The Morning Brief ET in the Valley: Databricks Co-founder Patrick Wendell
Nov 19, 2025
Patrick Wendell, Co-founder and VP of Engineering at Databricks, shares insights from his journey starting the company from a UC Berkeley research project. He explains how early, bold bets on cloud-managed software are setting the stage for AI's future. Wendell also highlights India's dual role as a significant talent hub and growing market for Databricks. Discussions include the real economics of the AI boom, competitive salary demands, and the importance of profitability over valuations in driving sustainable growth.
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From Berkeley Lab To Billion-Dollar Startup
- Patrick Wendell recounted Databricks' origin as a UC Berkeley research project turned startup after incumbents dismissed their work as too risky.
- He said their naivety and determination pushed them to build a company when others refused to adopt their software.
Focus Wins In Mature Markets
- Wendell credits two early bets: cloud-managed software and machine-learning workloads, which set Databricks apart in a crowded market.
- He argued that choosing a clear, superior dimension and sticking to it buys time to become dominant.
Double Down On One Layer
- Specialize in the core layer you can be best at instead of trying to own the entire stack or build hardware.
- Wendell recommends treating focus as a feature, not a limitation, to win partnerships with hyperscalers.