Co-Founder & VP of Engineering Colorado School of Mines
Ashwin Datta
Co-founder & CEO
Ashwin Datta (he/him) is an environmental engineer and MIT graduate. Born and raised in the state of Oregon, he is passionate about forest ecology. He also brings years of experience with software and hardware prototyping. His networking skills have enabled him to forge partnerships with wildlife biologists, governmental agencies such as USFS PNW Research Station, an industry leader in bioacoustics, non-profits such as The Nature Conservancy and other large forest landowners. He is passionate about environmental and social justice and using innovative technologies to further such aims.
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Gabriel Larrabee
VP of Engineering
Gabe Larrabee (he/him) is a computer and software engineer living throughout the mountainous regions of North America. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Gabe focuses on creating tools and infrastructure to foster more sustainable interactions between an ever-advancing human society and the natural world. He is a passionate and involved team member seeking to inspire real change in the environmental space.
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Sham Datta
Senior Firmware Engineer
Sham Datta (he/him) brings 34 years of hardware and firmware engineering experience at Intel Corporation. Previously serving as Instinct's lead hardware advisor, he retired from his Intel position as Senior Principal Engineer and joined the Instinct team as Senior Firmware Engineer. Sham is enthusiastic about developing technologies that help make forest protection and management easier. Outside of Instinct, he is an electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast with a home-built Toyota 4-Runner conversion and serves in the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association (OEVA). He also enjoys hiking and exploring the mountains of Oregon with his family dog, Wiggles.
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Matt Ayres
Lead Hardware Engineer
Matt Ayres (he/him) is a London-based electronic engineer and product designer working at the intersection of creative hardware, embedded systems, and audio technology. Matt is passionate about making technology accessible and thoughtfully engineered. He combines a love of travel with a deep appreciation for the natural world, fueling his commitment to technologies that help protect and better understand our environment.
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Tyler Schwenk
Lead Software Engineer
Tyler Schwenk (he/him) is a software engineer with a background in full-stack development, machine learning, and applied conservation technology. He has led the creation of bioacoustic tools for The Nature Conservancy, including custom classifiers for California red-legged frogs and bullfrogs, and has contributed to real-time detection and human-in-the-loop workflows using BirdNET and edge-based monitoring hardware. He also co-founded and leads development of software at Trade Routes, where he builds a peer-to-peer marketplace. He is intentional about his application of technology towards conservation, as he supports researchers, and ecological monitoring efforts. Outside of work, Tyler is an avid rock climber, gardener, and naturalist who enjoys exploring ecosystems firsthand — from mountain cliffs to local wetlands.
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We proudly assemble and test every ASU in our facility in Oregon.