Nature isn’t just a cause.
It’s an asset class.
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse rank as the second biggest risk to the global economy over the next decade.
Biodiversity loss is not something we can reverse later — it’s something we must prevent now.
If we continue to expect others to protect nature for free while financially rewarding those who destroy it, critical ecosystems will continue to disappear.
“Price is what you pay,
Value is what you get.”
-Warren Buffett
At |XAU, our mission is to structure biodiversity as a new asset class, so that more capital can flow where it’s needed - to scale the conservation of endangered species in time to reshape our future.
“The valuation of nature is coming and there is nobody who will be able to stop it, because nobody will be able to value anything else without it.”
Joana Picq
Revisioning Nature Capital
Seeds, plants, trees, and entire species already feature as assets on balance sheets, independent from the land they stand on.
The systems to assetise nature already exist.
What’s missing isn’t the framework… it’s the courage to value the natural systems that sustain our economies — because without them, every other asset loses its worth.
By structuring and investing in Nature Assets we become equity partners with nature stewards while allowing them to raise capital to scale their conservation efforts.
We partner with other nature asset holders to kindle the biodiversity economy through the transaction of nature currencies, focusing on defining and pricing real, verifiable nature outcomes.
We measure the size and value of our nature assets using auditable protocols for field data collection, combined with cutting-edge technology to assess ecosystem condition and trajectory over time.
Why |XAU?
|XAU was founded on the belief that nature is a strategic store of wealth — like gold or art, only far more productive and valuable.
IXAU is an Indigenous Khoi San word that means ‘to go on a magical expedition’. It also carries within it XAU — the symbol used to trade gold in financial markets.
We chose the name IXAU because it points to nature’s value as something as precious as gold — while reminding us that its value lies in its complex ecosystems we’re invited to journey into, rather than extracted fragments can can hold it our hands.
Although we are passionate about safeguarding endangered species for future generations, our work is driven not by virtue, but by pragmatism - protecting biodiversity is essential to protecting the long-term value of every other asset.
We cannot expect others to protect nature for free, nor can we rely on philanthropy to cover the biodiversity financing gap.
We already know nature underpins half of global GDP - we’re here to structure investment vehicles that channel capital to nature conservation in time to protect endangered species from extinction.
Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities (IPLCs)
We believe conservation can only thrive if those who live on and off the land are recognised and rewarded for their efforts to protect its biodiversity.
As part of |XAU governance, we prioritise indigenous peoples' consultation for free prior and informed consent, recognising their unique knowledge of how to care of the entire ecosystem. The involvement of local communities ensures that adjacent lands also benefit, as people working in the region become more empowered to care for its biodiversity across roles within multiple industries.
|XAU creates "Steward Funds" to share part of our revenue with those working on the land we've invested in, directly contributing to its biodiversity conservation. A portion of this fund is evenly distributed as bonuses among the teams, while another portion supports community initiatives focused on empowering women and girls, as determined by a board of women staff.
Additionally, |XAU Governance enforces that our technology partners, investors and corporate buyers have no history of exploiting indigenous peoples, fostering a respectful and sustainable collaboration that can endure over time.
Our mission is to secure a role for
humanity in nature’s future.
Existing Partners
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![Onçafari (Brazil)]()
Onçafari (Brazil)
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![Pivotal]()
Pivotal
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![Instituto LIFE]()
LIFE Institute
About us
|XAU is rooted in the Ubuntu philosophy of interdependence.
“I am because you are, you are because I am.” In nature, as in life, every element depends on the health of the whole. Biodiversity is not a luxury — it is the living system that holds us.
|XAU was founded by tech entrepreneur Joana Picq, driven by a determination to keep our environment and its beauty for generations to come.
The company stands at a unique intersection of expertise and purpose — blending Joana’s entrepreneurial energy and vision, her husband Jonathan Rossouw’s deep knowledge of wildlife and wild spaces, and her sister Manuela Picq’s lifelong commitment to Indigenous rights, particularly the rights of Indigenous women.
Together, they bring a rare synthesis of capital strategy, ecological understanding, and cultural integrity.
Our mission is to secure humanity’s place in nature’s future.
By investing in nature, we transform conservation from a cost into an asset — a place to store value, grow returns, and build intergenerational wealth.
We enable investors to hold their wealth in reserves their grandchildren will thank them for — any asset can perform returns, but none will be of value to future generations if they’ve come at the cost of natural ecosystems.
We also support companies in de-risking their future by rewarding verified ecological outcomes — stepping into the emerging biodiversity market with real integrity.
We envision a world where nature becomes the ultimate reserve, replacing static assets like gold with living systems that support human life and economic continuity on a planet that could easily outlive us.