Flatfile acquires AI startup ChatCSV to boost its AI-powered data exchange platform

Denver-based startup Flatfile has acquired ChatCSV, an AI startup known for its highly popular AI chat app used by prominent organizations like P&G, McKinsey, Zapier, Quora, and Vimeo. The company did not disclose the amount and terms of the deal.

This acquisition closely follows Flatfile’s recent launch of the Data Exchange Platform, a cutting-edge, API-driven platform for file-based data import. With the integration of ChatCSV’s capabilities, Flatfile has further enhanced its existing features and solidified its leadership in AI-assisted data exchange.

The acquisition also brings substantial benefits to thousands of existing ChatCSV users, who span from global giants like Procter & Gamble and McKinsey to tech companies such as Zapier, Quora, and Vimeo. ChatCSV’s AI-powered app acts as a personal data analyst, allowing users to interact with their CSV files, ask specific questions, and extract valuable insights from complex datasets, eliminating the need for manual navigation, saving time, and reducing errors.

Flatfile CEO David Boskovic expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition and highlighted ChatCSV’s impressive capabilities. He also explained how this move exceeds the capabilities of OpenAI while maintaining a higher degree of data privacy.

“From the moment we found ChatCSV, I was impressed by the enthusiastic user feedback, the elegant user experience, and the practical hybrid of chat and dataframes — meaningfully exceeding the built-in capabilities of OpenAI while maintaining a much higher degree of data privacy,” Boskovic said in a blog post.

The acquisition comes approximately a year after Flatfile secured $35 million in Series A funding from investors like Tiger, Gradient Ventures, Scale Ventures, and Workday. The funding aimed to fuel the growth of Flatfile’s all-remote team and meet the growing demand for its data solutions.

“With the acquisition, Flatfile is doubling down on its AI capabilities to provide a unified, intuitive data import experience that does all the heavy lifting for the end user,” Boskovic said. “I was incredibly impressed with founder Sam Barrowclough, and am excited to have him join Flatfile to help us shape the future of AI-enabled data exchange, setting a new industry standard for what’s possible.”

Flatfile’s API-driven platform, combined with ChatCSV’s intuitive technology, empowers developers to offer an unparalleled data import experience. The seamless alignment of ChatCSV with Flatfile’s mission to streamline data import processes from diverse sources enhances the company’s ability to provide a valuable solution for businesses that depend on accurate and readily available data.

Founded in 2018 by David Boskovic and Eric Crane, Flatfile focuses on simplifying data onboarding for companies across various sectors. The company’s software facilitates the ingestion, normalization, and validation of data from third parties, ensuring it is immediately usable in a client’s systems. The technology not only streamlines data processing but also automates data cleaning and structuring, allowing clients to make the most of their data.

Flatfile’s team embraces a fully remote work culture, which they believe allows them to access the best talent on a global scale and supports their mission to enable seamless data transactions among organizations worldwide. The company has made impressive strides, amassing a customer base of over 300 companies globally and helping transform more than 700 million rows of data for clients like Toast, HubSpot, ClickUp, and Blackbaud.