What Started with a Hackathon: Now Solving Problems That Touch a Third of Humanity

Where does weather data really come from? It is something we rarely think about and yet weather shapes our daily lives more than almost any other force. It determines whether we enjoy a day outdoors, whether flights are cancelled, and even whether our internet or electricity stays on. Weather affects how we move, how we plan, and how we work.

More than a third of the global economy is directly weather sensitive. From Agriculture, to supply chains, to energy, and transportation all depend on accurate forecasting to make critical decisions. Yet for decades, weather data has relied almost entirely on government-owned infrastructure. These systems are often outdated, geographically limited, and unable to capture real conditions with the precision modern life demands. The result is less reliable forecasts for the everyday person.

This is the problem Manolis Nikiforakis and Stratos Theodorou are working to solve from what started when they participated in a hackathon in their early days. WeatherXM, is building a new generation of weather stations powered by Web3-enabled hardware, designed and developed in Athens, Greece. By creating a global community of weather station operators, they are transforming how weather data is collected, shared, and used. Bringing accuracy, transparency, and real impact to communities around the world.

About the founders

Manolis is a full stack software and hardware developer with experience across most layers of the IoT and Web3 value chain. He brings a rare combination of technical depth and hands-on problem solving. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, kitesurfing, and flying FPV racing drones.

Stratos is a senior software engineer with strong experience in architecture and design principles. He balances his technical work with a creative side. In his free time he writes poetry and is known to be an excellent dancer.

Today, WeatherXM has installed more than 9,000 weather stations in under two years. This makes it the fastest growing weather network globally. The model is simple and powerful. If you own a station, you contribute data to the network and you are rewarded. This data is then used to provide high quality insights that are purchased by enterprises in need of accurate, hyperlocal weather information.

We are honored to have Manolis and Stratos join us at Founders Circle Athens, where they will share their journey, the lessons they have learned, and their experience building what is now the largest community powered weather network in the world.