Rubrik, a major player in data security, just announced it’s acquiring Predibase, a startup that helps businesses build and customize AI models. The idea is simple: make it faster and easier for companies to start using powerful AI agents that are tailored to their own needs.
So, What’s Predibase?
Predibase is a younger company — launched in 2021 — but it’s been doing some pretty interesting things in the world of AI. It was started by three engineers:
- Devvret Rishi (CEO)
- Piero Molino (Chief Science Officer)
- Travis Addair (CTO)
Their focus? Helping businesses fine-tune open-source AI models so they work better for specific tasks. Instead of building massive models from scratch, companies can start with something open-source and tweak it. That’s cheaper, faster, and more flexible.
The startup has raised over $28 million so far from well-known investors like Felicis, Greylock, and Sancus Ventures.
What’s in It for Rubrik?
Rubrik hasn’t said exactly how much it’s paying, but reports suggest the deal is somewhere between $100 million and $500 million.
So, why is Rubrik doing this?
Because it wants to make sure customers can not only secure their data, but also put it to work — especially through AI. With Predibase on board, Rubrik customers will be able to launch AI agents using platforms like:
- Amazon Bedrock
- Azure OpenAI
- Google Agentspace
In short, this means faster rollouts, better control, and AI that runs on secure, trusted data.
Rubrik’s CEO Bipul Sinha summed it up like this:
“Predibase makes it easier to run large language models without blowing up your costs. Combined with Rubrik’s secure data, that’s a big win for customers.”
The Bigger Trend
Rubrik’s move isn’t happening in a vacuum. A lot of major tech companies are snapping up AI-focused startups to stay ahead of the curve.
Here are a few recent examples:
- Salesforce bought Informatica for $8 billion
- Snowflake picked up Crunchy Data
- Collibra acquired Raito
All of these deals point to the same thing: enterprise tech is getting serious about building AI agents that can actually work in the real world.
Why It Matters
AI tools are everywhere right now — but getting them to work for your specific business? That’s still a challenge. You need reliable data, smart models, and systems that don’t cost a fortune to run.
That’s exactly the problem this deal is trying to solve.
Rubrik already handles the data part — keeping it safe, organized, and ready for use. Predibase brings the modeling side — tools to tweak AI agents so they’re more useful, efficient, and easier to manage.
Together, they’re giving businesses a much smoother path to building smart tools that can do real work.
Fast Facts Recap
- Rubrik is acquiring Predibase to expand its AI capabilities.
- Predibase helps companies fine-tune open-source AI models.
- The deal could be worth up to $500 million, though no official number was shared.
- Customers will be able to use tools like Amazon Bedrock and Azure OpenAI with less hassle.
- Rubrik is joining other tech giants in the AI acquisition wave of 2025.
A Bit About Rubrik
If you’re not familiar, Rubrik launched in 2014 and has become a big name in the data security space. It raised over $1.6 billion from backers like Khosla Ventures, IVP, and Lightspeed, and it went public in April 2024.
Rubrik’s mission has always been to protect enterprise data. Now it’s taking the next step — helping companies turn that data into something smarter.
Final Thought
Rubrik’s acquisition of Predibase isn’t just about keeping up with AI trends — it’s about making AI actually work for more businesses. By combining secure data with customizable AI, they’re building a toolkit that’s both powerful and practical.
We’ll likely see more moves like this soon. For now, Rubrik just took a strong step forward in the race to make AI real for the enterprise world.