InfluxData is a company that offers a time series database product, which is part of a larger trend towards exponential growth in data usage due to the increasing connectivity of devices through the Internet of Things (IoT). The author joined InfluxData after feeling inspired by the company's values and mission, particularly its emphasis on embracing failure as a means to improve and grow. The author was drawn to the product because it has numerous applications across various industries, including space exploration, where time series data is crucial for understanding and analyzing vast amounts of data from satellites and other sources.