In March 2025, Skyfora, a Finnish company, secured €4 million in a funding round led by Ugly Duckling Ventures and LUMO Labs, with participation from Voima Ventures and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund. This investment aims to support the scaling of Skyfora’s Telecom GNSS Meteorology solution and expansion into key markets. The funding underscores the critical importance of reliable weather intelligence in enhancing urban resilience amid escalating climate change challenges.
Skyfora was established in 2019, and specializes in developing next-generation, AI-powered weather intelligence solutions. The company seeks to enhance weather measurement, prediction, and adaptation strategies, addressing the increasing challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events.
Innovative Products and Technologies
One of Skyfora’s flagship products is the StreamSonde, one of the world’s lightest weather sonde at 14 grams. The StreamSonde can be deployed in large quantities, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for collecting superior atmospheric data. Its slow descent rate, approximately 5 meters per second, eliminates the need for a parachute and allows for prolonged data collection, providing researchers with detailed atmospheric insights.
In addition to hardware innovations, Skyfora offers an AI Weather Forecast system. This system uses deep learning technology, vast amounts of atmospheric observations and industry-specific data to deliver optimized weather forecasts. These forecasts can be tailored for operational efficiency across various sectors, including renewable energy, global transportation, and insurance.
Another innovative advancement is Skyfora’s Telecom GNSS Meteorology solution. This patented technology transforms existing cell towers into high-resolution weather sensors, generating extensive data to improve forecast accuracy. This approach not only supports climate resilience and provides valuable industry insights but also offers mobile network operators a new revenue stream without necessitating additional hardware investments.
Recent Developments and Collaborations
In November 2024, Skyfora’s StreamSonde technology underwent testing during Hurricane Rafael. NOAA researchers deployed 91 StreamSondes to gather real-time data from within the storm. The lightweight design of the StreamSonde enabled rapid, high-volume deployment, allowing scientists to obtain a comprehensive view of the hurricane’s structure and behavior. This marked a significant advancement in hurricane research technology, offering more accurate forecasting and enhanced understanding of storm dynamics.
Impact and Future Prospects
Skyfora’s innovative solutions have the potential to revolutionize weather forecasting and climate resilience strategies. By increasing the volume and quality of atmospheric data through advanced technologies like the StreamSonde and Telecom GNSS Meteorology, Skyfora addresses critical observation gaps. This influx of high-resolution data serves as valuable input for AI models, leading to more precise forecasts. These advancements are crucial for various sectors, including disaster response, renewable energy, aviation, and agriculture, enabling better preparedness and decision-making in the face of extreme weather events.
As climate change continues to alter weather patterns, the demand for accurate and timely weather intelligence becomes increasingly vital. Skyfora’s commitment to leveraging AI and innovative measurement technologies positions the company at the forefront of efforts to enhance global weather forecasting capabilities and climate resilience.
Data Extraction
Skyfora extracts data from a variety of advanced sources to enhance the accuracy of its weather forecasts and climate intelligence. Their data collection methods include:
1. StreamSonde Atmospheric Measurements
Skyfora’s StreamSonde devices collect high-resolution atmospheric data during their slow descent. These ultra-light sondes are deployed from aircraft or drones and measure key weather parameters, including:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Atmospheric pressure
- Wind speed and direction
This technology provides detailed vertical profiles of the atmosphere, improving real-time data collection during severe weather events like hurricanes.
2. Telecom GNSS Meteorology
Skyfora leverages existing telecommunications infrastructure to collect weather data using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. This patented technology enables the extraction of atmospheric information by analyzing signal disruptions caused by weather conditions. It allows for:
- Continuous, high-resolution atmospheric monitoring
- Large-scale, cost-effective data collection without additional hardware
3. Public and Private Meteorological Data Sources
Skyfora integrates global weather data from established meteorological organizations and agencies, including:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
- Global radiosonde networks
- Weather satellite observations
4. Machine Learning Models from Multisource Data
Skyfora’s AI-driven forecast system processes large datasets from:
- Historical weather patterns
- Sensor networks
- Industry-specific operational data (e.g., energy, transportation)
