WindBorne Systems is the world’s largest atmospheric sensing system, and is also the owner of the most accurate medium-range global forecast model in the world – WeatherMesh. With a new round of funding raising $15 million, WindBorne looks to scale its weather sensing balloons and AI modeling to mitigate the most imminently dangerous effects of climate change: extreme weather and weather uncertainty.
WindBorne’s weather balloon is superior to traditional weather balloons in several ways. WeatherBorne’s balloon gathers 50 to 150 times more data per dollar. It can also fly for 40+ days versus the traditional 2-3 hours. Traditional weather balloons can only fly directly vertically from launch point on land, while WindBorne’s balloon can autonomously fly anywhere, including over oceans. Lastly, WindBorne’s balloon can create dozens of targeted profiles per flight, as opposed to the single profile per flight with traditional balloons.
In addition to its weather balloons, WeatherBorne has topped the charts on the most accurate medium-range global forecast models with its deep learning-based weather forecast model called WeatherMesh. WindBorne says their new AI-native tech will enable them to deliver a new, smarter kind of weather experience, and will allow them to cost-effectively deliver the data to any industry and company through smart energy use. They also hope the tech helps communities adapt to extreme weather that seems to be intensifying in the wake of climate change. Real-time benchmarks for WeatherMesh are available here.
With the new funding, WindBorne has a few goals in mind:
- Scaling real-time data collection via its balloon constellation, with a goal of operating 10,000 concurrent balloons by 2028. This would offer complete global coverage with just 1/25th of the balloons launched globally today.
- Honing in on its autonomous flight software by enhancing profile targeting and endurance with its constellation of balloons.
- Advancing its already record-breaking global AI weather forecasting model by forecasting more weather variables and increasing forecast detail.
