AWS acquires DuckLabs, makers of DuckDB, while keeping project independent & open source

Amazon has signed a definitive agreement to acquire DuckLabs, the Amsterdam-based company responsible for the open source analytical database DuckDB. The move signals a deepening of existing ties between DuckLabs and Amazon Web Services, as the two organizations have been closely collaborating for over a year.

On completion of the acquisition, the entire DuckLabs team, including co-founders Hannes Mühleisen and Mark Raasveldt, will join AWS while remaining based in Amsterdam. Both founders plan to continue leading their team and overseeing the technical direction of DuckDB as well as other projects.

Amazon has clarified that the DuckDB open source project will continue to be available under the MIT license and will remain under the independent oversight of the DuckDB Foundation. This ensures that DuckDB will stay free and open source, addressing any concerns users might have about future accessibility or licensing changes.

Following the acquisition, the DuckLabs team will maintain their focus on DuckDB, DuckLake, Quack, and the broader open source community. According to the team, joining AWS provides resources and reach to expand the technology to more developers and enables the pursuit of larger-scale initiatives previously out of reach.