HCLSoftware is expanding its data and AI portfolio with the planned acquisition of Wobby, a Belgium-based agentic AI startup. The deal is valued at €4.5 million (about $5.2 million). Moreover, the transaction signals a strategic push toward autonomous analytics. Enterprises continue to struggle to operationalize generative AI within governed data environments.
Wobby, founded in early 2023 by Amra Dorjbayar and Nathan Tetroashvili, has built an agent-driven business intelligence platform designed to sit directly on top of enterprise data warehouses. Instead of producing static dashboards or requiring predefined queries, Wobby’s software deploys AI “data analyst” agents that translate natural-language questions into real-time analytical outputs. Meanwhile, these agents operate within enterprise governance constraints to ensure compliance.
How Agent-Driven BI Bridges AI and Governance
The acquisition aligns closely with the direction of Actian, HCLSoftware’s data management unit. Demand continues to rise for metadata management, data catalogs, and governance tools as companies move beyond experimentation with generative AI. However, many organizations have found challenges in delivering reliable business insights because large language models struggle without a tightly controlled semantic layer. Wobby’s architecture directly addresses that gap.
At the core of Wobby’s platform is a proprietary semantic layer paired with an agentic framework that interprets business context and orchestrates analytical workflows. Additionally, the system scales insight generation across complex datasets. This approach complements Actian’s existing knowledge graph capabilities, allowing natural-language analytics to run against a unified and governed view of enterprise data.
A Shift Beyond Traditional Business Intelligence Tools
For HCLSoftware, the deal reflects a broader industry shift away from traditional self-service BI tools. Companies increasingly prefer systems that allow non-technical users to interact directly with raw data. Therefore, by embedding agentic AI capabilities into Actian’s platform, the company positions itself to offer customers faster access to context-aware insights without compromising data quality or governance.
Actian Germany GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of HCL Technologies, will complete the transaction. This structure underscores Actian’s role as the primary vehicle for HCLSoftware’s data and AI expansion.
Marc Potter, CEO of Actian and portfolio general manager for HCLSoftware’s Data & AI business, said the acquisition responds to customer demand for analytics that combine automation with trust. According to Potter, Wobby’s technology enables large-language-model-powered analytics to operate on a governed semantic foundation. As a result, enterprises can scale generative AI use cases with increased confidence.
Wobby’s leadership frames the deal as an opportunity to move business intelligence beyond reactive querying. Dorjbayar said the company’s long-term goal is to enable AI agents that surface insights proactively, rather than simply responding to user prompts. This direction becomes more feasible when embedded within an established data intelligence platform.
Overall, while the financial scale of the acquisition is relatively small, its strategic implications are larger. Enterprises continue to confront the limitations of generative AI deployed without context or governance. Agentic analytics platforms like Wobby are emerging as a critical layer between raw data and AI-driven decision-making. Consequently, HCLSoftware’s acquisition represents a calculated step toward owning that layer.
