Helsinki-based Skyfora has raised €4 million in a funding round led by Ugly Duckling Ventures and LUMO Labs, with participation from Voima Ventures and the EIC Fund, building on prior support from the European Space Agency, EIC Accelerator, and Business Finland. The company’s Telecom GNSS Meteorology technology repurposes existing cell towers as high-resolution weather sensors, generating real-time atmospheric data without additional hardware. The new funding will support commercial deployment and market expansion, with applications in disaster response, insurance, aviation, and renewable energy.
Skyfora specializes in AI-powered weather forecasting. Its core innovation, Telecom GNSS Meteorology, transforms existing cell towers into high-resolution weather sensors, enabling continuous atmospheric data collection without additional hardware. By leveraging first-party weather data, Skyfora enhances the accuracy of AI-driven forecasts, surpassing traditional numerical models. The company’s technology is designed for applications in disaster response, insurance, aviation, and renewable energy, addressing the growing need for precise weather intelligence amid climate change.
The technology has now been successfully tested with various industry leaders. With this funding, the company will accelerate the deployment of its Telecom GNSS Meteorology solution on a larger scale with several partners and expand its footprint in key markets.
Skyfora’s patented Telecom GNSS Meteorology solution transforms existing cell towers into high-resolution weather sensors, unlocking vast amounts of private weather data. This breakthrough not only enhances the accuracy of AI-driven weather forecasts, already surpassing traditional numerical models, but also provides a new revenue stream for mobile network operators (MNOs) — all without requiring additional hardware investments.
“As extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, precise forecasting is more critical than ever,” says Fredrik Borgström, CEO of Skyfora. “Our technology fills critical observation gaps and it provides a continuous flow of high-resolution data, which is ‘superfood’ for AI models while enabling MNOs to monetize their infrastructure in a completely new way.”
By providing real-time, large-scale weather insights, Skyfora’s innovation benefits societies, businesses, and industries worldwide—from disaster response and insurance to aviation renewable energy and agriculture.
Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board, says: “We are delighted with the EIC Fund’s investment in Skyfora, an innovative company developing a next-generation weather intelligence. We believe in the potential of their technology that can save lives and mitigate economic disruptions and financial risks. The unique form of financing via EIC – combining grants and equity – is proving itself highly attractive to Europe’s most promising start-ups like Skyfora.”
“At Ugly Duckling Ventures a key thesis is that the future of AI relies on the quality of, and rights to first-party data. Skyfora’s commitment to building and utilizing their own first-party datasets sets them apart. Their ability to provide uniquely valuable intelligence in a world increasingly reliant on AI-driven decisions is why we’ve invested. We are very pleased to join them on their journey and co-lead this round with LUMO Labs, “ stated Andreas Green Rasmussen, General Partner, Ugly Duckling Ventures.
Linn-Cecilie Linnemann, Partner at LUMO Labs, adds: “Skyfora’s ability to provide critical weather data is a perfect fit with LUMO Labs’ focus on climate action and sustainable cities. As climate change intensifies, reliable weather intelligence becomes increasingly crucial for urban resilience. Skyfora’s use of first-party data and AI-driven approach align perfectly with our investment strategy. By harnessing existing telecom networks to generate exponentially more atmospheric data, they are unlocking new possibilities in climate technology—making this a truly compelling opportunity.”
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/skyfora-raises-e4-million/
