WeatherFlow

Ever wish you could control the weather?

For the moment, that’s still impossible. However, predicting the weather with amazing accuracy is possible, thanks to WeatherFlow.

This technology company has created an advanced system that uses real-time weather data and machine learning to dramatically improve forecast accuracy. Its system can be installed anywhere — in backyards, offices, or even atop skyscrapers.

The key to this system is the ability to track and predict weather conditions at precise locations. It’s like having your very own meteorologist on-site.

Weather forecasting may seem like a trivial skill — a hobby best left to weathermen on TV. But getting it right is incredibly important.

Each year, severe weather costs the global economy more than a trillion dollars. And extreme weather events kill more than 60,000 people. Industries like agriculture, energy, transportation, defense, construction, retail — they’re all impacted by the weather and all stand to benefit from improved weather forecasting.

Not only is getting weather forecasts right important, it’s surprisingly difficult. How many times has the weather forecast called for sunny skies, but you get stuck in a rainstorm a few minutes later?

This is where WeatherFlow’s system can help. Here’s how it works:

This system is called Tempest. Once installed, it uses an array of sensors to collect weather-related information. A light sensor, for example, records ambient light and solar radiation. And a pressure sensor monitors station and sea-level pressure. A sonic-wind sensor continuously monitors wind speed and direction, while a haptic-rain sensor can accurately predict when it’ll rain, for how long, and how much precipitation to expect.

Tempest is solar-powered and wireless (a separate hub serves as the base station and connects the device to your local wi-fi network). And it connects to smart-home devices, so you can ask Alexa for the weather forecast, or trigger your outdoor lights to activate based on the brightness of the sky.

All data is presented in WeatherFlow’s mobile app, where you can view precise, personalized forecasts and stay up-to-date on the latest weather-related events.

The Tempest system is advanced. But it’s WeatherFlow’s patented technology, Nearcast, that makes this system so precise.

Nearcast provides all customers with point-specific weather information. It’s designed to help Tempest users understand the weather that happened yesterday, observe what’s happening now, and better predict what will happen in the future — all with accuracy.

Nearcast works via three simple steps:

First, critical weather data is collected not just from your individual Tempest station, but from the entire Tempest network. This data is combined with measurements taken from satellites, aircraft, and other surface-weather stations.

Next, machine-learning behaviors are applied to WeatherFlow’s powerful AI forecast models. This results in weather forecasts that are more accurate than any other source.

Finally, validated data is delivered via mobile and web applications. This enables customers to plan for the weather — whether they’re a manufacturer that needs to forecast productivity, a military division in need of repositioning an aircraft carrier, or a homeowner wondering when it’s going to rain.

WeatherFlow generates revenue through sales of its Tempest system, as well as subscription revenue from its suite of mobile apps. It also sells TempestOne, a business platform that supplies powerful weather data and decision support.

WeatherFlow’s system is used by notable customers including Disney, Ace Hardware, Holiday Inn, SpaceX, and the National Park Service. In total, the company has 125,000 paying customers and five million active users. WeatherFlow has generated fifty million dollars in revenue to-date.

Team Background

Daniel Lyons - CEO and Director

Daniel has been involved in the weather and environmental sectors for more than two decades, and has experience building and selling startups.

Prior to starting WeatherFlow, he co-founded Synoptic Data, a company collecting and exchanging environmental data with government agencies, businesses, and the public. Before that, he spent twenty-one years as co-founder and CEO of WFn Holdings, a WeatherFlow-affiliated business that shares actionable weather-related data.

Earlier in his career, Daniel worked for Rising Ventures Consulting, where he provided strategy and investment-advisory services to early-stage companies. He began as CEO of CozyBoots, an online-footwear retailer that he sold to Shoebuy.com in 2011.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Middlebury College and an MBA from Stanford.

Martin Bell - Chief Science Officer

Marty joined WeatherFlow in 2019 after spending nearly eight years as Director of Research & Development with WFn Holdings, the weather-data collection business. Prior to that, he founded Metlogic, a company providing custom climate-related products to assist with weather modeling.

Earlier in his career, he was Director of Software Engineering with Privacy Networks, a software-development company. Before that, he was a group leader with Allient Techsystems, a manufacturing company focused on the space and defense markets.

Marty began his career as a scientist with the Mission Research Corporation, a company creating technology to assist with national security and defense projects. Before that, he was an atmospheric scientist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

He holds a Bachelor's degree and Ph.D. in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Canterbury.

David St. John - Chief Technology Officer

David began his career as a software engineer with General Dynamics, an IT-services company. After that, he was Chief Information Officer at CozyBoots, the online-footwear retailer run by Daniel Lyons.

More recently, David co-founded WFn Holdings, the weather-data collection company. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.

Phillip Atkinson - Co-Founder & Director

Phil co-founded WeatherFlow and currently sits on the company's Board of Directors.

In addition to his role, he is President and Chief Operating Officer with WFn Holdings. He has thirty years of experience designing and maintaining weather-station networks. And he began his career designing missile systems with Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor.

He earned a Bachelor's degree from Harvard and studied at MIT.

Co-Investors