Tigris, a specialized distributed data storage startup, is scaling its infrastructure to challenge major cloud providers by catering to over 4,000 generative AI companies, including Fal.ai, that require low-latency access to massive datasets.
Solving the Latency Crisis for AI Workloads
For generative AI startups building complex image, video, and voice models, data proximity is non-negotiable. “Imagine talking to an AI agent that’s doing local audio,” explains Tigris CEO Tariq. “You want the lowest latency. You want your compute to be local, close by, and you want your storage to be local, too.”
Traditional “Big Cloud” providers often struggle with AI-specific demands. Streaming massive datasets for model training or real-time inference across multiple regions frequently creates bottlenecks that degrade performance. Tigris addresses this by offering decentralized storage that allows developers to run workloads more reliably and cost-effectively.
Eliminating Egress Costs and Enhancing Flexibility
The ability to access localized storage transforms how developers manage their AI stacks. “Tigris lets us scale our workloads in any cloud by providing access to the same data filesystem from all these places without charging egress,” says Fal’s Taskaya.
Beyond performance, the shift toward decentralized options is driven by the need for data sovereignty. In strictly regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, enterprises are prioritizing data security and ownership. This trend is gaining momentum as companies observe industry giants like Salesforce blocking AI rivals from accessing proprietary data.
“Companies are becoming more and more aware of how important the data is, how it’s fueling the LLMs, how it’s fueling the AI,” Tariq noted. “They want to be more in control. They don’t want someone else to be in control of it.”
Aggressive Global Expansion Plans
With new capital secured, Tigris is set to accelerate the development of its data storage centers to meet surging demand. The startup reports an 8x year-over-year growth rate since its founding in November 2021.
Currently, Tigris operates facilities in Virginia, Chicago, and San Jose. The company’s roadmap includes a significant international footprint, with planned expansions into London, Frankfurt, and Singapore to support its growing global client base.
