Mode Analytics was founded in 2013 by Derek Steer, Benn Stancil, and Josh Ferguson. ThoughtSpot acquired Mode in 2023, bringing together Mode’s analyst-focused workflows with ThoughtSpot’s AI-driven search analytics.
What makes Mode distinctive is its notebook-style workflow. You start with a SQL query, pipe the results into Python or R for deeper analysis, then build visualizations — all in a single connected document. This bridges the gap between ad-hoc analysis and polished reporting that most BI tools struggle with.
The SQL editor includes features like query history, saved snippets, and automatic schema browsing. Results from SQL queries flow directly into a Python or R notebook where analysts can apply statistical models, create custom visualizations with matplotlib or ggplot, or run machine learning algorithms.
Mode’s visual explorer provides a point-and-click interface for business users who aren’t comfortable with code. It covers the standard BI use cases — bar charts, line charts, pivot tables, and dashboards — without requiring SQL knowledge.
The collaboration features are well thought out. Analysis reports have a presentation mode, can be shared via links, and support commenting. Scheduled reports can be emailed to stakeholders automatically.
The platform connects to major cloud data warehouses including Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, and Databricks. The connection runs queries directly against your warehouse rather than importing data, so you’re always working with current information.
For data teams that live between exploratory analysis and production dashboards, Mode fills a niche that pure BI tools and pure notebook tools each miss on their own.
