Databricks buys Row Zero to tie spreadsheets directly into its AI data platform
The deal brings large-scale, spreadsheet-style analysis into Databricks while keeping enterprise data inside its own storage.
Databricks has acquired Row Zero, a cloud-native spreadsheet startup whose product can handle more than a million live rows, to deepen how analysts work with data on its platform. The company is integrating Row Zero with its Genie AI agent so users can pose complex questions in natural language while still interacting through familiar spreadsheet formulas and views. This setup keeps enterprise data inside Databricks’ storage while allowing both humans and AI agents to manipulate it without exporting to less secure standalone spreadsheets. Row Zero was founded by alumni of AWS and Tableau and previously raised $10 million in May 2025 at a roughly $40 million valuation, according to PitchBook. Backed by a $5 billion funding round in August and a $7 billion annualized revenue run rate, Databricks has been steadily acquiring startups such as Quotient AI, SiftD.ai, Panther and Electric, and says it plans to continue this M&A strategy.
Why it matters
For teams that rely on spreadsheets to work with data, this move means they can stay in a familiar interface while tapping Databricks’ storage and AI tools instead of exporting data into separate files. By wiring Row Zero into its Genie AI agent, Databricks is pushing toward a workflow where analysts ask questions in plain language, see results in a spreadsheet view that can handle over a million live rows, and avoid moving sensitive data to less secure tools. The acquisition also fits Databricks’ broader pattern of using its cash and revenue strength to buy more startups.
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Sources
- TechCrunch