The Cloudcast 20 Years of OSS Databases
14 snips
Jan 7, 2026 Peter Zaitsev, founder of Percona and a pioneer in open source databases, discusses the evolution of OSS databases over the past 20 years. He shares insights on how AI is influencing database demands, particularly with vector databases and new data types. Peter elaborates on how the rise of cloud and SaaS transformed marketplace needs, shifting focus to enterprise solutions. His thoughts on regulatory challenges highlight why organizations are reassessing their cloud strategies, aiming for greater control and compliance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Founding Percona From MySQL Roots
- Peter left MySQL AB about 20 years ago to start Percona focused on MySQL professional services.
- Percona bootstrapped growth by solving hard customer problems and staying vendor-neutral.
Bootstrapped Growth To Scale
- Percona grew to ~350 people and over $50M revenue while remaining bootstrapped.
- That independence let the company stick to open source and customer-focused services.
Open Source Monetized Through Services
- Percona monetizes open source by selling support and services rather than proprietary software.
- This model preserved independence and let Percona keep all its software open source.