MapR Technologies has launched a formalized Converge Partners global program, which is designed for IT consulting firms, platform and software providers, resellers and distributors. Geneva Lake, vice president, worldwide alliances, is driving the partner effort.
Lake joined MapR in February 2016 after nearly two decades at Oracle, where she most recently was director of commercial alliances. MapR President Matt Mills also is an Oracle veteran. He left the database giant in 2014, took some time off, and surfaced at MapR in October 2015.
MapR is perhaps best known for its Hadoop focus, but the company has expanded into additional areas in recent months. The company's Converged Data Platform allows partners and customers to make business decisions while leveraging a mix of data sources -- including file, database and event streaming.
MapR is privately held but likely marching toward a potential IPO. The company has enjoyed 100% growth in both the Americas and EMEA, and 140% growth in APAC in recent months, MapR indicated. "Hundreds of big data channel, system integration and technology companies" are participating in that growth.
MapR's new partner program is the latest sign that big data-oriented software companies are engaging partners to drive growth. Rival HortonWorks launched a formalized partner program in early 2016.
Admittedly, many VARs and resellers are late to the big data conversation. But there are signs of progress. LogicNow (recently acquired by SolarWinds) has introduced its MSP base to LogicCards -- a big data and machine learning system that pinpoints upsell and cross-sell opportunities. And many security companies -- names like Cisco's OpenDNS and Webroot -- leverage big data systems as part of their offerings to channel partners.
Still, those examples involve channel partners consuming big data platforms without necessarily realizing it. In the case of MapR, the company is seeking partners that can speed deployments big data-related software.
