Databricks buys 8080 Labs to boost its low code/no code offerings

By Pankaj Singh

California-based enterprise software company- Databricks has acquired German software startup 8080 Labs that developed bamboolib- a leading GUI for the Python-based Pandas data analysis and manipulation system.

The purchase of 8080 Labs makes the first acquisition Databricks has made since it raised USD 1.6 billion in Series H funding round in August’21.

For starters, bamboolib permits data scientists to easily explore their data and transform it without writing any code.

8080 Labs has extended a free community edition of bamboolib along with the pro edition with added enterprise abilities. Databricks is seeking to combine the UI-driven properties into its Lakehouse Platform to expand its no-code/low-code abilities.

According to Ali Ghodsi, CEO at Databricks, after acquiring Redash in 2020, the company is focusing on expanding the focus of its user base to a wider audience that requires low code or no-code solutions. 

Offering simplified capabilities to Databricks is an integral step towards empowering people in an organization to analyze and explore large chunks of data, irrespective of the expertise, Mr. Ghodsi added.

For Databricks, the latest acquisition also marks a renewed emphasis on extending its platform to data scientists who may not have adequate expertise to use the tool.

According to a statement by Databricks, with data and AI becoming a priority for businesses of different sizes, the employees must be encouraged to ask questions and take the necessary actions based on the data.

Integrated with its automated machine learning solutions, the software company will allow a wider range of users to gain value from their data along with making it easier for developers who can design their data transformations using its UI tools and later export the Python code once needed to build a customized implementation technique.

In other news, in August’21, Databricks secured funds worth USD 1.6 billion at a valuation of USD 38 billion from Morgan Stanley. Other investments in the round included ClearBridge Investments, Baillie Gifford, and the University of California’s investment office.

Source Credit: https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/06/databricks-acquires-8080-labs-to-extend-its-low-code-no-code-capabilities/