

Augustus Doricko (Rainmaker) on Reprogramming the Weather, the Hard Tech Renaissance, and His Bloody Company Motto
Jul 1, 2025
Augustus Doricko, Founder and CEO of Rainmaker, is on a bold mission to modify weather through cloud seeding, aiming to combat drought and enhance ecosystems. He shares the challenges of engineering high-tech solutions and the transformative potential of his work. With a fascinating path to becoming a Peter Thiel fellow, Augustus discusses the unique company culture at Rainmaker, where their motto hints at a fearless approach to innovation. Plus, he dives into the emerging hard tech scene in El Segundo and how his technology could revolutionize water scarcity solutions.
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Proving Weather Modification Works
- Weather modification has existed since the 1940s but lacked proof of effectiveness, limiting its adoption.
- Rainmaker pioneered a new attribution method to prove how much precipitation is man-made, revolutionizing cloud seeding.
How Rainmaker's Founder Found His Mission
- Augustus stumbled into cloud seeding after meeting a water well driller and exploring water scarcity.
- Attending the Weather Modification Association Conference convinced him to start Rainmaker due to new attribution science.
Build Networks Before Fundraising
- New founders should spend 6 to 12 months building networks before fundraising.
- Warm introductions and relationships greatly ease raising capital in deep tech sectors.