Why MySQL sold out

via 451 CAOS Theory and AlwaysOn

First time I am reading some explanations (apart from the $1bn deal ;-) coming directly from Marten Mickos, MySQL's CEO, concerning their decision to sold out to SUN, instead of going for an IPO.

The fact that it all happened so quickly makes it obvious that Sun's and MySQL's organizations have a cultural affinity that enables such fast convergence on a major strategic deal. What was it that justified the deal to start with?
Here is my entirely personal view of the factors that made the deal happen:

1. Jonathan Schwartz is a brilliant CEO and he has a great team. Who wouldn't want to work for him?
2. Sun has always had the same focus as MySQL on the networked world. Focus and alignment!
3. Sun has become the world's strongest proponent of free and open source software. We are happy to be part of that!
4. Sun has changed its strategy to include partnerships with former competitors. Hey, coopetition is what we always did!
5. Sun has never stopped innovating or stopped investing in technology. Impressive!
6. Sun has a huge field operation that can bring MySQL to more customers faster. Thank you!
7. MySQL would be a great complementary fit in Sun's product portfolio. We like being useful! We love being uniquely useful!
8. Sun's corporate culture is among the best a startup can ask for. We can work from home! We can innovate. We are thrilled!
9. Sun is a bold and fun disruptor again, and we see a huge upside in its strategy. I am not saying that success is a given, but I am saying that Sun's new strategy is one of the most exciting this industry has to offer. We are all in!
10. Sun was really eager to get us on board and we were treated with the greatest respect from the start. (And I hope we did the same in return)

In light of the above, the decision ultimately was easy. Initially it was not easy at all, because we all had such a strong commitment to go public and continue life as an independent company. It was hard work to change our minds. But once we saw that within Sun we would get the same benefits as going public, but with more resources and operational backing, we realized that Sun was for us like an IPO, only better.

Comprehensive, pragmatic and courageous decision!

Seesmic founding and launch

Very interesting insides about how Loic has launched and founded seesmic.

I like very much this way of making business, which has more something to do with trust, with support & help, and with commitment of people concerning a vision.

I understand also Loic who is saying that being in a positive environment - which knows the risks und doesn't underestimate them - is great. I hope that this will be also the case at a time in Europe... It is still more or less a pain to found a new venture here, and mostly because of the negative spirit around new founding and the risks taken...

Thanks Loic for sharing this piece of business and, at the end, much more this piece of your life!

And good luck with seesmic!

Innoveo is strengthening its Team :-)

Very good news today!

Innoveo will have one employee more in 2 months. And what for a new colleague!

First, we have won one nationality more, i.e. we will have 8 nationalities represented in the company (Swiss, French, German, Italian, Austrian, Indian, Slovenian, and Dutch!). Not bad.

Secondly, we have won a very very nice guy.

Thirdly, he is such a great professional, with a huge experience in Software Engineering and Architecture! Incredible :-)

We are extremely proud and honored that, among a vast spectrum of options, such an expert has his choice finally felt on Innoveo.

Thanks ... and see you soon!

St Barth 2008 - 17th day (part II)

St Barth 2008 - 17th day (part II), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Colombier Bay, with boats, and the beautiful colorful ocean!

St Barth 2008 - 17th day (part I)

St Barth 2008 - 17th day (part I), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

For our last full day on the island, we have decided to go again to Colombier. We have taken the second way to go there. About the same time (30') but much more harder... Quite a lot of boats today in the Colombier Bay.

A very long snorkeling session with my son, we have visited the right end of the Bay. It was just fantastic! A giant aquarium.

For our last dinner in St Barth, some stuff from Le Bouchon that we have taken back in the villa.

Tomorrow, we have to give back the car and the villa before 12:00. Flight to St Martin at 14:30. St Martin to Paris at 17:00. We should be in Paris at 06:00 (on Tuesday, with the time shift) and in Mulhouse for the lunch.

Long trip, bad mood. No comment, I know how far we are lucky to be there, a fact which is not really helping to come back from this "paradise"...

St Barth 2008 - 16th day (part II)

St Barth 2008 - 16th day (part II), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Corossol Beach, the place for snorkeling, near and between all these rocks.

St Barth 2008 - 16th day (part I)

St Barth 2008 - 16th day (part I), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Weather quite strange today (very warm with sudden heavy rains). Anyway, good half day at Corossol Beach.

François, our Chairman at Innoveo, has joined us in St Barth, as he was off in the Caribbic too. So, we had all 4 together a good breakfast at Maya's to Go, and a lunch at Do Brazil. Cool ;)

The best dinner *ever* this evening in St Barth at the Eden Rock's restaurant. Absolutely fantastic, great service, unforgettable view on the St Jean Bay "by night". We have also seen some turtles in the ocean. Just unbelievable :)

St Bart 2008 - 15th day (part II)

St Bart 2008 - 15th day (part II), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

St Barth is definitely a volcanic island!

St Barth 2008 - 15th day (part I)

St Barth 2008 - 15th day (part I), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Today was a windy day, but hot! We were at the Flamand Beach. Impressive, huge, almost nobody.

This evening, very good dinner at Do Brazil (first time in 4 years, definitely too many good restaurants here ;). Very special atmosphere because this restaurant is directly on Shell Beach (cf. 12th day)!

St Barth 2008 - 14th day

St Barth 2008 - 14th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Back to the normal relaxing routine today. Hot and a bit windy, 25°C at 07:00 in the morning, 29°C during the day, 27°C in the ocean. Too cool :)

Also back to St Jean (east) Beach this morning.

Again, simple dinner at Le Bouchon, other places just too crowdy because of St Valentin's Day!

St Barth 2008 - 13th day

St Barth 2008 - 13th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

This morning, it was raining cats and dogs! So, it was time to do some shopping again in Gustavia (Blanc Bleu, Carat, Vuitton, Pati de St Barth).

After lunch, the weather was again "normal" and we could intensively benefit from the swimming-pool at the villa. Good simple dinner at Andy.

I have just finished to read a bit more than 800 new pages, on top of the "first" 1'500. No book anymore now...

St Barth 2008 - 12th day (part II)

St Barth 2008 - 12th day (part II), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Shelves on the beach, or Beach of shelves ;)

St Barth 2008 - 12th day (part I)

St Barth 2008 - 12th day (part I), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

First time at Shell Beach this year! This beach is actually full of ... shelves. Have a look at the next post to have an idea. Funny place also for snorkeling, as there is the same quantity of shelves in the ocean as on the beach.

This evening, dinner at the Wall House Restaurant, with reservation this time ;) Simply excellent!

St Barth 2008 - 11th day

St Barth 2008 - 11th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Again, at Corossol Beach today. Extremely warm, about no wind. We have also visited l'Anse des Cayes and l'Anse des Lézards. Both are really wild!

Two long snorkeling sessions with my son. Lot of stuff to look at there :)

This evening, we wanted to have dinner at the Wall House Restaurant in Gustavia. As usual, without reservation, just forget it ;) So we were finally at Le Bouchon. Excellent for the price!

Before dinner, some shopping at Mia Sia, Carat and Le Piment Vert. Very good (but cool) service everywhere.

St Barth 2008 - 10th day

St Barth 2008 - 11th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

This morning, it was raining like hell ... during about 30'. Then, beautiful (and hot!) weather. We were at St Jean Beach (east), as I cannot walk quite well because of my foot sprain...

Also just finished my 3rd book in 10 days. Not bad, more than 1'500 pages during the last days, plus some magazines ;) This means : less emails = more readings!

St Barth 2008 - 9th day (part II)

St Barth 2008 - 9th day (part II), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

A second picture of Colombier.

St Barth 2008 - 9th day (part I)

St Barth 2008 - 9th day (part I), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

So today was *the* big day. As the weather was perfect, we have decided to go to the most beautiful beach of St Barth (in our personal opinion, there are definitely different views in this field): Colombier. Different reasons: a) beach and sand are absolutely fantastic b) you have to walk about 30' to access the beach, wild nature & great views all along the way c) best snorkeling place of St Barth!

First time of "total" snorkeling (with tuba) for my son. Great moment, he was absolutely fascinated by the "world of silence" :)

I have tried the "landscape" mode of my mobile cam.

PS: got a foot sprain on the way back, and at the beginning. I have needed about 1h to walk back. I have lost some kg by jumping on the other foot, as I couldn't walk normally ;) Gosh!

St Barth 2008 - 8th day

St Barth 2008 - 8th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

The weather was a bit more cloudy this morning, so we had first a walk at Marigot, Petit Cul de Sac and Grand Cul de Sac. Great beaches but more "wild".

After that, we were at Corossol Beach, great small beach, excellent for snorkeling!

Dinner at "home", based on Maya's to Go cattering. And a BIG self-made planteur :)

St Barth 2008 - 7th day

St Barth 2008 - 7th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Today first snorkeling and first time at Lorient Beach. HUGE beach actually.

This evening, great dinner at K'fé Massai, and specially a great "carpaccio de canards aux truffes", umh :)

St Barth 2008 - 6th day

St Barth 2008 - 6th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Absolutely fantastic day at the "King of the Beach", i.e. Gouverneur! Tough day for the skin ;)

This evening, back to "Andy" for a great "pierrade".

St Barth 2008 - 5th day (part II)

St Barth 2008 - 5th day (part II), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

This afternoon, we could attend to the unique St Barth carnaval!

St Bart 2008 - 5th day (part I)

St Bart 2008 - 5th day (part I), originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Ocean was much more calm today. So, Saint Jean beach (east) was a good choice! Absolutely fantastic colors :)

Lunch based on Maya's to go stuff. Waow, still a good experience!

St Barth 2008 - 4th day

St Barth 2008 - 4th day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Today, Flamand beach! It was really great, though the waves were really too big for my son...

Also a first nap ;)

And this evening, a cool dinner at Maya's. Super place, extra service, also with children. Specially like when waitress says "you are from the island!". Yes, for sure, we are working on it ;)

St Barth 2008 - 3rd day

St Barth 2008 - 3rd day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

This morning, we were at the Saline beach. Quite windy, cool waves to play in with my son. Then, my first cheesburger at Le Petit Bouchon and the afternoon in the villa's pool. First sunburns, but nothing dramatic ;-)
I will try not to forget my mobile at the beach tomorrow... for the picture!

St Barth 2008 - 2nd day

St Barth 2008 - 2nd day, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Already at the beach at 07:30 this morning (jet-lagged) - St Jean west. Half the day in the ocean with my son. Great dinner at Pipiri in Gustavia (yesterday we started at Andy) where my wife had to chose the lobster she wanted to eat!

Good shopping start too, with a visit to the Blanc Bleu, Pati de St Barth and metis boutiques...

Travel - third step

Travel - third step, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

Hello from St Barth!! Trip was ok, on time, I have slept a lot. Wifi is also working in the villa :) Swimming-pool already tested. The villa is crazy. Again, this very special atmosphere. And 28°C!

Travel - second step

Travel - second step, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

And now, the second step: Paris to St Martin.

Travel - From MLH to CDG

Travel - From MLH to CDG, originally uploaded by didierbeck.

First step of the travel : Mulhouse to Paris. And hey, it's my birthday today, 36, outch :-)