We Wanted to Remove the Friction in How Teams Work with Data So They Could Focus on Finding Answers Rather Than Wrestling with Tools: Barry McCardel of Hex

Hex is the AI powered analytics workspace that helps teams explore data and build interactive notebooks seamlessly on a single platform. It brings together SQL, Python and no-code tools in one environment, enhanced by AI that suggests queries, explains logic and accelerates exploration. Teams can ask new questions, visualize results and communicate findings without switching between tools or losing context. This creates a single source of truth where work is transparent, interactive and easy to share. Founded in 2019 by Barry McCardel, Caitlin Colgrove and Glen Takahashi, Hex has grown from an idea about smoother data collaboration into a platform trusted by companies such as Reddit, Duolingo, HubSpot and the NBA.

Building a Company Around a Simple Idea

The inspiration for Hex came from a common frustration among data professionals. Analysts were constantly moving between SQL editors, notebooks, dashboards and slide decks just to answer a single question. Collaboration was slow, communication was scattered and insights often took longer to share than they should have. Barry McCardel remembers these challenges vividly from his own experience. He realized that solving this problem could transform how teams approached data.

“We wanted to remove the friction in how teams work with data so they could focus on finding answers rather than wrestling with tools,” he says. The co-founders set out to create a workspace that blended notebooks with interactive apps, allowing analysts and business partners to collaborate in real time. This approach replaced static dashboards with dynamic workflows that evolved as questions changed. By eliminating unnecessary obstacles, Hex made data collaboration faster, more seamless, and more impactful.

Growing With Purpose

Early adoption confirmed that this vision resonated. Teams appreciated a platform where analysis could be dynamic and interactive. As Hex expanded, the company focused on enhancing collaboration while embedding AI to accelerate exploration. Many organizations were experimenting with AI in isolation, but Hex integrated it directly into the workflow. Instead of taking over, AI works alongside SQL and Python to suggest queries, explain logic and help teams move faster without disrupting their process.

Barry emphasizes that AI is designed to enhance human judgment rather than replace it. Analysts bring context and understanding that machines cannot replicate, and Hex removes repetitive barriers so people can focus on the most meaningful work. Transparency remains central to the product and the company culture. By making data accessible and understandable, Hex ensures teams can act confidently on the insights they generate.

Customers Turning Insight into Action

Teams using Hex include Reddit, Duolingo, HubSpot, the NBA and Cisco. Hex allows analysts to create live dashboards, share interactive visualizations and build internal tools that reflect ongoing workflows. This reduces time spent managing versions and static reports, enabling teams to uncover patterns, share findings and act on insights faster.

By creating a workspace that stays up-to-date with live data, Hex helps organizations close the gap between analysis and decision-making. The ability to explore insights interactively builds confidence and accelerates action across teams. For many customers, Hex has turned what was once a slow, fragmented process into something immediate, collaborative and transparent.

Reflection on the Journey

Hex emerged from frustration with fragmented workflows and disconnected tools. Barry McCardel and his co-founders turned that frustration into a unified platform where notebooks, apps and collaboration coexist seamlessly. The company nurtures a culture that values speed, clarity and disciplined execution.

Where other analytics platforms are either too rigid or too simplified, Hex strikes a balance. It provides sophisticated tools for analysts while keeping collaboration accessible for all team members. Workflows are seamless, insights are interactive and decisions can be made with confidence. Barry sums it up simply, “The best part of my job is when a customer tells us that Hex made their work easier and more meaningful. That is when we know we are on the right path.”

Where Hex Is Headed

Barry sees a future where more people in organizations are directly involved with data, making analytics a part of everyday decision-making. To make that possible, tools need to be powerful enough for technical experts while remaining approachable for non-technical users, and Hex is designed to bridge that gap.

Business leaders will be able to interact with data in plain language and get immediate, reliable answers. Analysts continue refining models and exploring patterns, while stakeholders use interactive dashboards that respond dynamically to their questions. Hex keeps these different roles connected, making collaboration effortless and insights easier to act on.

Interactive “data apps” bring this vision to life. These documents let users explore information without writing code, filter views, test scenarios and dive into data on their own. Barry believes that this hands-on approach changes the way people engage with insights, fostering deeper understanding and greater confidence. For Hex, enabling teams to ask questions and discover answers in real time remains the core of its mission.

Barry McCardel, Co-Founder & CEO, Hex

Hex allows teams to work together across one platform, making it easy to find answers in their data, share them with stakeholders, and make decisions with confidence.