Gel is a graph‑relational database built on PostgreSQL that offers a strongly‑typed, object‑oriented schema and the EdgeQL query language to eliminate SQL verbosity, n+1 queries, and schema migration pain points. It provides an integrated CLI for instant local or cloud deployment, built‑in connection pooling, and official client libraries, while Gel Cloud delivers managed hosting with tiered pricing for developers and backend teams.
Funding
$19M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
NVFounders
Product
Problem
Developers often face friction with traditional relational databases: verbose SQL, complex schema migrations, n+1 query issues, and a mismatch between object‑oriented application code and tabular data models.
Solution
Gel (formerly EdgeDB) offers a graph‑relational database built on PostgreSQL that combines a strict, strongly‑typed schema with native object links, eliminating the impedance mismatch. Its type‑based schema definition lets developers model data as objects and relationships, while EdgeQL provides a concise, set‑based query language that avoids common SQL pitfalls such as n+1 queries. Gel includes an integrated CLI for instant project setup, versioned migrations, and local‑or‑cloud deployment, so teams can iterate quickly without manual configuration. The platform ships with official client libraries for major languages and a GraphQL endpoint, enabling seamless integration into existing stacks. Gel Cloud delivers managed hosting with tiered pricing, allowing developers to focus on application logic rather than database operations.
Target Audience
Primary customers are application developers and backend engineering teams building modern web, mobile, or API services that require a type‑safe, relational data store with graph‑like relationships.
Features
- Type‑based schema language (SDL) with object types, properties, links, inheritance, mixins, triggers, and access policies
- EdgeQL, a powerful set‑based query language that abstracts joins and eliminates n+1 query patterns
- Automatic compilation of the schema to efficient PostgreSQL layouts for high performance and reliability
- Integrated CLI offering instant project initialization, versioned migrations, data dump/restore, and REPL access
- Built‑in connection pooler and cache layer to optimize query throughput
- Official client libraries for JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Go, and Rust, plus HTTP and GraphQL interfaces
- Managed Gel Cloud service with free tier, paid subscription, and enterprise custom deployments