About PhoenixAI

The database built for
agentic AI.

PhoenixAI is the agentic AI and analytics database for teams who need real-time answers on live data. AI agents don’t wait for batch jobs — they query, decide, and act in milliseconds. We build the infrastructure that makes that possible, at any scale.

Headquartered in Menlo Park, CA · Remote-friendly globally

Founded 2022 · Cloud product launched 2023

SOC 2 certified · Trusted by data and AI teams at Coinbase, Pinterest, Expedia, and more

Our mission

Give every AI agent, application, and team instant access to the freshest data — without the infrastructure complexity that slows them down.

2022

Founded

Deployment models

24/7

Priority support

Our story

Built by people who understand what agentic AI actually needs.

Our founders spent years building and operating real-time data systems at some of the most demanding environments in the industry. They watched firsthand as AI workloads began outpacing what existing analytical databases could deliver — agents waiting on queries, features staleby hours, dashboards lagging behind real events.

PhoenixAI is what they built instead. The analytical database designed specifically for agentic AI — sub-second SQL on live data, high concurrency, enterprise governance, and flexible deployment. The infrastructure AI agents actually need to work.

The same deep systems knowledge that informs our architecture now goes into how we work with customers — hands-on, technically fluent, and focused on outcomes rather than features. We’re not a distant vendor. We’re the engineers in the trench with you.

2022

Foundation

CelerData founded to build a managed, enterprise-grade real-time analytical database for AI workloads. Seed funding closed.

2022

First enterprise customers

Early deployments at Pinterest, Demandbase, and other data-intensive enterprises validating real-time query performance at production scale.

2023

Cloud product launch & growth

PhoenixAI Cloud launched. Expanded to Coinbase, Expedia, Eightfold, and Fresha. Launched BYOC and PhoenixAI Anywhere for self-managed deployments.

2024

AI workloads & lakehouse

Native Apache Iceberg and Delta Lake support shipped. AI and ML teams began adopting PhoenixAI as the real-time analytical layer for agent workloads.

2025 — Today

PhoenixAI

Rebranded as PhoenixAI. Launched intelligent materialized views, expanded lakehouse support, and a new compute tier. New funding round in progress.

How we work

Five things we take seriously.

These aren’t aspirations. They’re how we make decisions, hire people, and show up for customers.

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Visionary

We see where data infrastructure is heading and build for it — grounded in what customers need today, not just what’s technically interesting.

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Humble

Deep expertise without ego. We know the technology is only as useful as the human using it. We don’t talk down to anyone.

Curious

We’re obsessed with how things actually work for our customers right now — not just the ideal deployment. Problems first. Features second.

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Collaborative

Partner in the trenches, not a distant vendor. We work closely with customers and with each other — because that raises everyone.

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Trustworthy

We’re the adults in the room for AI data infrastructure. Our advice is earned, backed by specifics, and doesn’t change based on what’s convenient.

Leadership

The team behind PhoenixAI.

James Li

Co-Founder & CEO

Co-founded PhoenixAI to build the analytical database agentic AI needs. Deep expertise in distributed systems and real-time data infrastructure at scale.

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Andy Ye

Co-Founder & COO

Co-founded PhoenixAI and leads operations and customer success. Focused on making the product work for real teams in production environments.

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Alvin Zhao

Co-Founder & CTO

Architect of PhoenixAI’s core engine. Expert in columnar storage, vectorized execution, and large-scale query optimization for agentic workloads.

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Rick Underwood

President

Previously CEO of Clumio (acquired by Commvault) and VP at Snowflake through its record IPO. Consistent track record scaling enterprise tech companies from early growth to successful exit.

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Investors

Backed by people who understand the space.

PhoenixAI is backed by investors with deep experience in enterprise infrastructure and data. We’re currently in the process of closing a new funding round.

Amino Capital

Additional investors
to be announced

Series A

Most recent round closed

Where we work

Headquartered in the Bay Area. Built remotely.

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Headquarters

Menlo Park, California

Our home base, just around the corner from the heart of Silicon Valley. Where our leadership team and core functions are rooted.

public

Remote-friendly

Distributed globally

Our engineering, product, and customer-facing teams work across time zones. We hire for talent, not geography — and we build the processes to match.

The database built foragentic AI.

Built by people who understand what agentic AI actually needs.

Five things we take seriously.

The team behind PhoenixAI.

Backed by people who understand the space.

Headquartered in the Bay Area. Built remotely.

Work with us. Or build with us.

The database built for
agentic AI.