Finland-based open-source database software developer MariaDB is set to receive €22.9m ($26.9m) in a funding round led by internet and e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba, TechCrunch reported on Friday.
Alibaba has agreed to provide approximately €20m of the funding, which will value MariaDB at approximately €300m, with the remainder supplied by unnamed existing investors. Feng Yu, principal engineer at Alibaba’s cloud computing subsidiary, will join MariaDB’s board once the deal has closed..
MariaDB, which was founded in 2009 as SkySQL, has built an open-source database management system that is compatible with public, private and hybrid cloud environments. Its clients include telecom firm Virgin Mobile and online reference platform Wikipedia.
The technology is a fork – a separate development – of MySQL, a central component of an open-source web application software suite used by prominent online brands such as blogging platform WordPress, social network Facebook and video streaming platform YouTube.
MariaDB had previously raised approximately $66m in funding, most recently securing $27.2m from European Union-owned financial services firm European Investment Bank in May 2017.
Semiconductor manufacturer Intel participated in a $9m funding round for the company in January 2016 through its corporate venturing arm, Intel Capital, alongside venture capital firm California Technology Ventures.
Intel Capital had already taken part in MariaDB’s $20m series B round in 2013, which included the state-owned Finnish Industry Investment, California Technology Ventures, Open Ocean Capital and Spintop Private Partners. VC firm Runa Capital reportedly invested $3.4m in MariaDB in 2015.