Databricks acquires spreadsheet startup Row Zero for Genie; terms undisclosed
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What happened
Databricks announced on September 24, 2026 that it had acquired Row Zero, a spreadsheet startup founded by former AWS and Tableau engineers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Databricks said Row Zero will give its Genie product a native, fully governed spreadsheet experience on the web and in desktop and mobile apps, with queries that honor each user's permissions and exports that can be locked down. It said Row Zero will be available to all Databricks customers across all major clouds and will keep supporting data sources beyond Databricks.
Row Zero raised $10 million in May 2025 at an estimated $40 million valuation, TechCrunch reported, citing PitchBook. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi told TechCrunch, "We intend to do many more acquisitions like this in the future." TechCrunch listed earlier 2026 Databricks deals for Quotient AI and SiftD.ai in March, Panther in June and Electric in August. It also reported that Databricks closed another $5 billion in funding in August and reached a $7 billion annualized revenue run rate.
Key points
- Databricks acquired Row Zero on September 24, 2026; terms of the deal were not disclosed.12
- Row Zero raised $10 million in May 2025 at an estimated $40 million valuation, per PitchBook as cited by TechCrunch.2
- Row Zero will give Databricks' Genie a governed spreadsheet experience on web, desktop and mobile.1
- CEO Ali Ghodsi said Databricks intends to do many more acquisitions like this.2
- Databricks closed another $5 billion in funding in August and reached a $7 billion annualized run rate.2
Why it matters
No price was given, so the deal sets no new mark for Row Zero. The last figure in the sources is an estimated $40 million valuation from May 2025, per PitchBook as cited by TechCrunch.
Row Zero follows earlier 2026 Databricks purchases of Quotient AI, SiftD.ai, Panther and Electric, and Ghodsi said the company intends to do many more. It followed the $5 billion in funding Databricks closed in August.
Databricks said Row Zero will be available to all its customers, a base it put at more than 20,000 organizations, including 70% of the Fortune 500.
In context
| Round | Date | Post-money valuation | Raised | Led by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series E | Feb 5, 2019 | $2.8B | $250M | Andreessen Horowitz |
| Series F | Oct 22, 2019 | $6.2B | $400M | Andreessen Horowitz |
| Series G | Feb 1, 2021 | $28B | $1.0B | Franklin Templeton |
| Series H | Aug 31, 2021 | $38B | $1.6B | Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley) |
| Series I | Sep 14, 2023 | $43B | $500M | funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
| Series J | Dec 17, 2024 | $62B | $10B | Andreessen Horowitz, DST Global, GIC, Insight Partners, Thrive Capital, and WCM Investment Management |
| Series K | Aug 19, 2025 | $100B | $1.0B | Andreessen Horowitz, Insight Partners, MGX, Thrive Capital, and WCM Investment Management |
| Series L | Dec 16, 2025 | $134B | $5.0B | Fidelity Management & Research Company, Insight Partners, and J.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Strategic investment | Jul 16, 2026 | $190B | $5.0B | Coatue |
Updated
Fact-check
- Databricks announced on September 24, 2026 that it acquired Row Zero; terms were not disclosed.Confirmed by [1] Databricks and [2] TechCrunch, both dated September 24, 2026; TechCrunch says terms were not disclosed and the release gives no price.Verified
- Row Zero raised $10 million in May 2025 at an estimated $40 million valuation.Confirmed by [2] TechCrunch: $10 million in May 2025 at an estimated $40 million valuation at the time, according to PitchBook.Verified
- Row Zero was founded by former AWS and Tableau engineers.Confirmed by [1] Databricks and [2] TechCrunch.Verified
- Ghodsi said Databricks intends to do many more acquisitions like this.Confirmed by [2] TechCrunch, which quotes Ali Ghodsi.Verified
- Databricks closed another $5 billion in funding in August and reached a $7 billion annualized revenue run rate.Confirmed by [2] TechCrunch.Verified
- Earlier 2026 acquisitions were Quotient AI and SiftD.ai in March, Panther in June and Electric in August.Confirmed by [2] TechCrunch, which lists these deals.Verified
- Databricks serves more than 20,000 organizations, including 70% of the Fortune 500.Confirmed by [1] Databricks in its press release boilerplate.Verified
Sources
- [1]Databricks (opens in a new tab)Databricks Acquires Row Zero, Bringing Live, Governed Spreadsheets to GenieRow Zero will be available to all Databricks customers across all major clouds
- [2]TechCrunch (opens in a new tab)Databricks buys Row Zero and is scouting for more startups to acquireWe intend to do many more acquisitions like this in the future.
- [3]GeekWire (opens in a new tab)Seattle startup Row Zero acquired by Databricks
