Khosla Ventures backs weather balloon startup that uses AI to upend forecasts

This summer is expected to be one of the busiest hurricane seasons in history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual forecast. The frequency and severity of storms are increasing. Weather prediction is more important than ever.

Artificial intelligence has increased competition in the weather forecasting market. From hurricanes and tornadoes to wildfires and droughts, new technology is transforming science and industry. Investors see significant opportunity, particularly in startups.

Tomorrow.io, Google DeepMind, and California-based Windborne are utilizing cutting-edge technologies to detect weather events. For example, Windborne makes use of a new type of weather balloon.

“We operate the most comprehensive balloon constellation on the planet,” said John Dean, Windborne’s CEO and cofounder. “We also perform AI-based weather modeling. So our mission is to mitigate the most disruptive effects of climate change.”

Windborne balloons can fly for weeks, unlike today’s government-launched weather balloons, which only stay aloft for a few hours and cannot reach remote locations.

“This means that we can collect roughly 40 to 50 times more data per balloon, and we can also collect this data over oceans and over under-observed areas by launching easy-to-reach launch sites and then flying over oceans and collecting data in situations as needed,” Dean said.

The balloons use satellite communication to transmit their data in real time. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is currently no weather data for 85% of the atmosphere. Windborne’s goal is to close this gap with its technology, which uses fewer balloons to provide global coverage.

The demand for data from the government and big business is driving funding. Windborne recently completed a $15 million round with lead investor Khosla Ventures.

“It’s about a $100 billion market now, and it touches pretty much every industry,” Sven Strohband, partner and managing director at Khosla Ventures, said of the weather prediction market. “There hasn’t been a significant disruption since the Weather Company in the 1990s. This makes it a very appealing market for us.”

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently stated that extreme weather and weather uncertainty pose the greatest risks to businesses over the next decade. Windborne claims that its technology can produce a two-week forecast as precise as today’s two-day forecast.

In addition to Khosla Ventures, Windborne is supported by Footwork VC, Pear VC, Convective Capital, Ubiquity Ventures, and Susa Ventures. The company has raised $25 million to date.