WeatherXM, a startup founded by Manolis Nikiforakis, Stratos Theodorou, and Nikos Tsiligaridis, is revolutionizing the way weather forecasts are made. With the goal of making weather predictions more accurate, WeatherXM has deployed 5,000 weather stations in over 80 countries, collecting local ground weather information.
What sets WeatherXM apart is its community-driven approach. Volunteers monitor the weather stations and are compensated with WeatherXM’s own crypto token, $WXM. This data is then made accessible to anyone for personal use, with paid offerings for commercial users.
Recently, WeatherXM secured a $7.7 million Series A funding round led by Faction, a blockchain-focused fund affiliated with Lightspeed. The startup plans to use the capital to expand its team and monetize its commercial users.
Tim Khoury, a partner at Faction, was drawn to invest in WeatherXM due to its community-driven blockchain project and the high demand for accurate weather data. The use of blockchain technology and crypto tokens helps incentivize users to contribute to the network, ensuring the data is collected in the areas where it is needed most.
By making all the data open source, WeatherXM aims to empower communities, especially in underserved or rural areas, to better prepare for climate emergencies and disasters. The startup’s mission of improving meteorology and making weather data accessible to all is a step towards a more collaborative and effective approach to weather forecasting.
As WeatherXM continues to grow and innovate, the impact of bringing weather to the blockchain could have far-reaching benefits for industries like agriculture and disaster response. With a focus on collaboration and open data, WeatherXM is paving the way for a more accurate and accessible approach to weather forecasting.