Nvidia backs GPU-powered data analytics tool MapD in $10 million round

MapD, a startup with a cloud-based data analytics service powered by a GPU-enabled database, is announcing today a $10 million funding round. Nvidia’s GPU Ventures participated in the round, as did Alphabet’s GV venture capital division, and Verizon Ventures.

GPUs (graphics processing units) are not well-known for running databases. But MapD founder and CEO Todd Mostak, formerly of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), has figured out a way to run queries using them in a highly parallel manner. It turns out that the technology can even outperform in-memory databases, but not only that; the tool can then visualize results. Or it can just send query results to existing business-intelligence tools. Or it can work as a regular database. But no matter what companies choose to do with the technology, it is distinctive.

There are many other data visualization, data analytics, and business intelligence services to choose from. Databases are plentiful as well. But several corporate venture arms have demonstrated interest early in the startup’s life.

MapD started in 2014 and is based in San Francisco. The round was led by a syndicate headed by Vanedge Capital. Customers include Simulmedia and Verizon.

The database can be deployed in companies’ on-premises data centers or on top of public clouds, such as Amazon Web Services and IBM SoftLayer.