AI makes weather prediction better. Can WindBorne make it lucrative?
WindBorne Systems has raised $37 million Series B round to scale its weather balloons and AI forecasts.
AI has revolutionized weather prediction, making simulations feasible on laptops rather than supercomputers. However, the next challenge is enabling businesses to utilize these forecasts effectively. WindBorne Systems, a startup that collects data using world's longest-flying weather balloons and feeds it into a powerful forecasting model, has raised $37 million in Series B funding to tackle this challenge.
CEO John Dean revealed that the new round, co-led by Khosla Ventures and Galvanize, values the company at $250 million after this investment. Founded in 2019, WindBorne initially aimed to acquire unique weather data through low-cost sensors and endurance balloons. The advancements in AI weather forecasting models over the past four years have enabled them to create their own forecasts, which was previously unattainable for most private companies due to the cost of supercomputers needed for atmospheric simulation.
Currently, the company operates 20 launch sites globally with about 600 balloons in the air at any given time, gathering data in challenging areas like typhoon centers. They are also expanding by deploying aerial sensor packages that can float in the ocean and keep collecting measurements. This "planetary nervous system" dataset provides a competitive edge, as it combines proprietary data with inputs from global government weather agencies.
Dean highlighted that incorporating balloons into forecasts results in more accurate predictions, with each data point being more valuable compared to satellite data. The company primarily serves government agencies, including the U.S. National Weather Service, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy. Moving forward, WindBorne aims to enter the commercial market, targeting investment funds that use weather data for commodity price predictions and other business outcomes.
The investment will be used to bolster their go-to-market team and expand their customer base in the private sector. However, entering the private sector has proven difficult for startups in the sensing business, as integrating weather forecasts into broader business decision-making processes has traditionally been costly and complex.
Galvanize partner Saloni Multani, who co-led the funding round, believes that AI will change this equation, making better forecasts worthwhile and easier to connect with business decisions.
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