WindBorne Systems has secured $37 million in Series B funding to expand its weather forecasting operations. The round was led by Khosla Ventures and Galvanize, with additional backing from TransLink Capital and Lux Capital, valuing the company at $250 million post-investment.
The startup operates a global network of approximately 600 long-endurance weather balloons across 20 launch sites worldwide. These balloons collect atmospheric data from remote locations, including extreme weather zones like typhoon centers. Recently, the company has begun deploying ocean-going sensor packages that function as floating buoys, further expanding its data collection capabilities.
Advances in artificial intelligence have enabled WindBorne to develop its own forecasting models without requiring the expensive supercomputers previously necessary for weather simulation. The company’s proprietary data set, combined with government weather information, creates a competitive advantage for their prediction systems. Current customers include government agencies such as the U.S. National Weather Service, Air Force, and Navy.
The fresh capital will support infrastructure improvements, including enhanced satellite communication systems and expansion of the commercial sales team. WindBorne aims to penetrate the private sector market, targeting investment funds and businesses that utilize weather data for commodity price prediction and operational decision-making. Industry analysts believe artificial intelligence will make integrating weather forecasts into business processes more practical and cost-effective.
Originally reported by Techcrunch →
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