Eric Ralls is a pioneering entrepreneur and innovator who has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between people and the natural world through groundbreaking digital platforms and applications.
Born in East Texas, Ralls gained a unique perspective on the delicate balance between human progress and environmental preservation early in his life, thanks to his family’s involvement in oil and real estate.
After pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Japanese Language and Literature/Psychology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, Eric Ralls attended Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, where he honed his business acumen and blended his passion for science with strategic thinking. His graduate research focused on leveraging technology to bridge gaps in environmental education.
Venturing Into the Cosmos
His first venture was Cosmiverse, which he founded in 1999 as an internet platform dedicated to space exploration and celestial wonders. As the CEO, he curated captivating content, making astronomy accessible to millions. Cosmiverse became a virtual observatory where stargazers, scientists, and academics alike could marvel at the cosmos. In a time before smartphones allowed quick access to knowledge, Cosmiverse made the cosmos just a click away. The site served as an early sign of Ralls’ ability to meet the desire for digital accessibility to scientific information.
From founding Cosmiverse in 1999 to launching the revolutionary EarthSnap app in 2022, Ralls’ journey reflects a singular vision: making scientific knowledge and environmental discovery accessible to everyone. His portfolio of successful ventures, including RedOrbit.com, Earth.com, and PlantSnap, demonstrates his commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for environmental education and awareness.
Along the way, he taught himself Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and mobile app user engagement. “I learned pretty quickly that user engagement and SEO go hand in hand,” Ralls notes. “I started teaching myself about search engine optimization (SEO) and mobile app user engagement—growth hacking, basically—by reading, testing, and going through endless trial-and-error.”
At RedOrbit.com, Ralls channeled his passion for science into creating a website where people could explore original content on technology, health, space, and science. The site featured streaming videos, articles, and blogs, all designed with the user in mind. In 2006, RedOrbit received the Outstanding Achievement in Web Development award from the Web Marketing Association, recognizing its user-friendly approach and global impact.
In 2016, he extended his vision with the launch of Earth.com Inc., a groundbreaking website providing a fresh perspective on environmental issues and celebrating the planet’s biodiversity. Ralls and his team roll out daily news articles and original content to keep readers informed and engaged with the latest developments related to Earth, nature, and the environment.
Just a year after the launch of Earth.com, Ralls conceptualized the idea for PlantSnap, an innovative app that helps users identify plants instantly. He harnessed AI technology to build the app in 2017 and has since revolutionized how nature lovers connect with the botanical world.
Eric Ralls left PlantSnap in 2021, to start his next project, EarthSnap, which was launched in 2022. More than PlantSnap, EarthSnap is a versatile app that is described as “the ultimate identifier for all living things,” including plants, animals, and nature.
Expertise and Influence
Over the years, Ralls’ commitment to science education and environmental advocacy has been evident in his numerous works and contributions, which have been featured on platforms such as the New York Times, CleverTap, Amazon AWS, USA Today, and others.
His authenticity resonates with audiences, establishing him as a reliable source of information and a respected contributor within the scientific community.
Ralls’ adept navigation of the digital landscape ensures that Earth.com and EarthSnap remain cutting-edge platforms today for connecting people with nature.
Staying informed about industry trends and emerging technologies is essential for an entrepreneur who is always looking to improve the ways people interact with nature and science. Ralls says he stays on top of what’s happening by constantly reading, both current events news and white papers.
Ralls’ approach to starting a new project is to quiz his team on the feasibility of the idea, then, he says, they get into cost and timeline. “My team is full of people who are way smarter than me,” he says.
With so many ideas and innovations, has a project ever failed? “Failure is part of being an entrepreneur. It doesn’t feel like it at the time, but each failure, large or small, eventually becomes invaluable life/business lessons,”Ralls acknowledges.
On the subject of mentors or people who influenced him, he says, “I learned to believe in myself and never quit, because quitters never win, and listening to naysayers will get you nowhere fast.” Fortitude and resilience, he adds, are what make him successful.
A Peek Into His Typical Day
Eric Ralls gets up at 5 a.m., meditates for an hour, eats something, and scans emails. Then, “I walk or hike with my dogs; usually have two or three meetings before 1 p.m.; then the rest of the day is a wildcard,” he says, sharing his daily schedule. His routine is designed with discipline and flexibility—qualities essential for an entrepreneur managing multiple projects, and employees across time zones, in a fast-paced digital world.
Curiosity, Wonder, and Relevance
When asked what books he recommends, he says there are two he recommends everyone should read, “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson and “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. Both titles, he notes, speak to the sense of wonder he has carried since childhood.
Each new venture he takes on highlights his belief that the key to solving global problems lies in equipping people with both information and practical tools to act.
In an era when the world grapples with climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental challenges, Ralls’ message is increasingly relevant.
From Cosmiverse to EarthSnap, the work of Eric Ralls shows his ability to merge rigorous science with intuitive, user-friendly platforms. Each new venture he takes on highlights his belief that the key to solving global problems lies in equipping people with both information and practical tools to act.
I learned pretty quickly that user engagement and SEO go hand in hand,” Ralls noted. “I started teaching myself about search engine optimization (SEO) and mobile app user engagement—growth hacking, basically—by reading, testing, and going through endless trial-and-error.”
By: Chris Bates
