Amazon Web Services Acquires DuckLabs to Boost Cloud Analytics

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire DuckLabs, the Amsterdam-based company behind the open source analytical database DuckDB. The transaction was announced on August 26, 2026 and is anticipated to close shortly, pending customary closing conditions.

Since 2024, AWS and DuckLabs have collaborated closely, leveraging DuckLabs’ expertise in database engineering to improve analytics services. The acquisition will bring the DuckLabs team into AWS, with founders Hannes Mühleisen and Mark Raasveldt continuing to lead the team and oversee the technical direction of the DuckDB open source project.

Importantly, AWS is acquiring the DuckLabs team and their technology expertise, but not the DuckDB open source project itself. DuckDB will remain free and open source under the independent DuckDB Foundation, governed by a non-profit organization and licensed under the MIT license.

DuckLabs specializes in developing DuckDB, an analytical database designed for efficient, in-process data analysis. The company has gained recognition for creating software favored by developers for its simplicity and performance. AWS, a leading cloud computing provider, aims to integrate DuckLabs’ technology to make its analytics offerings faster, simpler, and more cost-effective.

Andy Warfield, Amazon vice president and distinguished engineer, stated, “For almost a decade, the DuckDB team has worked with the idea of building a tool that lets people work with data, with confidence. That sentiment aligns closely with how AWS and our customers approach data.” He added that the existing partnership over the past two years has laid a strong foundation for deeper collaboration.

The acquisition is expected to strengthen AWS’s position in the competitive cloud analytics market by integrating cutting-edge database technology and engineering talent. The Amsterdam base of DuckLabs also enhances AWS’s presence in Europe, supporting geographic expansion.

Strategically, AWS plans to leverage DuckLabs’ expertise to accelerate innovation in cloud-native analytical databases, improve integration with AWS analytics services, and enhance the developer experience. This move is likely to increase competitive pressure on other cloud providers and database vendors to advance their analytics capabilities.

Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The transaction is structured to preserve the independence of the DuckDB open source project, mitigating risks related to community trust and open source governance.

Looking ahead, AWS intends to integrate the DuckLabs team and technology smoothly while maintaining DuckDB’s open source status. The companies will share further details on integration plans and product enhancements once the deal closes.

This acquisition reflects AWS’s ongoing commitment to expanding its analytics portfolio and delivering innovative, developer-friendly tools to its customers worldwide.