Airbyte's journey in building their data stack highlights the challenges faced by fast-growing startups in managing data architecture, emphasizing the use of open-source tools and transparency. Initially relying on diverse SaaS tools, Airbyte focused on objectives and key results to align company-wide goals and build dashboards. As the company grew, they recognized the need for a dedicated Data Analytics Team to address data movement issues and enhance analytics capabilities. This involved consolidating tools, optimizing internal analytics, and improving data flow by integrating data into a BigQuery warehouse using Airbyte's extensive source connectors. The data architecture was structured into layers, including staging, marts, business, and reporting, to streamline processes and support various user needs. Airbyte aims to share their experiences through a series of articles that tackle common challenges, such as version control, metrics layer centralization, and data discovery, ultimately contributing to open-source data integration solutions.