The 5 next big things in data for 2025

If there’s one thing businesses have in abundance, it’s data—in some cases, far more of it than they know what to do with. AI can turn daunting mountains of information into knowledge that’s accessible to staffers across the organization, regardless of their technical chops. These honorees are helping their customers unlock better understanding of data to do everything from supercharging sales teams to choosing the right music to license.

Baseten
For giving companies big and small a head start on inference
Anyone building an AI application has access to powerful open-weight LLMs such as DeepSeek-R1. But the fact that the models are freely available doesn’t mean they’re easy to adopt. Running on thousands of GPUs spread across more than 10 cloud providers, Baseten’s Inference Stack lets startups build apps based on open AI without having to assemble and manage their own infrastructure, freeing them from the need to sweat details like uptime and capacity. Startups such as Descript, Abridge, and Gamma build on Baseten’s platform; its customer base has grown 5.5x in the past year, with larger companies representing a growing percentage of the mix.

Gong
For capturing the nuance of customer interactions
No information is more valuable to companies than the data reflected in customer meetings, calls, emails, and other interactions. Gong’s revenue AI is engineered to outperform general-purpose LLMs at extracting actionable insights from such data. The company’s new AI Agents then use it to help revenue teams make strategic decisions relating to existing and prospective customers. In May, Gong announced a partnership with Microsoft that allows users to build custom autonomous agents for use in apps such as Teams, Outlook, and Dynamics 365 Sales.

Incorta
For letting companies talk to their data
Incorta’s Nexus is a generative AI platform designed to help people throughout companies get more out of live operational data stored in systems such as Oracle, SAP, and Workday. Its copilot-assisted experience allows employees to retrieve information by posing natural language questions, reducing their reliance on IT and data engineering teams. The list of big customers Incorta has signed up—including Broadcom, Genworth, Shutterfly, and Skechers—conveys Nexus’s broad applicability.

Known
For building an AI operating system for marketers
Marketing agency Known’s Skeptic applies AI to an array of challenges faced by its clients. It can perform automated bidding on their behalf, track media spend efficiency, and score assets for brand compliance. A tool called “The Big Lebotski” helps marketers pinpoint Reddit conversations they might want to join. In the past 12 months, Known says, Skeptic has led its clients to more than $500 million in growth opportunities and savings.

Songtradr
For turning music into actionable data
Songtradr has used AI to generate more than 18,000 data points about each of the more than 200 million audio tracks it’s analyzed. That wealth of information powers multiple tools for its customers, including music licensing recommendations, MusicIQ scores that help brands connect with audiences, and enhanced search for global music platforms. More than 400 audio dimensions are covered by the company’s analysis, including energy, genre, instrumentation, and mood. 

The companies and individuals behind these technologies are among the honorees in Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech awards for 2025. Read more about the winners across all categories and the methodology behind the selection process.

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