Snowbound

What Snowbound does

Snowbound Solutions LLC is a privately held, Idaho-based company that builds software, sensor systems, and consulting services for natural hazard monitoring, with a specialization in avalanche detection and mountain weather data. The company was founded by Scott Havens, who developed its core infrasound-based avalanche detection technology during his Geophysics PhD at Boise State University, and is co-led with software engineer Clark Corey. The firm operates from Boise and reports a headcount of 1-10 employees.

The product portfolio is centered on SnowObs, an integrated SaaS platform that combines weather observations, avalanche data, hazard forecasting using the Conceptual Model for Avalanche Hazard (CMAH), and team communication. SnowObs is sold on a tiered annual subscription (Basic at $1,500/year, Advanced at $2,500/year, Enterprise with custom multi-year pricing) and is augmented by two add-on modules: the Avalanche Monitoring System, which uses networks of custom infrasound sensor arrays to detect avalanches within roughly 10 seconds and track velocity; and the Mountain Weather API, a REST service that normalizes data from Synoptic Data, NRCS Snotel, and the Northwest Avalanche Center into JSON/geoJSON formats. Underlying infrastructure is cloud-native on AWS (S3, RDS) with a stateless API layer that has scaled to 10s of millions of requests per season.

Snowbound generates revenue from recurring SaaS subscriptions, add-on module fees, infrasound hardware sales and installation, and bespoke technology consulting. Its go-to-market combines self-serve tiered SaaS adoption for smaller operators with consultative enterprise sales for government transportation departments (Alaska DOT, Idaho Transportation Department, Utah DOT Avalanche Safety), avalanche forecasting centers (most prominently the National Avalanche Center under a flagship partnership since 2015), utilities (Alaska Electric Light & Power), and ski areas (Eagle Crest). Marketing is primarily content-driven through technical case studies and industry community presence, with no visible paid acquisition, social media, or channel partner programs.

Name

Snowbound

Legal name

Snowbound Solutions LLC

Website

https://snowboundsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Snowbound Solutions is a privately held Idaho-based company that builds software and infrasound sensor systems for avalanche and mountain weather monitoring, serving US avalanche forecasting centers, state transportation departments, utilities, and ski areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Avalanche Monitoring Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)

akta.pro primary industry

Snow & Ice Management (Plowing, Salting, De-icing) (IMAIAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

24/7 Snow & Ice Response / Seasonal Contract Services (HSAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Avalanche monitoring software
• Natural hazard monitoring
• Infrasound detection systems
• Avalanche forecasting platform
• Mountain weather API

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. SnowObs SaaS Subscriptions: Tiered annual subscription model for SnowObs software platform. Basic tier at $1,500/year for small operations; Advanced tier at $2,500/year for larger operations; Enterprise tier with custom pricing for multi-team organizations. Revenue is recurring annually with tier-based upsell opportunities.
2. Add-on Modules: Additional revenue from optional add-on modules including custom weather station integration and Avalanche Monitoring System integration. These modules enhance the base SnowObs subscription and provide upsell opportunities.
3. Avalanche Monitoring Hardware & Services: Sale and installation of infrasound sensor equipment for avalanche detection networks. Includes custom designed sensors proven for monitoring avalanches, volcanoes, thunder, and rock fall. Professional services for setup and ongoing monitoring support.
4. Custom Technology Solutions & Consulting: Collaborative consulting services where Snowbound works as part of client teams to build custom solutions for monitoring, weather, and data problems. Innovation-focused approach creates bespoke technology applications for natural hazard operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Snowbound Solutions builds and sells the SnowObs integrated SaaS platform for avalanche forecasting programs, combining weather observations, avalanche data management, hazard forecasting, and team communication. The company also sells an Avalanche Monitoring System based on proprietary infrasound sensors for 24/7 avalanche detection, and a Mountain Weather API that delivers curated weather data. Offerings are targeted at government transportation departments, avalanche forecasting centers, ski areas, and utilities.

Product overview

Snowbound Solutions offers a platform-plus-modules product architecture centered on SnowObs, an integrated avalanche forecasting platform. SnowObs serves as the core product, consolidating weather observations, avalanche data management, hazard forecasting, team communication, and inter-organization data sharing. The Avalanche Monitoring System is an add-on module that integrates with SnowObs to provide real-time infrasound-based avalanche detection and velocity tracking. The Mountain Weather API is another add-on module that feeds current and historical mountain weather data directly into SnowObs for hazard assessment. The company also developed the Shared Avalanche Forecasting Platform for the National Avalanche Center, serving multiple US avalanche centers with weather maps, watches/warnings, and forecast platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SnowObs: Complete integrated platform for avalanche forecasting programs providing weather observations, avalanche data management, hazard forecasting, and team communication.
• SnowObs-Orig
• Mountain Weather API
• Avalanche Monitoring System

Products and services

• SnowObs Complete integrated SaaS platform for avalanche forecasting programs that consolidates weather observations, avalanche data, hazard forecasting using the Conceptual Model for Avalanche Hazard (CMAH), and team communication. Targets government transportation departments, avalanche forecasting centers, ski areas, utilities, and backcountry guides/educators.
• Avalanche Monitoring System Infrasound-based hardware and software monitoring system that detects avalanche events, pinpoints their location, and tracks velocity. Uses custom pressure sensors spaced in networks of arrays, and provides real-time alerts for avalanche mitigation verification.
• Mountain Weather API REST API that delivers normalized mountain weather data from multiple curated sources in JSON or geoJSON formats, supporting both current and historical data access in English or metric units. Integrates with SnowObs for automated weather data visualization.
• Avalanche Forecast Platform Shared Avalanche Forecast Platform built for the National Avalanche Center that standardizes forecast creation and visualization across US avalanche centers and handles heavy traffic loads.
• Weather Maps Platform Weather map platform built for the National Avalanche Center that visualizes mountain weather conditions for US avalanche centers.
• Watches and Warnings Platform Platform that shares and displays daily avalanche forecast danger ratings across all US-based avalanche centers and powers the National Danger Map.

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection within 10 seconds of avalanche occurrence with specific installations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Avalanche Center (NAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Multi-year strategic partnership beginning in 2015 to centralize technology development for US avalanche centers on Avalanche.org. Snowbound Solutions developed, implemented, and maintains database models, scalable APIs, and front-end user interfaces for weather applications. The partnership has produced weather maps (serving 30,000+ daily users), watches and warnings platform, and the Avalanche Forecast Platform serving 13 centers with 10s of millions of annual requests. This is the company's flagship partnership driving core platform development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Vaisala: Global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, including road weather stations and lightning detection. Comparable in providing the underlying weather-sensor and observation infrastructure that Snowbound integrates into SnowObs.
• DTN: Large commercial weather and environmental data provider serving agriculture, energy, and transportation. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping weather-data and decision-support capabilities for Snowbound's DOT and utility customers.
• Iteris: Provides road weather, traffic, and transportation analytics to state DOTs — overlapping with Snowbound's transportation-customer base and offering a broader decision-support stack that could displace niche avalanche solutions.
• Campbell Scientific: Manufacturer of data loggers, weather stations, and environmental monitoring systems used widely in research and government networks. Overlaps with Snowbound on hardware-side weather and geophysical monitoring for mountainous and remote sites.
• Earth Networks (now part of Tomorrow.io): Operates a large weather observation and lightning detection network and provides real-time atmospheric data feeds. Comparable as a broad incumbent that could compete for the same government weather-data contracts.

Direct peers

• Geobrugg: Global supplier of rockfall, slope stabilization, and avalanche protection systems with an increasingly digital monitoring portfolio. Adjacent to Snowbound in protecting infrastructure and people from avalanche and rockfall hazards.
• GEOPRAEVENT: Swiss geohazard monitoring company using infrasound, radar, and cameras to detect avalanches, rockfall, and debris flow in real time. Directly comparable to Snowbound's Avalanche Monitoring System and a natural international peer.
• Wyssen Avalanche Control: Specializes in remote avalanche detection and controlled avalanche release systems for ski resorts, highways, and mining. Operates in the same avalanche-risk-management category as Snowbound with overlapping customer profiles.

Emerging players

• Davis Instruments: Producer of professional-grade weather stations used in mountain environments, ski areas, and by individual professionals. Adjacent competitor for the lower end of Snowbound's customer base of guides, educators, and small ski areas.
• Geonor: Norwegian manufacturer of geotechnical and environmental sensors, including precipitation and snow-related instrumentation. Comparable as a niche instrumentation vendor serving similar mountain infrastructure and research customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snowbound-solutions-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Snowbound