Climate Insider Brief:
- Meteomatics raises €21.1M in Series C to expand U.S. operations and enhance its autonomous Meteodrones for high-precision weather forecasting.
- Meteomatics’ high-resolution weather models update hourly at a 1 km resolution, with the US1k model set to launch in early 2025.
- With rising climate risks and potential 7% annual earnings losses by 2035, demand for precision weather forecasting is growing, positioning Meteomatics as a key player.
Saint Gallen-based weather intelligence startup Meteomatics has raised €21.1 million in a Series C funding round to expand its presence in the United States and further develop its autonomous weather drones, known as “Meteodrones.”
The funding round was led by European technology investor Armira Growth, with participation from Klima, the Alantra Energy Transition fund, and Fortyone. The investment aims to accelerate Meteomatics’ growth as demand for precise weather forecasting rises across industries affected by extreme weather and climate variability.
“Weather-related business risks are no longer something companies need to simply consider; a company’s ability to accurately predict and prepare for weather threats can make or break their business. This is where Meteomatics comes in,” said Martin Fengler, CEO of Meteomatics. “We’ve spent over 10 years bringing technology to market that offers the highest precision weather forecasting that businesses can get and sets new global standards for weather data. We’ve attracted some of the world’s most innovative companies along the way, and we look forward to meeting this demand by exponentially scaling our company and technology.”
Advancing High-Resolution Weather Forecasting
Founded in 2012, Meteomatics provides precision weather intelligence to over 600 companies, including Tesla, CVS Health, Swiss Re, NASA, Airbus, Stellantis, and UK Power Networks. The startup’s proprietary weather modeling and autonomous Meteodrones enable hyperlocal weather visibility, reaching resolutions as fine as one square kilometer—far surpassing conventional weather models that operate at resolutions of 10-50 km.
Meteomatics argues that existing government and commercial weather observation technologies lack the necessary precision to effectively forecast low-level airspace weather events such as fog, hail, wind fluctuations, and storms. Unlike traditional models that update just a few times per day, Meteomatics’ high-resolution weather model refreshes every hour, providing businesses with more accurate and actionable insights.
The company launched its EURO1k high-resolution model in Europe and plans to debut its US1k model in early 2025, covering the contiguous U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico.
Growing Demand for Precision Weather Data
With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and costly—24 weather and climate disasters in 2024 alone exceeded €1 billion in damages—businesses across industries such as energy, insurance, aviation, agriculture, and automotive are increasingly seeking accurate weather data to mitigate risks.
“Meteomatics is uniquely positioned to provide the accurate and sophisticated weather forecasts businesses need to minimize risk and optimize processes across critical industries,” said Florian Tappeiner, Managing Partner at Armira Growth. “We are highly impressed by Martin and the entire Meteomatics team and look forward to being a part of this next chapter to continue building world-class weather products.”
The funding will enable Meteomatics to scale operations in the U.S. and further enhance its Meteodrones and weather intelligence solutions. With access to highly detailed weather data, companies can improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, enhance resource planning, and strengthen digital resilience against weather-related disruptions.
As businesses increasingly recognize the financial impact of climate risks—potentially losing up to 7% of annual earnings by 2035, according to the World Economic Forum—Meteomatics is positioning itself as a key player in the future of precision weather forecasting.
Climate Insider Notes
Meteomatics’ latest funding round underscores a growing trend: companies and investors are recognizing the increasing financial risks posed by climate and weather volatility. Some key takeaways:
- High-Resolution Weather Forecasting Is Becoming an Industry Standard: The company’s approach, with 1 km resolution weather models, challenges traditional methods and could set a new benchmark for commercial weather intelligence.
- Industries Facing Climate Risks Are Driving Demand: Sectors such as energy, insurance, aviation, and logistics are integrating more precise weather data into their decision-making processes.
- Climate Risk Is Now a Financial Concern: The World Economic Forum’s projection that businesses could lose up to 7% of earnings annually by 2035 underscores the urgency of improved forecasting solutions.
- Expansion into the U.S. Market Signals Growing Competition: Meteomatics’ entry into the U.S. with the launch of its US1k model in early 2025 will place it in direct competition with established government and private weather services.
- Investor Confidence in Climate Tech Remains Strong: The participation of Armira Growth, Alantra Energy Transition fund, and others highlights continued investment interest in climate intelligence and adaptation technologies.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, the role of precise weather forecasting will only grow in importance. Companies like Meteomatics are positioning themselves at the intersection of climate resilience and business intelligence, a space that will see continued innovation and investment in the coming years.
Source: EU-Startups
Featured Image: Credit: Meteomatics
