Think Big Analytics

Think Big Analytics provides specialized consulting in data science and advanced data engineering. The company develops and implements solutions leveraging big data technologies to extract significant business value for enterprises. It guides clients in harnessing complex data capabilities for high-impact outcomes through tailored analytical strategies.

Co-founded by Rick Farnell, who served as President, alongside executives from firms including Quantcast Corp. and C-bridge Technologies, the company's genesis stemmed from an early recognition of large-scale data processing platforms' transformative potential. The founders established Think Big Analytics to address the market's need for expert guidance in these nascent technologies.

Think Big Analytics serves enterprises integrating advanced analytics into core business strategies and operationalizing data assets. Its vision centers on empowering organizations to achieve substantial business impact through effective deployment of diverse, open-source big data environments, fostering data-driven decision-making across their operations.

High-Level Overview

Think Big Analytics is a global business analytics consultancy specializing in deep data science, advanced data engineering, and big data solutions to generate business value from large datasets.[1][2] It offers services like big data strategy, data engineering, analytics, data science, managed services, and training, leveraging technologies such as Hadoop, NoSQL, Presto, and Spark to empower clients in sectors including tech innovation with AI, machine learning, CRM, marketing automation, and data visualization.[1][2][3] Originally a pure-play big data services firm founded in 2010 with around 35 employees and $17.5 million in revenue, it was acquired by Teradata on September 3, 2014, and now operates as Think Big Analytics, A Teradata Company, serving innovative clients like EMC, Facebook, and Intel while focusing on high-impact outcomes through technology independence and efficient delivery.[2][3][5]

Origin Story

Think Big Analytics emerged in 2010 as the world's first pure-play big data services firm, founded by pioneers in cutting-edge big data technologies who implemented Hadoop before it gained mainstream popularity.[2][3] Based in Mountain View, California, the company was built by data scientists and engineers emphasizing deep expertise across open-source tools, starting with advisory and implementation for big data solutions.[2][3] Key early traction came from delivering solutions for high-profile clients like EMC, Facebook, and Intel, using a proprietary "Think Big Velocity" framework with tested design patterns for faster application builds; this momentum led to its acquisition by Teradata in 2014, integrating its capabilities into a larger analytics powerhouse.[2][3][5]

Core Differentiators

• Pioneer Status and Expertise: First pure-play big data services firm with early mastery of Hadoop, NoSQL, Presto, Spark, and emerging tech, enabling technology-independent solutions unmatched by generalist consultancies.[2][3]
• Proven Methodology: "Think Big Velocity" framework includes pre-built components and design patterns for rapid delivery, faster results without cookie-cutter approaches, and end-to-end coverage from strategy to managed services.[2][3]
• Talent and Execution: Engineers and scientists renowned for deeper thinking and efficient project delivery, supporting complex big data environments for top innovators.[2]
• Business Value Focus: Tailored roadmaps prioritize quick value via data engineering, advanced analytics, and training, optimizing performance and adoption across AI, ML, and visualization.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Think Big Analytics rode the early big data wave, capitalizing on the pre-2014 explosion of Hadoop and open-source analytics when enterprises grappled with unstructured data volumes.[2][3][5] Its timing was ideal amid rising demand for specialized data engineering to unlock insights from massive datasets, influencing the ecosystem by proving scalable, vendor-agnostic models that accelerated adoption among Fortune 500 firms.[2] Post-acquisition by Teradata, it amplified market forces like AI-driven business intelligence and cloud analytics, helping shift industries toward data democratization while competing with giants like Microsoft, IBM, and Snowflake in a maturing $50B+ data services space.[3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

As a Teradata arm, Think Big Analytics is positioned to expand in AI-augmented big data, with trends like generative AI and real-time analytics driving demand for its engineering prowess amid exploding data growth.[1][3] Expect deeper integration into Teradata's platform for hybrid cloud solutions, potentially scaling revenue beyond $17.5M through enterprise managed services. Its pioneer legacy will evolve influence toward advising on ethical AI scaling, solidifying its role in turning big data into strategic action for tomorrow's innovators—proving that thinking big about data still delivers outsized impact.[2][3]