Sybase

About Sybase

In 1984, Robert Epstein and Mark Hoffman, joined by Jane Doughty and Tom Haggin, started a company called Systemware from Epstein's home in Berkeley, California. Their goal was to build a relational database management system (RDBMS) for the new world of client-server networks, a departure from the mainframe-centric model. This system would organize information and make it available across a network of computers. Their big break came from an early partnership with a then-young Microsoft to license their database technology, which became the foundation for Microsoft SQL Server. In 1991, Systemware officially became Sybase and went public, raising capital to fuel its growth. The company became known for high-performance databases, attracting major Wall Street firms who needed real-time transaction processing. By the 2000s, Sybase had carved out a new specialization in mobile and wireless technologies, rebranding its vision as the "Unwired Enterprise." This focus on managing and mobilizing information from data centers to devices proved prescient. This strategic pivot culminated in a major event in 2010, when enterprise software giant SAP announced it would acquire Sybase for approximately $5.8 billion. The acquisition was driven by SAP's desire to expand into mobile platforms and better compete with rivals. Sybase was integrated into SAP and its name was eventually phased out, marking the end of an era for one of the original database pioneers.