specifically within the forestry sector. My new mission is clear: leverage cutting-edge technology to drive impactful change in forest restoration, forest economics, and fire management. This isn’t just a professional pivot—it’s personal.
Embracing a New Purpose
If you’ve visited the About page on Talking Tree Ventures, you’ll know that this journey is deeply rooted in a desire to make the world a better place for my grandkids. The stakes couldn’t be higher; with climate change accelerating, the future of our forests—and, by extension, our planet—depends on the actions we take today. I’m committed to creating meaningful impact, not just in words but in actions.
That’s why I’m excited to announce a significant commitment: starting this year, 20% of all revenue generated by Talking Tree Ventures will be dedicated to impact investing and socially relevant causes. This isn’t just about making donations; it’s about funding the next generation of startups poised to revolutionize how we manage and protect our forests.
The Power of Technology in Forestry
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been writing extensively about the role of technology in forestry. Whether it’s drones replanting trees in fire-ravaged areas or data analytics optimizing timber production for sustainability, the innovations we’re seeing today are nothing short of extraordinary. And it’s not just about the tech—it’s about the stories of the people behind these innovations.
Every connection I make in this space opens up new possibilities. I’ve met entrepreneurs who are redefining what’s possible in forest restoration, investors who are eager to support this vision, and researchers whose work is laying the groundwork for the future of forestry. It’s like drinking from a fire hose—in the best possible way.
Why This Matters—And How You Can Get Involved
I don’t want to undertake this journey alone. There’s too much at stake and too much to learn. I’m looking for partners—startups developing groundbreaking solutions, angel investors who can provide guidance and capital, and anyone with a passion for preserving our forests for future generations.
Let’s make this a collective effort. If you have a story about how forests have impacted your life, I want to hear it. If you’re a startup with a bold new idea, I want to help you bring it to life. And if you’re an investor looking to make a difference, let’s talk about how to work together to achieve our shared goals.
What’s Next for Talking Tree Ventures
As we celebrate Smokey’s 80th, I’m reminded of the power of a single idea to change the world. Smokey’s message has been ingrained in our collective consciousness for generations. It’s time to build on that legacy with new tools and ideas.
In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about the long-term vision for Talking Tree Ventures, including plans for a dedicated investment fund focused on applied technology in forestry. While I’m still gathering insights and researching the best path forward, I’m more determined than ever to make this vision a reality.
Ready to make a difference? Join our mailing list, share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for more exciting updates from Talking Tree Ventures.
As we look towards the future, the intersection of forest economics and technology becomes not just a point of curiosity but a critical focal point for the forestry industry. Entrepreneurs and investors, driven by the mission of Talking Tree Ventures, understand that the future of sustainable forestry hinges on the intelligent application of technology. From advanced data analytics to AI-driven forest management, the digital revolution is bringing unprecedented changes to how we understand and interact with our forests.
The integration of technology into forest economics isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about survival. The growing threats of climate change and deforestation demand innovative solutions that can adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. With technology, we can optimize forest restoration efforts, manage forest fires more effectively, and ensure that economic models are sustainable for the long term. The stakes are high, and the opportunities are vast.
A Historical Perspective on Forestry Technology
The forestry industry has a rich history of innovation, from the development of early logging techniques to the modern machinery we see today. But now, we’re at a tipping point. The emergence of precision forestry—leveraging satellites, drones, and sensors—is revolutionizing the way we manage forests. These tools provide real-time data, allowing for more precise and informed decision-making. This technological leap forward is not just about enhancing productivity; it’s about making forestry more resilient, adaptive, and sustainable.
Talking Tree Ventures: Leading the Charge
Talking Tree Ventures is deeply invested in this technological transformation. By supporting startups and early-stage innovators, we’re not just participating in the future of forestry—we’re shaping it. Our mission is to bring together the brightest minds in tech and forestry to create solutions that will protect our forests for generations to come.
We want to hear from you! How do you see technology transforming the forestry industry? What innovations excite you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to join our mailing list for more updates.
And speaking of innovation, stay tuned for an exciting announcement from Talking Tree Ventures as we celebrate Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday. Something big is on the horizon!
Don’t miss out on the latest in forestry innovation! Join our mailing list, share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for more updates. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for our forests.
When Smokey Bear first told us, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires,” he became an enduring symbol of fire prevention. But as we enter a new era of forest management, Smokey’s message has evolved to emphasize not just fire prevention, but forest restoration – bringing back the health and vitality of our forests for future generations. This shift is crucial for entrepreneurs and investors in the forestry sector, particularly those focused on forest restoration, economics, and fire management.
From Fire Prevention to Forest Restoration
In the mid-20th century, Smokey the Bear emerged as the face of wildfire prevention, a response to the widespread forest fires that ravaged the United States. His message was simple: human carelessness was the leading cause of wildfires, and by being vigilant, we could protect our forests. For decades, this was the focus, and it worked—wildfire occurrences due to human error have decreased significantly.
However, as we’ve learned more about the ecology of forests, the narrative has shifted. Today, we understand that fire plays a natural and necessary role in many ecosystems. Fire can clear out underbrush, return nutrients to the soil, and create the conditions necessary for certain species to thrive. But with the advent of climate change, the intensity and frequency of wildfires have escalated, demanding a more nuanced approach.
This is where forest restoration comes into play. The modern forestry industry recognizes that it’s not just about preventing fires but ensuring that forests are resilient and capable of regenerating after disturbances, whether they be fires, storms, or human activities. Entrepreneurs and investors in this space are increasingly focusing on innovations that support this regenerative approach—from advanced reforestation techniques to economic models that value the long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Why This Matters
Restoration Over Suppression: Modern forestry practices embrace the natural role of fire in ecosystems while focusing on restoring forests to enhance their resilience and health.
Economic Sustainability: Innovative economic models that value forest restoration ensure long-term profitability while maintaining ecological balance.
Fire Management Evolution: Advanced technologies and methodologies are transforming fire management, emphasizing prevention, mitigation, and post-fire restoration.
As Smokey celebrates his 80th birthday, we honor his legacy by expanding his mission—from preventing fires to regenerating forests. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement from Talking Tree Ventures that will align with this evolved mission.
Join our mailing list to stay informed about innovations in forest restoration, share your thoughts in the comments. Keep an eye out for more updates from Talking Tree Ventures!
