Executive Summary
Transform Hemp into Carbon Credits
Updated: December 19, 2025
Author: Secret Trees Core
The Breakthrough: GreenPact Protocol
Key Insight: Secret Trees doesn't need €4.2M to build 100 cottages. It needs 100 signed Ricardian Contracts (demand-first).
The GreenPact Model:
| Source | Amount | % | Who Provides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secret Trees | €84,000 | 100% | Equity + subs + NFTs + profits |
| Construction Company | €0 | 0% | Contractor (paid normally) |
| Property Owner | €0 | 0% | Land only (no cash) |
| Total | €84,000 | 100% |
Why This Works: Property owners provide land only (zero cash investment). Secret Trees funds 100% of the cottage - construction companies are just contractors who get paid normally. Everyone achieves 20% returns at scale (25-50 cottages).
Platform Role: Coordination, Not Capital
Secret Trees is a coordination platform, NOT a capital-intensive developer.
What We Provide:
- Matching: Connect property owners with corporate buyers
- Contracts: Ricardian Contract templates and execution
- Verification: AI/MRV carbon sequestration tracking
- Marketplace: CCT trading and rental bookings
- Trust: Reputation system, escrow, dispute resolution
Platform Revenue at 100 Cottages: €855K - €1.86M/year from fees
Market Opportunity
Total Addressable Market: €690B+
Explosive Carbon Market Growth:
The voluntary carbon market is projected to grow from $2.5 billion (2023) to $100-$250 billion by 2030 - a 40x to 100x increase.
Market Drivers:
- 40% of world's top 2,000 companies committed to net-zero by 2050
- 11.5 billion tonnes of carbon credits needed for current commitments
- 15x minimum growth required just to meet existing pledges
- Early-stage market (no high-frequency traders yet)
Our Positioning:
- 50% below market pricing (€30-45 vs €80-90/tonne)
- Early mover advantage (level playing field)
- Multiple revenue streams reduce risk
Three Revenue Streams:
Corporate Carbon Credits (T1): €27.1B carbon credit market
- Target: 25 million EU SMEs
- Price: €30-45/tonne (below market €60)
- Tax write-off: 30-50% savings
Consumer Subscriptions (T2): €42.4B+ ESG market
- Target: Climate-conscious consumers
- Price: €10/month (0.1 tonne CO₂/year)
- Simple, no tokens
Eco-Tourism: €1.5B+ sustainable tourism
- Hemp cottages for rent
- €9-25K per cottage per year
- Self-funding after Year 2
Business Model
Two-Tier System
Tier 1: Corporate Carbon Credits (CCT)
- Pre-sold via Ricardian Contracts
- 1 CCT = 1 tonne CO₂ sequestered
- Delivered after hemp processing (18-24 months with MRV-verified hemp)
- Blockchain verified (MRV device tracking)
Tier 2: Consumer Subscriptions
- Simple monthly payments (€10/month)
- Automatic carbon offsetting
- NO tokens, NO complexity
- 20% cottage booking discounts
Tier 3: Rewards (Launch LATER - Phase 3)
- NFT (Phase 2): Membership for Governance Access
- LEAF (Phase 3): Reward token for active governance
- Plan: Build after T1 & T2 proven
Competitive Advantage
Why We Win
Demand-First Model
- Buyers commit BEFORE hemp is grown
- Eliminates market risk
- Solves $17M+ industry problem
Blockchain Transparency
- MRV devices track CO₂ in real-time
- Blockchain verification ensures integrity
- Working towards EU CRCF certification (Q3-Q4 2026)
Below-Market Pricing
- €30-45/tonne vs €60 market rate
- 25-50% discount for corporations
- Tax write-off benefits (30-50% savings)
Multiple Revenue Streams
- T1: Corporate pre-sales (€30-40K)
- T2: Subscriptions (€20-30K)
- Eco-tourism: Self-funding after Year 2
Traction
Current Status (November 2025)
Platform:
- ✅ V1 MVP operational (app.secrettrees.io)
- ✅ V2 homepage live (secrettrees.io)
- ✅ Documentation site complete (docs.secrettrees.io)
- ✅ Two-tier model validated
Property:
- ✅ 14 hectares in Brocēni, Latvia
- ✅ Phase 1: 1 hectare demonstration (€130K)
- ✅ Expansion: 13 hectares available
Documentation:
- ✅ 100% investor-ready materials
- ✅ EU CRCF compliance research
- ✅ MiCA compliance analysis
- ✅ Complete business model
Financial Projections
The Self-Sustaining Flywheel
| Year | Cottages | Total Revenue | Platform Fees | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1-2 | €0 (building) | €0 | Bootstrap (€130K raised) |
| 1 | 2 | €80K | €8K | Proof of concept |
| 2 | 5 | €200K | €20K | Corporate pre-sales fund expansion |
| 3 | 15 | €600K | €60K | Flywheel accelerates |
| 4 | 40 | €1.6M | €160K | Multiple property owners joining |
| 5 | 100 | €4M+ | €400K+ | Self-sustaining ecosystem |
Platform Fee Structure
| Fee Type | Rate | Annual Revenue (100 Cottages) |
|---|---|---|
| CCT Origination Fee | 10% | €60K-120K |
| Cottage Coordination Fee | 5% | €420K (one-time) |
| Rental Booking Commission | 10% | €350K/year |
| Subscription Platform Fee | 100% | €120K-750K/year |
| Total Platform Revenue | €855K - €1.86M/year |
Property Owner Income
- Investment: €0 (land only)
- Fixed Rent: €3,000-5,000/year
- Profit Share (20%): €4,000-5,000/year
- Total Income: €7,000-10,000/year on ZERO cash investment
Why Property Owners Line Up: Passive income with zero risk - they provide land only, manage their own bookings.
The Team
Founders
Ilvers Sermols - Founder & CEO
- Property owner (14 hectares, Brocēni, Latvia)
- 50-year commitment to Secret Trees Gardens
- Technical background and platform development
Ilze - Co-Founder
- Family business partner
- Local community connections
- Operational management
Advisors
- Legal counsel (EU crypto-asset specialist)
- Carbon methodology expert
- Blockchain development team
The Ask
Phase 1: €130K Bootstrap
What We're Offering:
- Pre-purchase carbon credits (corporations)
- Monthly subscriptions (individuals)
- Platform investment (investors)
What You Get:
- Corporations: Below-market carbon credits + tax write-off
- Individuals: Simple carbon offsetting + cottage discounts
- Investors: Support sustainable platform + potential returns
Timeline
Year 0 (2025-2026):
- Raise €130K from 3 sources
- Build 1 demonstration cottage
- Cultivate 1 hectare hemp
- Generate 14 CCT tokens
Year 1 (2026-2027):
- Deliver CCT to corporate buyers
- Expand to 2-3 hectares
- Build 2nd cottage
- Achieve positive cash flow
Year 2+ (2027-2030):
- Self-funding growth
- Scale to 10-14 cottages
- Open platform to other communities
- Expand across Europe
Legal & Compliance
EU MiCA Compliant
- CCT: Utility token (NOT security)
- Subscriptions: Simple service (NO tokens)
- NFT: Governance Membership (Phase 2)
- LEAF: Governance Reward Token (Phase 3)
Carbon Methodology
- Working towards EU CRCF certification (Q3-Q4 2026)
- Scientific hemp sequestration: 8-22 tonnes CO₂/ha/year
- MRV device tracking: Real-time blockchain verification
- Third-party verification: Independent audits
Tax Benefits
- Corporations: 30-50% tax savings (year of purchase)
- Individuals: Support sustainable projects
- Investors: Utility token structure (basic KYC only)
Why Now?
Market Timing
Carbon Markets Growing
- EU ETS2 launching 2028
- Corporate demand increasing
- €60/tonne market rate rising
Hemp Construction Gaining Traction
- Sustainable building materials
- EU Green Deal support
- Growing consumer awareness
Blockchain Adoption Increasing
- Transparency demanded
- MRV technology proven
- EU MiCA framework established
Next Steps
For Corporations
- Review Ricardian Contract - Pre-purchase carbon credits
- Schedule discovery call - Discuss your CSR goals
- Sign contract - Lock in below-market pricing
For Individuals
- Subscribe - €10/month carbon offsetting
- Track impact - Monthly reports
- Visit cottages - 20% discount on bookings
For Investors
- Review materials - Complete investment documentation
- Schedule meeting - Discuss Phase 1 bootstrap
- Participate - Support sustainable platform
Contact
Email: ilvers.sermols@secrettrees.io
Phone: +371 25285999
Website: secrettrees.io
Platform: app.secrettrees.io
Documentation: docs-staging.secrettrees.io
Transform hemp into carbon credits. Join us today.