How to make confident and data-informed decisions
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In a recent episode of the Tekpon SaaS Podcast, host Cristian Dina sat down with Mo Hallaba, co-founder and CEO of Datawisp, to discuss the company’s innovative solutions and the journey of building a company focused on democratizing data analytics.
What does Datawisp do?
Datawisp is a pioneering data analytics software designed to put powerful analytics capabilities in the hands of every employee within a company, not just data scientists. Mo emphasized that traditional Business Intelligence (BI) tools have been around for decades but remain largely static, with a significant technical barrier that often necessitates knowledge of SQL or other complicated languages. Datawisp aims to eliminate these barriers with Generative AI (GenAI), simplifying the process of data analysis through natural language processing.
Mo outlined the major problem Datawisp addresses: the technical barrier to working with data. Traditional BI tools often require extensive training and learning curves, but with Datawisp, users can leverage data from day one. The platform allows users to interact with data through natural language, akin to conversing with a data scientist, facilitating faster and more efficient decision-making.
Datawisp integrates with significant databases, allowing users to connect their data sources directly to the platform. Using natural language, users can prompt Wispy, the AI agent, to generate queries, create charts, and return detailed analyses. Unlike traditional chatbots, Wispy can perform tasks autonomously, making it an effective tool for comprehensive data analysis.
The story of Datawisp
The idea for Datawisp originated in esports, where Mo and his team used data analytics to train players and make strategic decisions. Their successful application of data analytics in competitive gaming spurred interest from other teams and broadcasters, eventually leading to broader applications in various industries. This evolution culminated in the creation of Datawisp, leveraging their expertise to address data accessibility issues in larger enterprises.
Since its inception, Datawisp has grown to a team of six full-time employees, complemented by additional contractual support. The company raised a seed round in the summer of 2022, totaling $4 million, which has been pivotal in developing and scaling the platform. Mo expressed confidence in finding product-market fit, although he acknowledged that there is always room for improvement in refining the product and its value proposition.
The founder highlighted the importance of relationship-building in acquiring the first customers. For Datawisp, attending gaming events and maintaining close connections with potential clients proved effective. Today, the company’s go-to-market strategy includes hosting its own events to generate leads and targeting cold outreach using tools like LinkedIn to identify specific prospects.
Reflecting on his journey, Mo shared his transition from finance to entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to create something impactful. His advice for aspiring founders includes having a network of potential buyers for early-stage feedback.
Looking ahead, Mo Hallaba envisions Datawisp becoming as ubiquitous as Excel or PowerPoint, fundamentally changing how companies make decisions by harnessing data more effectively. He believes that Datawisp’s broad applicability can revolutionize decision-making across various functions, from product management to marketing and executive leadership.
