The demand for AI is increasing rapidly, leading to a higher demand for expertise in maintaining databases, a vital component of any AI pipeline. Effective data management is crucial for storing information to train, run, and optimize AI systems, facilitating smoother adoption of AI in enterprises.
One company benefitting from this surge in the database industry is Tembo, a startup that offers a platform allowing developers to deploy various versions of Postgres, an open-source database system, to both cloud and local environments. Tembo recently secured $14 million in funding led by GreatPoint Ventures, with participation from Venrock, Grand Ventures, Wireframe Ventures, Defined VC, and Cintrifuse Capital.
Tembo’s founder and CEO, Ry Walker, explained, “We’re harnessing the power of Postgres to make it accessible to everyone. Enterprises can save costs by consolidating databases and enhance efficiency by simplifying data pipelines using Tembo.”
With an initial background in computer science from the University of Cincinnati, Walker founded Tembo after realizing the potential impact his venture studio, Differential, had in the database industry following his work on Astronomer, an open-source data engineering pipeline.
Tembo offers managed software-as-a-service Postgres service along with self-hosted software for setting up and managing Postgres databases. Customers can create databases with features like auto-scaling, and soon, auto-tuning for self-maintenance.
Tembo recently introduced the Machine Learning Stack, enabling developers to build and deploy AI models, including generative AI models as a service, leveraging workflows alongside their databases.
“The exponential growth of data has led to inefficient and costly data sprawl. Tembo helps enterprises reduce costs and improve efficiency by streamlining data pipelines,” said Walker.
With $20 million in funding and a team of approximately 25 individuals, Tembo, headquartered in Cincinnati, aims to focus on product development, recruitment, and marketing efforts. Despite competition from rivals like DBOS, founded by Postgres creator Mike Stonebraker, Walker is confident in Tembo’s capabilities.
“We are at a crucial point to guide enterprises in leveraging Postgres for their expanding data storage needs. The global database market is projected to reach $200 billion by 2027, demonstrating the immense potential for growth. Our goal is ambitious, but achievable – we are democratizing the use of Postgres,” Walker added.
