The Xylem Institute
A Hub for Earth Observation & AI Innovation
Transforming communities through locally-driven Earth observation solutions
Dr. Catherine Nakalembe, Founder
Executive Summary
TXI: Earth Observation & AI Innovation Hub
The Xylem Institute (TXI), founded by internationally renowned NASA researcher Professor Catherine Nakalembe, bridges cutting-edge geospatial technology with sustainable development priorities worldwide. With deep expertise in field-tested and deployed frameworks and strong partnerships with global organizations including leading NASA Research, AGRA, Gates Foundation, and national governments, TXI will deliver locally-adapted Earth observation and AI innovation that scale globally.
Four Critical Areas of Intervention
🛰️ Advanced EO & AI/ML Development
Develop cutting-edge Earth Observation (EO) and AI/ML methods for environmental (agriculture, forestry, disasters) mapping and monitoring.
🔧 Technical Advisory Services
Deploy customized solutions tailored to each organization's unique context and goals. Our ready-to-deploy frameworks provide scalable disaster mapping and land monitoring solutions.
🎓 Capacity-Building Programs
Train professionals through a comprehensive EO/AI curriculum. These include institutional knowledge transfer programs that create lasting expertise within partner organizations.
🤝 Regional & International Support
Support regional and international organizations by conducting comprehensive assessments for their programming needs and connecting them to the right implementation partners.
Investment Opportunity: $6.5M for Market Leadership
- Access to our established network of NASA, AGRA, and 15+ government partners
- Proven technical leadership with demonstrated results across 6 countries
- Ready-to-scale solutions with existing deployment frameworks
- Clear path to sustained revenue by Year 5 with 30-month strategic runway
- $12B+ addressable market opportunity
- De-risked investment through established XylemLab team with 10+ years collaboration
The Challenge
The Technology Gap Crisis
The Problem: Earth observation data has increased 1000x in the past decade, yet less than 5% reaches vulnerable communities.
- 783M+ people face hunger, an increase of 122 million since 2019
- 4-5x disasters - 7.7 million internally displaced in 2023 due to disasters
- US$20 billion per year by 2030 - estimated humanitarian cost of climate change
- 95% excluded - communities remain technology takers, not makers
TXI's Solution: Community-Led Earth Observation
TXI transforms how Earth observation serves humanity by building for and from within communities and organizational priorities.
- 🎯 Predict & Assess disaster impacts at any scale
- 👨🌾 Empower Farmers with AI tools designed for their specific context
- 🎓 Train Local Experts to own and evolve solutions independently
- 💼 Generate Revenue through convenings, advisory services, training programs
The very people who need data and information most are systematically excluded from accessing it or it is simply not developed for their priorities.
About TXI
The Xylem Institute: User-Centered Earth Intelligence
TXI pioneers Earth observation and AI innovation that puts communities first. We integrate satellite data, drones, and AI with local expertise, empowering institutions to build context-relevant solutions for agriculture, disaster resilience, and climate adaptation that actually work on the ground.
VISION
To create a world where every community has the power to predict, prepare for, and adapt to environmental challenges using Earth observation and artificial intelligence technologies they own, understand, and control.
MISSION
The Xylem Institute empowers communities and institutions worldwide to harness satellite data and AI for local solutions that matter. We bridge the gap between cutting-edge Earth observation technology and the people who need it most through collaborative innovation, comprehensive training, and community-led implementation that transforms how technology serves humanity's most pressing environmental challenges.
Theory of Change: Four Interconnected Pillars
Knowledge Transfer
Building institutional capacity in ministries, universities, and local organizations to independently develop and deploy geospatial technologies
Co-Creation
Pioneering collaborative methodologies where regional entities and communities actively participate in technology development
Leadership Development
Nurturing a network of geospatial innovators who will transform how technology serves vulnerable communities
Cutting-edge Methods & Tech
Advancing state-of-the-art Earth observation and AI methodologies to push the boundaries of what's possible in climate monitoring and early warning
Founder
Professor Catherine Nakalembe
Dr. Catherine Nakalembe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland. As XylemLab's Director, NASA Harvest Africa Lead and Agriculture and Food Security Thematic Lead on NASA's SERVIR Applied Sciences Team, she applies her expertise in satellite remote sensing and machine learning to advance agriculture and support food security initiatives globally.
Education: Ph.D. in Geographical Science from the University of Maryland, Master's in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and B.Sc. in Environmental Science from Makerere University, Uganda.
Major Awards & Recognition
🏆 2020 Africa Food Prize
Recognized for transformative work in agricultural development and food security
🥇 Al-Sumait Prize Winner
$1M award for exceptional contributions to African development
🎖️ Uganda Golden Jubilee Medal
Uganda's highest civilian honor for service to the nation
🏆 TED Fellowship
🏆 Early Career Impact Award
🥇 IRCAI Global Top 100 List
Outstanding project solving problems related SDG's through the application of AI.
🎖️ 2019 GEO SDG Award Uganda
Remarkable applying EO for development of early warnings and disaster risk financing
Proven Results
- Cutting edge methods for smallholder crop mapping systems
- 100+ training events across multiple programs
- 6+ countries with deployed monitoring systems
- 15+ countries with applied methodology
- 15+ government partnerships established
TXI Services & Programs
Root Programs
Digital Literacy & EO Fundamentals
Current FocusBuilding strong foundations in Earth Observation and AI literacy through hands-on learning in our Xylem Lab. Our starting point for community empowerment.
- Foundational EO-AI methods: machine learning for satellite data analysis
- EO-AI mapping techniques using real satellite imagery
- Environmental modeling and predictive analytics in Xylem Lab
- Introduction to satellite data and environmental monitoring
- Basic digital skills for geospatial applications
- Community-based workshops and hands-on training
Branch Specializations
Professional Development & Training
In DevelopmentTargeted training programs for professionals ready to apply EO/AI in their work.
- Sector-specific applications (agriculture, disaster management)
- Certification programs for GIS professionals
- AI/ML specialization for remote sensing
- Policy integration workshops for decision-makers
Leaf Projects
Pilot Applications & Consulting
Pilot PhaseReal-world implementation projects demonstrating the practical value of our training and expertise.
- Environmental monitoring pilot projects
- Agricultural risk assessment tools
- Consulting for early adopter organizations
- Community-based monitoring systems
Flowers - Policy Integration
Standards & Framework Development
Future VisionAs we grow, we'll contribute to policy frameworks and institutional standards for ethical, effective EO/AI implementation.
- National Earth Observation integration frameworks
- Ethical AI governance structures
- Cross-regional data sharing protocols
Fruit - Measurable Impact
Outcomes & Success Stories
Our GoalThe ultimate outcome: tangible improvements in food security, disaster resilience, and environmental sustainability through our programs and partnerships.
- Increased farmer productivity through EO-AI insights
- Reduced crop loss via early warning systems
- Enhanced climate resilience in vulnerable communities
- Measurable improvements in resource management
🎯 What We're Building Now
Hands-on EO-AI methods development and community training facility
- Foundational courses in satellite data analysis and machine learning
- Community workshops in environmental monitoring
- Pilot partnerships with local organizations
- Open-source tool development for accessible EO-AI applications
🗺️ Our Growth Path
Phase 1: Foundation (2025)
TXI's establishment, core curriculum development, first cohort training
Phase 2: Specialization (2026)
Sector-specific programs, professional certifications, pilot project launches
Phase 3: Scale (2027+)
Policy integration, measurable impact, regional expansion
Ready to Grow with Us?
We're just getting started, but we have a clear path forward. Join us in building accessible Earth Observation capabilities for communities that need them most.
🤝 Explore Partnerships 🎓 Learn More 🌐 Visit Xylem LabMarket Analysis
$12B+ Addressable Market
TXI addresses a massive and growing market need across government, private sector, and training markets.
💰 Government Sector
annually in agricultural development and disaster response spending
🏢 Private Sector
annually in crop insurance, agricultural lending, and humanitarian response
🎓 Training Market
annually in capacity building and technical assistance programs
Global Market Drivers
- Global Government Interest: Increasing investments in geospatial technologies
- Policy Applications: Growing recognition for climate policy and disaster response
- Localized Solutions: Rising need for locally-contextualized solutions
- SDG Alignment: Potential to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals
- Climate Change: Urgent need for adaptation and mitigation solutions
Market Opportunity
- Global EO market: $83.9 billion by 2030 (CAGR 7.9%)
- Africa (strategic focus): 54 countries, 1.3 billion+ population
- Global developing regions: Similar challenges and scalable solutions
- High global demand from governments, NGOs, international organizations
- Accelerating adoption of EO/AI across all sectors worldwide
Revenue Avenues
- Training Programs: $2-5K per participant
- Government Contracts: $100-500K per national system
- Rapid Response Services: $50-100K for emergency deployment
- Software and platform development: $10-100K annually per organization
- Consulting Services: $150-500 per hour for technical advisory
- Incubator Returns: Equity stakes in supported ventures
Why Now?
- Global efforts to actively prioritizing locally-led solutions over traditional technology transfer
- 50+ climate disasters annually requiring rapid, context-aware response systems
- Satellite data volume has increased 1000x in the past decade, yet this wealth of information remains largely untapped for real-time disaster prevention and response
- Advanced AI models can now process satellite imagery in real-time, enabling instant detection of climate anomalies that previously took days or weeks to identify
- $50B+ spent annually on humanitarian response that satellite data could help predict and prevent
Team
Proven XylemLab Team Ready to Scale Through TXI
Strategic Advantage: This is not a startup team—it's an established research group with 3+ years of collaboration, proven methodologies, existing partnerships, and demonstrated results across six African countries.
Core Leadership
- Dr. Catherine Nakalembe - Founder & Chief Science Officer
- Professor of Geographical Sciences - University of Maryland
- XylemLab Director - NASA Harvest Africa Lead
Extended Research Team
9 Additional Team Members including graduate students, research assistants, and specialists covering data science, field operations, training, and regional implementation
Strategic Partnerships
- NASA: Ongoing collaboration through Harvest program
- ESA: Technical cooperation and data access
- IGAD: Regional implementation partnership
- 15+ governments: Deployment and testing partnerships
- Universities: Academic collaboration network
Key Value Proposition
De-risks investment through proven team cohesion, established workflows, and track record of delivering Earth observation solutions in challenging environments.
Operational Structure
Foundation: Pan-African network anchored by leading institutions
Initial Operations: Flexible hub model with locations determined by seed funding and strategic opportunities
Longterm Vision: Physical campus and research institute on the shores of Lake Victoria set to become Africa's premier destination for Earth Observation and AI innovation
Global Partnerships: Strategic collaborations with international institutions as determined by funding opportunities and programmatic needs
TXI Development Timeline
Strategic phases for building The Xylem Institute (2025-2030)
Click on any phase to view detailed activities and milestones
6
Development Phases
5+
Years of Growth
20+
Target Staff Size
60%
Sustainable Revenue Goal
Funding Request
$6.5M for 30-Month Strategic Runway
Strategic funding to achieve market leadership position and operational sustainability
👥 Team (60%)
Senior technical talent, regional coordinators, program managers
🖥️ Infrastructure (25%)
Enterprise computing, satellite data subscriptions, development platforms
🌍 Operations (15%)
Uganda office, partnerships, field deployments, travel
Expected Outcomes (30 months)
- Market leadership position in community-led Earth observation
- Operational sustainability and path to profitability
- Established partnerships with 10+ governments and organizations
- 100+ graduates from training programs
- 3-5 successful startups from incubator program
Impact Returns
- 2M+ people protected by early warning systems
- 50K+ farmers empowered with AI-assisted precision agriculture
- 100+ local experts trained and certified
- Evidence based improvements in food security across multiple regions
- Reduced dependency on external technical assistance
Why 30 Months?
Strategic Focus: Eliminates institutional barriers during the critical climate mobilization phase, enabling dedicated focus on systemic change and policy innovation. Target measurable progress toward climate resilience through strategic advocacy, community education, and collaborative action.