MongoDB in Advanced Talks to Acquire Israeli Startup Firebolt for $300 Million

American cloud and data giant MongoDB is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Israeli data company Firebolt for an estimated $250 million to $300 million. The deal, if finalized, would mark MongoDB's first acquisition in Israel. Firebolt, founded in 2018 by former Sisense employees Eldad Farkash and Saar Bitner, specializes in cloud data warehousing, enabling rapid storage, retrieval, and analysis of large datasets with efficient computing resource usage.

Launched in 2021, Firebolt quickly positioned itself as a competitor to major global players like Snowflake, Databricks, Amazon, and Google. During the COVID-19 pandemic's boom period, the company attracted significant investment, raising approximately $270 million from prominent venture capital firms. In early 2022, Firebolt achieved unicorn status, with a valuation of around $1.4 billion after a funding round.

However, market shifts and intense competition presented challenges, leading to layoffs and restructuring. In September 2025, leadership changes occurred, with Farkash moving to chairman of the board and Bitner becoming president. Benjamin Wagner, who rose through the company ranks, was appointed CEO.

The potential acquisition highlights the current financial realities for tech companies. Firebolt's valuation has reportedly dropped to less than a third of its peak, placing it among several Israeli startups being sold at significantly reduced prices. For MongoDB, the acquisition would bolster its data analytics capabilities. For Israeli investors, it represents a return of capital, though likely without the substantial profits initially anticipated. Neither company has officially commented on the reports.