E113 Kat Bruce: Turning Nature into Data

Founder of NatureMetrics and a pioneering force in the emerging field of nature tech - Kat Bruce’s journey is anything but conventional—from studying tropical ecology in the depths of the Amazon rainforest to navigating the challenges of launching a cutting-edge company that uses DNA sequencing to transform how we monitor biodiversity worldwide.Kat shares the story of how next-generation sequencing revolutionised environmental science, enabling her team to decode entire ecosystems from a single environmental sample. She reflects on the early skepticism she faced, the technical hurdles NatureMetrics overcame, and the rapid growth that followed as governments, businesses, and conservationists began to see the power of precise, scalable ecological data.Beyond the technology, Kat opens up about the personal sacrifices and breakthroughs that shaped her leadership—from grueling ocean rowing expeditions to moments of burnout and rediscovery. This conversation dives deep into what it means to build a mission-driven company at the intersection of science, technology, and environmental stewardship.If you’re curious about how cutting-edge science is helping us understand and protect the natural world in unprecedented ways—or if you want to hear an inspiring story about resilience, innovation, and purpose—this episode is for you.