Our story
In 2012, a pair of researchers at the University of Bristol began discussing the significant obstacles that needed to be overcome in order to create truly comprehensive flood models that would transform the management and mitigation of global water risk for data-rich and data-scarce regions alike.
They examined the potential interconnectivity between cutting-edge research methods across hydrology, hydraulics, remote sensing and more, and in 2013, Fathom (then called SSBN) was formed. From the beginning, the aim was to create a data-driven, research-led company, providing transparent world-leading methods of understanding water risk.
Today, the company works with everyone from small organizations to government agencies to multinational corporations, across industries including humanitarian aid, insurance, international development, engineering, conservation and financial markets.
Academic research remains as important to us now as when we started. In the face of the increasing challenges posed by climate change, this commitment ensures we are providing our customers and partners with market-leading flood models based on the latest science.
As of December 2023, we are now part of Swiss Re. The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from aging populations to cybercrime.
The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally.
Together, we are working to accelerate the development and delivery of world-leading solutions that will break through to new levels of risk resilience against water perils, providing greater value for all.
We provide scientifically rigorous water and climate information for the benefit of businesses and communities worldwide.
