Cloud database startup SkySQL raises $6.6M in funding to bring conversational AI to databases

With AI gaining mainstream adoption, most companies are exploring generative AI applications powered by operational data, but delivering reliable and accurate results presents significant challenges. Today’s databases are often not optimized for AI, leading to issues like hallucinations, low accuracy, and complex integrations with AI tools and vector databases.

These obstacles make it difficult to connect AI applications to enterprise data securely, creating governance concerns as sensitive data becomes fragmented across systems. Additionally, unpredictable workloads from these apps can drive cloud over-provisioning, resulting in waste, while sudden demand spikes risk outages.  Now, one tech startup is stepping up to solve these challenges with its AI-powered database platform.

Enter SkySQL, an AI platform that simplifies cloud database management by integrating AI capabilities directly into its system, allowing businesses to draw actionable insights from their operational data without the need for cumbersome integrations. SkySQL combines traditional database features with AI through a conversational API, offering secure and accurate responses.

Today, SkySQL, an AI cloud startup spun out of the MariaDB Foundation, announced it has secured $6.6 million in funding from Eniac Ventures, Good Capital, and WTI.

Founded in 2023 by Nithin Rao (CEO), Jags Ramnarayan, and Saravana Krishnamurthy, SkySQL offers a serverless database-as-a-service (DBaaS) platform designed for MySQL and MariaDB workloads. The company focuses on automation, cost efficiency, and multi-cloud flexibility.

The founding team has extensive experience in databases, cloud platforms, and analytics, with a history of five successful startup exits. Notable ventures include Autonomic, acquired by Ford; Definitive, acquired by Groq; and GemStone Systems, acquired by VMware.

Already serving over 50 customers globally, SkySQL integrates natural language interaction through its AI Semantic Agent framework, delivering high-accuracy insights directly from operational databases. “As businesses increasingly rely on AI, trusting the insights derived from critical data is paramount,” said Nithin Rao, CEO of SkySQL. “We’re ensuring companies can confidently base key decisions on these insights.”

SkySQL’s Semantic Agents and SkyCopilot AI assistant consolidate essential AI components—like vector databases and large language models (LLMs)—to provide real-time, accurate responses directly from enterprise data. This eliminates the need to transfer sensitive information to external systems, enhancing security and efficiency.

“SkySQL is transforming our Student Information System,” said Sasa Skoko, CTO of Campus Cloud. “The AI-powered chat interface gives users precise insights by simply asking questions. Administrators can explore specifics without complex queries, making decision-making more informed and freeing up IT resources.”