How to Be a Disruptor

MySQL’s CEO shares his tips for how to build scale with an emerging model and compete against incumbent enterprise software vendors.

By Marten Mickos, MySQL

It isn’t difficult to be a disruptor: Simply do the opposite of what the establishment is doing. What can be difficult is to be successful at it.

At MySQL, we believe you should act with caution when mimicking the enterprise software industry’s traditional business models. We are one of many companies representing the next generation of software vendors, trying to succeed by running highly-efficient, open and customer-focused businesses.

Here are some of the “disruptive” guidelines we are experimenting with in order to scale, grow revenue and be more agile than our predecessors.

SandHill.com has a New Look!

Check out the new, larger fonts and wider columns on SandHill.com. The changes were aimed at increasing readability and enhancing information access. Email editor@sandhill.com and let us know what you think of our makeover!

The Case for Integrated Payment Processing

The widespread usage of credit cards and the need for improved security is making many software companies adopt integrated payment processing. Mark Goddard of Payment Processing Inc. describes the benefits for vendors – and customers – in this post to the SandHill.com Blog on best practices.

Publish Your Perspective!

The SandHill.com Blog wants your opinions. Send your thoughts on the enterprise software industry to editor@sandhill.com and we’ll publish them in our blog.

How to Improve Strategic Planning

It can be a frustrating exercise, but there are ways to increase its value. Learn how in this article from The McKinsey Quarterly.

News Update: Keeping Up with Redmond

Microsoft news crisscrosses the industry; plus Oracle redefines "SaaS," “SOA” translates to “downsizing” and the U.S. markets challenge offshoring stocks. Read these stories and more software news of the week in the latest SandHill.com Software News Summary.

Poll: Biggest “Disruptor?”

Which up-and-coming software vendor do you consider to be the biggest challenge to today’s enterprise software establishment?
Take our Pulse Poll >>

Last week, readers gave their opinions as to how the rise in corporate VC will impact the state of software innovation.
Give us your opinion and see the results >>

More at SandHill.com:

Ellison stake in NetSuite IPO stokes interest.
Read the most important enterprise software industry news of the week >>

Multiply, Inc. receives $16 million.
Monitor the latest software venture capital deals >>

Cognos to acquire Applix for $339 million.
Size up last week's software M&A deals >>

HP names David Murphy as senior VP of Web Services and Software.
See who’s made it to the top in our list of recent software executive appointments.

Send us your feedback on this newsletter and the SandHill.com site.

Parting Thought

“Designing your product for monetization first, and people second will probably leave you with neither.”
–Tara Hunt

Courtesy of Malcolm Kusher, The Kushner Group