San Francisco based open-source data startup Airbyte is rolling out new tools designed to help enterprises securely move and manage their data—without sacrificing control or risking exposure to third-party AI systems.
The company announced Thursday that it’s launching additional data connectors aimed at giving businesses more flexibility to extract, transfer, and leverage their internal data, especially as AI adoption surges. This latest update focuses on enabling data sovereignty, allowing companies to maintain full control over sensitive information while preparing it for AI and analytics applications.
Among the new features is support for transferring unstructured data from platforms like Google Drive and Microsoft SharePoint. Airbyte is also adding compatibility with Apache Iceberg, a powerful open-source format built for handling massive analytical tables—making it easier for enterprises to build a scalable, AI-ready data infrastructure.
In addition to those features, Airbyte is launching an enterprise connector bundle, offering pre-built data pipelines for widely-used systems like NetSuite, SAP, ServiceNow, and Workday. The goal is to simplify the process of moving large datasets between corporate tools—without exposing valuable data to SaaS applications or external providers.
For Airbyte CEO Michel Tricot, the new suite is about giving companies the flexibility of modern data tools while ensuring they stay in the driver’s seat. “Fortune 500s love Airbyte because it acts like powerful infrastructure, but they stay in control of where their data flows and how it’s used,” Tricot explained.
Unlike many AI services that pull data into external environments, Airbyte’s setup allows businesses to maintain full visibility over their pipelines. That means companies can scrub sensitive information—like employee salaries or confidential HR data—before it moves downstream.
“I always say, don’t trade your first-party data for intelligence. It’s a bad deal,” Tricot warned. “The risk with many AI tools today is that companies are unintentionally handing over their most sensitive data. We built this system to protect it inside their own infrastructure.”
Tricot also sees Airbyte’s support for Apache Iceberg as a game changer. Iceberg enables enterprises to create a unified data lakehouse—a centralized source of truth that integrates seamlessly with platforms like Databricks, Snowflake, Bitquery, and even emerging AI applications.
“Iceberg gives companies a portable schema that works with the top tools in the industry,” Tricot said. “It keeps your data flexible, scalable, and ready for AI workloads.”
Founded in 2020 by Tricot and COO Jean Lafleur, Airbyte has quickly grown into a major player in the data infrastructure space. The startup now counts more than 7,000 enterprise customers, including brands like Monday.com, Invesco, and Calendly, with over 250,000 installations worldwide.
To date, Airbyte has raised over $181 million from top venture firms such as Coatue, Accel, and Benchmark—a testament to the growing demand for solutions that empower companies to protect their data while unlocking AI’s potential.
