Rainmaker Technology Corporation, a cloud seeding technology startup, has been attracting interest from both potential investors as well as conspiracy theorists. The company’s technology has the ability to make it rain or snow, which can benefit farmers and ski resorts. While many see the benefits of cloud seeding, a conspiracy theory that the government is purposely manipulating the weather to cause or exacerbate natural disasters has drawn a growing number of supporters.

Cloud seeding involves releasing silver iodide into clouds using planes or ground generators. Silver iodide changes the physical chemistry of clouds, causing water droplets to cluster and form ice crystals. These ice crystals then grow into raindrops or snowflakes that fall to the ground. The technique was originally developed by scientists at General Electric in 1946.

Using drones and AI-powered weather modeling, Rainmaker targets specific geographic areas experiencing drought conditions. Rainmaker’s technology uses advanced radars with sensors that detect weather conditions such as temperature, air quality, humidity, and wind speed in order to target areas in need of more precipitation with enhanced precision. The company also deploys unmanned aircraft that can reach high altitudes, even in the face of tough conditions such as high wind velocity, icing, and low visibility. The drones are operated from the ground.

Augustus Doricko, founder and CEO, is a 25-year-old who came up with the idea of building a weather startup after joining the Thiel Fellowship. Founded in 2023 in El Segundo, California, Rainmaker received early backing from Peter Thiel. The startup creates seed clouding technology and studies the advanced weather data it collects to continually refine the technology.

Rainmaker is among a growing number of cleantech companies developing enterprise solutions for predicting and mitigating weather inconsistencies. In May 2025, Rainmaker raised $25 million in a Series A funding round led by investors such as Lowercarbon Capital, Starship Ventures, and Long Journey Ventures.

In the aftermath of the Texas flash floods in July 2025 that killed more than 130 people, including many children that were sleeping in cabins at a summer camp, a number of social media users claimed that cloud seeding contributed to the extreme flood conditions. Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency have discredited this theory.

Some skeptics point to historical uses of weather modification technology by the U.S. federal government. For example, during the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used cloud seeding technology to extend the monsoon season over specific areas to disrupt the distribution of North Vietnamese military supplies and gain a tactical advantage. More recently, people have alleged that the government has used weather modification technology to manipulate hurricane paths.

Cloud seeding technology is used in approximately 10 U.S. states, mostly in the western part of the country, to increase precipitation. As drought conditions in western states have worsened in recent years, many farmers and ranchers have been grateful for the role that Rainmaker’s technology plays in reducing water scarcity. In addition, proponents note that increasing rainfall in certain regions can reduce the risk of wildfires.