Databricks is making its biggest global move yet—committing over $250 million to India over the next three years in a bid to supercharge its AI ambitions. The company plans to grow its local team by more than 50%, pushing headcount to around 750, and will double the number of engineers at its Bangalore R&D center. It's not just a hiring spree. Databricks is also launching a dedicated AI and data academy with the goal of training 500,000 partners and customers. For a firm that's still private—and last valued at $62 billion—that's a clear signal: the next phase of AI isn't just being built in Silicon Valley.
What's driving the bet? Talent—and lots of it. India is emerging as a key node in the global AI supply chain, offering depth in engineering and data science that few markets can match. Databricks is expanding beyond its traditional bases in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Mountain View to tap this advantage. The Bangalore center is now core to the company's long-term R&D strategy as it builds out the infrastructure for next-gen AI systems and services. After raising over $15 billion from backers like Meta (META, Financial), Singapore, and Qatar, Databricks is putting that capital to work with a focus on scalable talent, not just tech.
For investors watching Tesla (TSLA, Financial) and other AI darlings, this is a reminder: some of the most aggressive AI growth stories are still private—and going global fast. Databricks isn't chasing headlines, it's laying groundwork. As more enterprise value shifts from apps to infrastructure, the smart money is flowing into platforms that power the AI economy behind the scenes. India, it seems, isn't just the back office anymore—it's becoming the command center.
