Databricks, the prominent data lakehouse provider, has announced its latest acquisition, bringing in the team behind the AI startup Einblick. Einblick has dedicated the past four years to developing an AI-native collaboration platform that claims to solve data problems with just a single sentence.
The emergence of GenAI has paved the way for a new generation of data systems known as data intelligence platforms. These platforms enable organizations to make data-driven decisions and enhance team collaboration, efficiency, and data governance.
The most recent data intelligence platforms feature native natural language interfaces, allowing non-expert users to access valuable insights and information. The next wave of these platforms takes it even further by providing the ability to understand semantic information and company-specific jargon.
By joining forces with the Einblick team, Databricks aims to incorporate Einblick’s innovative AI-native approach directly into its platform. This move will democratize data intelligence and lay the foundation for creating the next generation of AI applications.
This acquisition marks Databricks’ fourth in the past year. The company previously acquired enterprise data startup Arcion for $100 million, Mosaic ML for a staggering $1.3 billion, and data governance platform Okera for an undisclosed sum. The financial details of the Databricks-Einblick deal have not been disclosed.
According to Ali Ghodsi, the CEO and Founder of Databricks, this acquisition aligns with the company’s asymmetric strategy. Ghodsi notes that Databricks has raised $4 billion in capital, allowing them to invest heavily in mergers and acquisitions while expanding into new markets. In contrast, many other companies face constraints and are forced to implement austerity measures and layoffs.
While Databricks could have chosen to go public during the 2021 IPO boom, Ghodsi decided to prioritize research and development (R&D) and M&A. This strategic approach has proven successful for Databricks, with the company being valued at $43 billion in its Series I round in September 2020.
For the Einblick team, this acquisition presents an opportunity for growth and increased exposure in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. They will have access to the explosion of custom GenAI models developed by developers and companies worldwide.
Emanuel Zgraggen, CEO and co-founder of Einblick, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, When we founded Einblick, our goal was to empower companies to do more with data by creating the easiest and most collaborative data platform. Today marks a significant milestone as we join forces with Databricks to further our mission. I am thrilled to embark on this new journey with a company whose mission is to simplify and democratize data and AI.
Einblick was established in 2019 by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Brown University. The core of Einblick’s innovation lies in data analysis, seamlessly integrating AI into its authoring surface to enable users to effortlessly transform thoughts into data workflows. Notably, Einblick co-founder Tim Kraska and Databricks founder and CEO Ali Ghodsi were university peers at Berkeley.
Databricks and Einblick share a common goal of empowering companies to leverage data more effectively by providing an easy-to-use and collaborative data platform accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.
Overall, this acquisition strengthens Databricks’ position in the market and positions the company to continue driving innovation in the data intelligence space. With their combined expertise, Databricks and Einblick aim to shape the future of AI applications and data democratization.
