Meteomatics Expands to the US with Enterprise Weather Forecasting

A Deep Dive into Meteomatics: Revolutionizing Weather Forecasting

Martin Fengler possesses extensive knowledge regarding meteorological phenomena. Prior to founding Meteomatics, Fengler earned a doctorate in mathematics, specializing in numerical weather prediction, and contributed his expertise to Meteomedia AG, a prominent network of weather stations operating in Switzerland and Germany.

However, while proficient in the predictive aspects of weather forecasting, he identified shortcomings in how weather information was utilized. This realization occurred as he pursued a pilot’s license starting in 2011.

From Pilot's Perspective to Entrepreneurial Vision

“My understanding of weather forecasting evolved significantly from the perspective of an end-user,” Fengler explained to TechCrunch. “The approach differs considerably from minimizing error metrics as a mathematician. Experiencing flight cancellations due to fog or inaccurate forecasts proved truly insightful.”

Driven by this insight, Fengler established his own weather company, launching Meteomatics in 2012. The company, headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland, aggregates weather data from over 110 distinct sources. Furthermore, it incorporates data collected from its fleet of autonomous weather drones.

This comprehensive data integration enables Meteomatics to provide hourly updates and highly accurate forecasts for areas as small as one square kilometer.

A Unified API for Diverse Applications

Meteomatics consolidates this wealth of information and provides access through a robust API. This allows customers to tailor the data to their specific needs, even incorporating their own artificial intelligence algorithms.

Fengler, serving as CEO, emphasized that the simplification of diverse weather data into a standardized format is a significant achievement in itself.

“Dealing with complex, large files and industry-specific data formats presented considerable challenges due to the lack of standardization,” Fengler stated. “Providing APIs to this sector was akin to illuminating darkness.”

Focusing on the Enterprise Sector

Meteomatics distinguishes itself by concentrating on the enterprise market, or the commercial sector broadly. This contrasts with many weather companies that primarily target a single audience or industry.

“I intentionally steered clear of the media-centric approach prevalent among most weather companies,” Fengler noted. “While television and radio are important, there’s substantial demand from industry, and I found the challenges faced by those customers particularly compelling.”

A Growing Customer Base and Expanding Applications

Currently, Meteomatics serves over 600 clients, including major corporations such as Tesla, CVS Health, and Swiss Re. While some applications, like renewable energy companies predicting output from wind or solar farms, are readily apparent, others are less obvious.

Fengler reports discovering new enterprise applications for weather data on an almost weekly basis.

The increasing impacts of climate change are likely to drive further demand for this type of data. Climate-related disasters currently incur costs of $150 billion annually in the U.S. alone, with businesses absorbing a portion of these expenses.

Securing Funding for Growth and Expansion

Meteomatics recently secured $22 million in Series C funding, led by Armira Growth, with participation from Alantra’s energy transition fund, Klima, and FortyOne Group. Throughout its 12-year history, the company has strategically reinvested profits, minimizing the need for extensive external funding.

Fengler explained that new funding rounds are typically initiated to support specific projects or initiatives. This Series C round will facilitate the company’s expansion into the U.S. market through the recruitment of a dedicated sales and marketing team.

Towards Global Precision Weather Forecasting

A portion of the funding will also be allocated to enhancing the company’s technological infrastructure. Fengler’s ultimate goal is to deliver precision weather forecasting – defined as accuracy down to a one-square kilometer resolution – globally.

This level of detail is currently available across Europe and is projected to be accessible in the U.S. by the end of the first quarter.

“Achieving a global one-kilometer model remains the core ambition of Meteomatics,” Fengler concluded. “It’s the driving force behind our work, and I am confident in our ability to realize this vision.”