Key facts
- Databricks acquired Row Zero, a startup focused on cloud-based spreadsheets.
- The acquisition aims to integrate spreadsheets with Databricks' AI agents and business intelligence tools.
- Row Zero was founded by former AWS and Tableau engineers.
- Row Zero raised $10 million in May 2025 at a $40 million valuation.
- Databricks raised $5 billion in August and has a $7 billion annualized revenue run rate.
- Databricks plans to pursue more acquisitions.
Databricks announced on Thursday that it has acquired Row Zero, an early-stage startup that develops cloud-based spreadsheet technology. The acquisition aims to bridge the gap between familiar spreadsheet interfaces and Databricks' advanced data analytics and AI capabilities.
Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi stated on X that the company's finance team was impressed by Row Zero's ability to scale beyond one million live spreadsheet rows. The integration will allow users to interact with secure enterprise data stored in Databricks' cloud using the spreadsheet format they are accustomed to, rather than learning new business intelligence software. This approach aims to keep data secure within Databricks' systems, avoiding the risks associated with transferring data to insecure, shared spreadsheets.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Row Zero was founded by former engineers from AWS and Tableau and had previously raised $10 million in May 2025, achieving an estimated valuation of $40 million at that time, according to PitchBook.
This acquisition is part of Databricks' broader strategy to expand through acquisitions. The company, which secured $5 billion in funding in August and reported a $7 billion annualized revenue run rate, has been actively acquiring startups throughout 2026. Previous acquisitions this year include Quotient AI and SiftD.ai in March, AI security startup Panther in June (previously valued at $1.4 billion in 2021), and Electric, makers of the PGlite database, last month.