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Stratospheric Aerosol InjectionActive
Founded: 2022HQ: United StatesTotal Funding: $1.2MWebsite →

The only known private SAI deployer in the U.S. Releases sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere via weather balloons and sells 'cooling credits.' $1.2M raised from the Draper VC dynasty.

Key Facts

  • Actively releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere via weather balloons
  • Sells 'cooling credits' — 1g SO2 claimed to offset 1 ton CO2 warming for one year
  • First launched unauthorized balloons in Mexico, prompting Mexican government ban
  • Now operating from Nevada
  • Only known private SAI deployer in the U.S.
  • Founded by former Y Combinator Director of Hardware

Who's Behind It

Luke Iseman

(American)

CEO & Cofounder

American. 41 years old. Serial entrepreneur. Former Director of Hardware at Y Combinator. Known for building large art projects at Burning Man.

Andrew Song

(American)

Cofounder

Former Outreach Manager at Indiegogo. Met Iseman in 2015 in San Francisco through shared passion for hardware companies.

Follow the Money

Seed / Angel$1.2M2022-2023
Boost VC (Adam Draper)vc

American. 4th-generation VC. Adam Draper is Tim Draper's son. Startup accelerator focused on emerging tech.

Draper Associates (Tim Draper)vc

American. Born East Chicago, Indiana. 3rd-generation VC dynasty. Grandfather William Henry Draper Jr. founded Draper, Gaither & Anderson (1958) and served as first US ambassador to NATO.

Pioneer Fundvc

American VC.

Connections

Draper Family VC Dynasty

Backed by both Tim Draper (Draper Associates) and his son Adam Draper (Boost VC). The Draper dynasty is 4 generations of American VCs dating to post-WWII.

[Computer History Museum: Draper dynasty]

Mexico government ban

First balloon launches were conducted in Mexico without authorization, prompting the Mexican government to ban SAI experiments on its territory.

[E&E News: Mexico halts operation]

Sources