WindBorne Systems has raised $37 million in Series B funding to expand its global weather balloon network and develop AI tools that help businesses use forecasts in operational decisions. Khosla Ventures and Galvanize co-led the round, which valued the company at $250 million after the investment.
TransLink Capital, Lux Capital and existing investors also participated. WindBorne said the oversubscribed round brings its total funding to more than $62 million.
Balloon Network Collects Data From Remote Areas
Founded in 2019, WindBorne operates long-duration balloons that collect atmospheric measurements from regions where conventional observations are limited. The company has 20 launch locations and approximately 600 balloons operating at any given time.
Each balloon can remain airborne for weeks while changing altitude and collecting measurements of temperature, humidity, pressure and wind. WindBorne says its systems can gather data from difficult environments, including tropical storms and remote ocean areas.
The startup is also testing sensor packages that separate from balloons, land in the ocean and continue collecting information as floating buoys. Its proprietary observations are combined with data from government weather agencies and processed through AI forecasting models.
WindBorne said adding its balloon measurements to forecasting systems produces more accurate results than relying only on existing data sources. The company published the funding details in its official Series B announcement.
Government Agencies Remain Major Customers
The US National Weather Service purchases data from WindBorne, while the US Air Force and Navy support the company through research agreements. One project involves developing forecasting models that can run aboard ships with limited or intermittent internet connections.
NOAA has also supported the development and testing of WindBorne’s Global Sounding Balloons. The agency has examined their ability to collect atmospheric data over undersampled regions, including oceans and areas associated with tropical cyclones.
WindBorne now plans to expand further into commercial markets. Its existing private-sector customers include investment firms that use weather information when analysing commodity prices and other business outcomes.
Funding Supports Compute and Commercial Expansion
The company will use the financing to increase computing capacity, enlarge its sales team and expand its balloon constellation. It also plans to replace satellite communications between balloons with a mesh radio network.
Chief executive John Dean said improved AI forecasting has made it possible for private companies to produce detailed weather simulations without relying on the supercomputers traditionally required for atmospheric modelling. The remaining challenge is connecting those forecasts with decisions involving energy, transport, agriculture and financial markets.
Galvanize partner Saloni Multani said businesses have historically found weather information expensive and difficult to incorporate into their operations. She said more accurate forecasts and AI-based analysis could reduce that barrier by linking weather predictions directly to business decisions.
Featured image credits: Magnific.com
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