Ice Cream Brothers Use Prediction Markets to Hedge Losses on Chilly Days
By James Moreau | 11 Aug, 2026

By placing modest daily wagers on weather outcomes, the creative entrepreneurs behind 28Wishes Ice Cream Shop found an innovative way to hedge against slow sales.

Bad weather usually spells disaster for ice cream parlors, but one downtown Los Angeles storefront has found a clever way to turn a chilly day into cold, hard cash.  Brothers Jason and James Jiang, who own 28 Wishes Ice Cream Shop, have been covering nearly half of their monthly rent by placing daily wagers on online prediction markets.

When temperatures plummet or rain rolls into Southern California, foot traffic slows down drastically.  To counter the revenue loss, the Jiang brothers have been utilizing Kalshi, an online prediction platform.  Since April, the Taiwanese American entrepreneurs have consistently placed modest daily wagers of $20 predicting that the region’s low temperatures will fall below market expectations.  Because ice cream sales drop significantly when weather dips under 70 degrees, the strategy serves as a unique financial hedge against slow business days.

Their meteorological gambles have yielded remarkable results.  By studying weather reports, climate updates, and social media forecasts, the siblings have pulled in roughly $1,500 a month in profit – enough to make a significant dent in their $3,500 monthly rent.  While initially skeptical, Jason’s wife became fully supportive after witnessing a single day’s prediction net an $800 return.

Operating an independent boutique has been an uphill climb for the brothers.  They originally launched their storefront as a franchise right before the pandemic, enduring lockdowns, civil unrest, and the eventual bankruptcy of their parent company.  In October 2024, they rebranded into an independent boutique offering creative flavors like Vietnamese Coffee and Matcha Oreo.  Now, by blending careful weather analysis with innovative financial hedging, these savvy local business owners have ensured that even when it rains on their storefront, their business still manages to win.