Imagine having a data assistant that not just crunches numbers but truly gets your business—its lingo, its goals, and even its quirks. That’s what Athenic AI is building. Founded by Jared Zhao, this startup aims to become the central nervous system for enterprise data.

Zhao, a UC Berkeley alum, initially launched Polyture in 2021. But when generative AI exploded onto the scene, he realized the need for simpler, more intuitive tools. Thus, Athenic AI was born in 2022, offering AI-driven data analytics that anyone in a company can use, no coding required.

The secret sauce? Athenic trains its AI on a company’s unique “tribal knowledge,” including internal terminology and KPIs, to provide insights that feel custom-built. Each report comes with a clear explanation of how the AI interpreted the data, making it easier to spot errors and refine results. “Even when the system is wrong, it’s aware it might be wrong,” Zhao explains. “It’s like having a thoughtful data analyst who not only hands you a report but also explains how to interpret it.”

Since its launch, Athenic has attracted a mix of small startups and big names like Additel and PMC. Recently, the San Francisco-based company secured $4.3 million in seed funding led by BMW i Ventures, with participation from TenVC and Scrum Ventures. The funding will fuel hiring and new tech development, with plans to make the AI even smarter—suggesting insights before users even ask.

With the data analytics market becoming increasingly crowded, Athenic’s focus on user experience and context-aware AI sets it apart. As Zhao puts it, “Too many businesses are flying blind, even though the data is technically there. We want to fix that.”

Athenic AI isn’t just about numbers—it’s about giving companies the clarity they need to make better decisions. And in a data-driven world, that’s a game-changer.