How Earthmover’s Shift from Climate Data to Weather Insights is Reshaping the Tech Landscape
Earth observation generates vast amounts of data, but for climate tech startups, having the right kind of data—and the right approach to using it—can make all the difference. Earthmover, a data-centric climate tech company, learned this lesson firsthand. Despite its initial focus on large-scale climate data, the company realized that its long-term climate datasets weren’t enough to drive the urgency and solutions its customers needed. So, it made a pivotal shift: narrowing its focus to shorter-term, high-impact data—specifically, weather.
From Climate to Weather: A Shift in Scale and Urgency
Earthmover’s co-founder and CEO, Ryan Abernathey, explained that the company’s pivot was driven by the need for data that changes frequently. “Data that change frequently—that’s where there’s a lot more urgency around solutions,” he said. While long-term climate projections are important, they often remain static for years, offering little immediate value for businesses and organizations that need actionable insights today. Weather data, on the other hand, is dynamic, constantly updating, and directly impacts daily life, from wildfire risk to energy demand forecasts.
This shift has proven to be a smart move. Earthmover has secured over 10 paying customers and recently closed a $7.2 million seed round led by Lowercarbon Capital, with participation from Costanoa Ventures and Preston-Werner Ventures. The funding is being used to expand its data storage platform and build new tools to help customers extract insights from their datasets.
A Foundation Built on Power and Flexibility
Earthmover’s core product remains its robust data structure, which is designed to handle large, complex datasets. Abernathey describes it as a “raster” in geospatial terms, a “tensor” in AI, or simply an array in more traditional computing contexts. This flexibility is crucial for the company’s target customers, who are often dealing with terabytes or even petabytes of data. On top of this foundation, Earthmover has built a suite of tools to help users analyze and visualize their data, making it easier to uncover valuable insights.
The company’s platform is built on open-source software, including Xarray, Pangeo, and Icechunk, and runs on major cloud providers like Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, as well as on-premise servers. This approach not only leverages the power of open-source innovation but also mitigates risks for customers. “If we pivot or go out of business,” Abernathey said, “they’ve still got all their own data in their own storage.”
Bridging the Gap Between Data and Decision-Making
Earthmover’s focus on weather and geospatial data is bridging a critical gap for industries that rely on up-to-the-minute insights. For example, renewable energy companies use Earthmover’s tools to forecast supply and demand, which can fluctuate significantly based on weather conditions. Insurance companies, like Kettle, are using the platform to assess wildfire risks, while multinational energy giants like RWE rely on Earthmover to better understand the impact of weather on their operations.
The goal, as co-founder Joe Hamman explained, is to make weather and geospatial data accessible to a broader audience. “If you’re a trading desk, you want to see the map of the latest forecast, and you want it on a dashboard,” he said. “You don’t want to run a Python script or something to do it.” In other words, Earthmover is pushing to make advanced data insights available to everyone—not just data scientists.
The Bigger Picture: How Earthmover is Driving Innovation
Earthmover’s pivot from climate to weather data is more than just a strategic business move—it’s a reflection of the broader needs of the market. By focusing on data that changes frequently and delivering tools that make that data actionable, the company is helping organizations across industries make better decisions faster. Whether it’s predicting wildfires, optimizing energy grids, or assessing insurance risks, Earthmover’s platform is proving that even the most complex data can be harnessed for real-world impact.
In a world where data is king, Earthmover is carving out a unique niche by combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by its customers. As the company continues to grow and expand its offerings, it’s clear that its focus on dynamic, high-impact data is setting it apart in the climate tech space—and beyond.
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