MySQL

MySQL, the first European enterprise software unicorn, is an open-source database that supports scalable web-based and embedded database applications.

MySQL, the first European enterprise software unicorn, is an open-source database that supports scalable web-based and embedded database applications.

Visit website

https://www.mysql.com/

Milestones

Founded in 1995 Bought by Sun Microsystems for $1 billion in 2008

Investment year

Investment stage

Investment status

Exited

Deal team

Ralf Wahlsten

Tom Henriksson

Patrik Backman

MySQL, the first European enterprise software unicorn, is an open-source database that supports scalable web-based and embedded database applications.

MySQL is the leading open-source database that supports scalable web-based and embedded database applications. Its performance, ease of use, and low cost, and scalability have made it the world’s most popular open source database. OpenOcean’s founding partners, Michael ‘Monty’ Widenius, Patrik Backman and Ralf Wahlsten, were founders and early investors in MySQL.

News highlights

What we’ve learned from the front lines of AI-enabled services

What we’ve learned from the front lines of AI-enabled services

Last November, we laid out a vision for AI-native services: businesses rebuilt from the ground up to combine the margins of software with the resilience and depth of services markets. Since then, we have taken dozens of first meetings, explored more than 15 verticals, backed our first deals, and sharpened our thesis along the way.

Investment Associate

Enterprise automation market industry update: automation after GenAI

Enterprise automation market industry update: automation after GenAI

At OpenOcean, we’ve long believed in automation software’s potential. It’s been a core theme in our investment focus for years, giving us early and continued exposure to exciting developments in the field.

Investment Analyst

How to manage high-performance individuals in 2025

How to manage high-performance individuals in 2025

Back in 2007, we held a short presentation while working at MySQL about a type of person we called a "Super Gold-Collar Worker." These were highly skilled individuals in growth companies who had become essential to business operations.