diff --git a/piker/data/__init__.py b/piker/data/__init__.py
index a4633908..af05da36 100644
--- a/piker/data/__init__.py
+++ b/piker/data/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,89 @@
 """
-Data infra tooling and automation.
+Data feed apis and infra.
+
+We ship some tsdb integrations for retrieving
+and storing data from your brokers as well as
+sharing your feeds with other fellow pikers.
+"""
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+from typing import (
+    Dict, List, Any,
+    Sequence, AsyncIterator, Optional
+)
+
+import tractor
+
+from ..brokers import get_brokermod
+from ..log import get_logger
 
 
-``piker`` ships with timeseries database integrations
-for retrieving and storing data from your brokers as well
-as sharing your feeds with other fellow pikers.
-"""
+log = get_logger(__name__)
+
+
+_data_mods = [
+    'piker.brokers.core',
+    'piker.brokers.data',
+]
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def maybe_spawn_brokerd(
+    brokername: str,
+    sleep: float = 0.5,
+    tries: int = 10,
+    loglevel: Optional[str] = None,
+    expose_mods: List = [],
+    **tractor_kwargs,
+) -> tractor._portal.Portal:
+    """If no ``brokerd.{brokername}`` daemon-actor can be found,
+    spawn one in a local subactor and return a portal to it.
+    """
+    brokermod = get_brokermod(brokername)
+    dname = f'brokerd.{brokername}'
+    async with tractor.find_actor(dname) as portal:
+        # WTF: why doesn't this work?
+        log.info(f"YOYOYO {__name__}")
+        if portal is not None:
+            yield portal
+        else:
+            log.info(f"Spawning {brokername} broker daemon")
+            tractor_kwargs = getattr(brokermod, '_spawn_kwargs', {})
+            async with tractor.open_nursery() as nursery:
+                try:
+                    # spawn new daemon
+                    portal = await nursery.start_actor(
+                        dname,
+                        rpc_module_paths=_data_mods + [brokermod.__name__],
+                        loglevel=loglevel,
+                        **tractor_kwargs
+                    )
+                    async with tractor.wait_for_actor(dname) as portal:
+                        yield portal
+                finally:
+                    # client code may block indefinitely so cancel when
+                    # teardown is invoked
+                    await nursery.cancel()
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def open_feed(
+    name: str,
+    symbols: Sequence[str],
+) -> AsyncIterator[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    try:
+        mod = get_brokermod(name)
+    except ImportError:
+        # TODO: try to pull up ingest feeds
+        # - market store
+        # - influx
+        raise
+
+    async with maybe_spawn_brokerd(
+        mod.name,
+    ) as portal:
+        stream = await portal.run(
+            mod.__name__,
+            'stream_quotes',
+            symbols=symbols,
+        )
+        yield stream