When SkySQL opened its doors two years ago, we purposely set out with the goal to build trusted and value-for-money services for users of MySQL and MariaDB databases. We focused on offering a quality alternative for those deploying open source systems - and we feel that we have succeeded. Our plan was to build a service business and customer base that will create a strong platform on which to develop our own products in collaboration with key customers. Red Hat is the only other successful start-up that I am aware of having taken a similar approach of first building a successful services business before developing products.
