MariaDB acquires SkySQL to boost AI cloud database
MariaDB has acquired SkySQL, an AI-powered, serverless database-as-a-service (DBaaS) platform, consolidating SkySQL's technology and team back into its portfolio nearly a year after going private.
SkySQL, re-integrated into MariaDB's offerings, was originally developed within the company before being spun off independently in 2023. In the period since, SkySQL has expanded its DBaaS features significantly. This acquisition is expected to bolster MariaDB's ability to deliver flexible cloud and hybrid data management solutions, especially catering to customers with AI-driven workloads.
Cloud demand
The deal positions MariaDB to offer customers a wider variety of deployment options including both fully managed and self-managed cloud databases. MariaDB Cloud, incorporating SkySQL's technology, will now provide feature-rich deployment choices across the three major public cloud platforms - AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. This includes a serverless mode intended for developers looking to build cloud-native and AI-enabled applications efficiently.
Rohit de Souza, Chief Executive Officer at MariaDB, underlined the emphasis customers have placed on flexible database solutions that accommodate varying business needs. He stated,
"Our customers have made it clear that they want flexibility, and they need powerful, reliable database solutions wherever their business takes them – on premises, in the cloud or in hybrid environments. Acquiring SkySQL helps accelerate plans and adds further innovation to MariaDB Cloud. It's a strategic investment in our customers and a decisive step to enhance our ability to provide the comprehensive, modern, world-class database platform our customers need to thrive and maintain a competitive edge."
A forecast from IDC indicates a growing shift among enterprises to cloud-based database solutions, citing scalability, cost-efficiency and the ability to support distributed teams as primary drivers. Flexible database infrastructure is viewed as essential to meet dynamic business requirements, according to the same IDC report.
Expanded capabilities
With the integration of SkySQL, MariaDB Cloud now features both its company's flagship MariaDB Enterprise Platform as a managed service and new AI-enhanced features. Agentic AI capabilities, now included, are aimed at transforming how developers work with operational data and manage complex workflows. SkySQL's products are noted for built-in elasticity and serverless scaling: characteristics intended to deliver value for rapidly changing or unpredictable workloads.
Vikas Mathur, Chief Product Officer at MariaDB, commented on the technical advances SkySQL introduces:
"SkySQL's level of sophistication, from its built-in elasticity, advanced serverless technology, to its agentic AI capabilities, is extremely impressive. By bringing SkySQL's DBaaS into the MariaDB portfolio, we are immediately addressing our customers' needs while also gaining a robust foundation to make MariaDB the default option for building GenAI applications."
The entire SkySQL team will join MariaDB, bringing expertise across product, engineering, support, and go-to-market functions. This move is designed to increase MariaDB's ability to innovate and deliver new database features and services more quickly.
Jags Ramnarayan, Chief Technology Officer at SkySQL, said,
"I am incredibly proud of what we've been able to build with SkySQL in a short period of time, a database service that scales effortlessly with serverless workloads and enables reliable, AI-driven applications. This acquisition is a major win for our customers who will now benefit from our joint efforts and faster innovation cycles. As a part of MariaDB again, we are now able to bring this capability to customers across the globe faster and more effectively."
Recent developments
The purchase of SkySQL follows a series of recent changes at MariaDB, including the acquisition of Galera Cluster, a high-availability solution, in June 2025, and the launch of an updated MariaDB Enterprise Platform in January 2025. The new version added open source vector search capabilities, further enhancing the company's offerings for enterprises engaged in machine learning and AI projects.
MariaDB has recently received recognition in the industry, earning the Best Overall Database distinction in the 2025 DBTA Readers' Choice Award and the Best in Open Source AI in the 2025 AI TechAwards. These awards reflect momentum since the private equity-led take-private transaction by K1 Investment Management in 2024 and the appointment of Rohit de Souza as Chief Executive Officer.
