Earthmover Aims to Transform Weather and Geospatial Data Like Snowflake
Few things generate as much data as observing the Earth from above, yet Ryan Abernathey and Joe Hamman discovered that this wealth of information was insufficient for their startup, Earthmover, to succeed. In response, the company has decided to pivot its focus, shifting from a broad climate tech approach to a more immediate concern: the impact of climate on daily weather. This strategic change aims to address urgent needs in weather-related data, which can significantly influence various sectors.
Shifting Focus to Weather Data
Earthmover’s new direction emphasizes the importance of frequently changing data, particularly in the realm of weather. Abernathey, the co-founder and CEO, highlighted that while climate data is valuable, it tends to be static, with updates occurring only every few years. In contrast, weather data presents a more dynamic landscape that requires timely solutions. This pivot has allowed Earthmover to better serve its clients by providing insights that are relevant to immediate challenges, such as fire risks and other environmental factors that can change rapidly.
The company’s core product remains its robust data structure, designed to manage large and complex datasets. Abernathey explained that this structure is versatile, referring to it as a raster in geospatial terms, a tensor in artificial intelligence, and simply an array in older programming languages. Alongside this foundational technology, Earthmover has developed a suite of tools that enable customers to extract meaningful insights from their data, enhancing the overall user experience.
Funding and Customer Growth
The strategic pivot has proven beneficial for Earthmover, resulting in over ten paying customers and a successful $7.2 million seed funding round. This funding was led by Lowercarbon Capital, with contributions from Costanoa Ventures and Preston-Werner Ventures. The financial boost will be utilized to develop new tools that build upon the existing data storage platform, further enhancing the company’s offerings.
Earthmover’s infrastructure is built on open-source software, including Xarray, Pangeo, and Icechunk, and is compatible with major cloud providers like Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, as well as on-premise servers. Both Abernathey and Hamman have extensive backgrounds in the open-source community, having previously worked on projects like Pangeo and Xarray, which informs their current approach to data management.
Open Source Strategy and Customer Assurance
The decision to leverage open-source tools stems from both technical capabilities and business considerations. Earthmover’s customers often deal with vast amounts of Earth observation data, requiring storage solutions that can handle terabytes or even petabytes of information. Abernathey noted that typical clients manage between tens to hundreds of terabytes of data, making efficient storage and processing critical.
Moreover, adopting open-source technologies provides customers with a sense of security. Abernathey explained that for large multinational companies, relying on a startup can be risky. However, by utilizing open-source tools, customers can mitigate this risk. Should Earthmover pivot or cease operations, clients retain control over their data, stored independently.
Client Applications and Future Goals
Earthmover’s clientele includes innovative companies like Kettle, an insurance startup that assesses wildfire risks, and RWE, a prominent German energy firm. These organizations leverage Earthmover’s platform to navigate the uncertainties of weather, particularly in forecasting supply and demand for renewable energy sources.
The overarching goal of Earthmover is to democratize access to weather and geospatial data. Hamman emphasized the need for user-friendly interfaces, stating that trading desks should be able to view the latest forecasts on a dashboard rather than having to run complex scripts. By simplifying access to critical data, Earthmover aims to empower more users to make informed decisions based on real-time weather insights.
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