Databricks has acquired spreadsheet startup Row Zero, adding a live, governed spreadsheet interface to Databricks Genie.

Founded by former AWS and Tableau engineers, Row Zero focuses on linking spreadsheet work directly to live data sources rather than exported files. Databricks will integrate the technology into Genie, its AI assistant for business users, across web, desktop and mobile.

The move addresses a persistent problem in large organisations: data often leaves governed systems when employees export it into spreadsheets or CSV files and circulate copies among colleagues. That can make it harder to track how information is used, which version is current and whether access controls remain in place.

Databricks argues the issue becomes more acute as AI agents take on more analysis and operational work. If those systems operate on copied or poorly tracked datasets, businesses face added questions around lineage, permissions and audit trails.

Spreadsheets remain among the most widely used tools in finance, operations, sales and marketing, despite years of investment in analytics software. Their appeal lies in the familiarity of formulas, pivots and manual modelling, which many business teams still rely on for day-to-day decisions.

By bringing Row Zero into Genie, Databricks is aiming to keep that workflow inside its governed data environment. Users will be able to move between AI-driven prompts and direct spreadsheet modelling without creating disconnected copies of enterprise data.

The integration is built around Genie Ontology, Unity Catalog and Unity Gateway, which Databricks uses to manage business context, permissions and data access. In the spreadsheet environment, queries will honour user permissions, draw from live data and keep interactions auditable.

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