Matisse Software

What Matisse Software does

Matisse Software Inc. is a privately-held database software company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company develops and sells Matisse 9, a post-relational SQL database that natively combines object persistence, XML storage, and ANSI SQL within a single database engine, eliminating the need for object-relational mapping (ORM). The core technology stack supports language bindings for Java, .NET (C#/VB.NET), C++, Eiffel, Python, PHP, and Objective-C, and integrates with major development environments (Visual Studio .NET, JBuilder, NetBeans, Forte, Eclipse via eUML2) and modeling tools (IBM Rational Rose). Differentiating technical features include a patent-pending architecture, a versioning engine that avoids transaction-log overhead, dynamic online schema evolution, linear SMP scalability, automatic database mirroring, and self-administering operation that requires no dedicated DBA.

The company monetizes primarily through perpetual deployment licenses — Standard Edition starting at $1,570 for 2 users and an embedded Matisse Lite starting at $245 for 1 user — supplemented by developer subscriptions, an OEM/VAR program ([email protected]) for embedding and resale, and discounted licensing for educational and non-profit organizations. A free developer trial funnel feeds evaluation, and the company runs enterprise field sales alongside channel partnerships with Intel, IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Rational Software. The customer base is concentrated in regulated, data-intensive verticals: aerospace (Airbus), nuclear energy (Areva, Cogema/Orano), pharmaceuticals (Sanofi), and financial services (AMP), where deployments are mission-critical for ISO 9002, FDA, and securities compliance. Operating scale is small (1-10 employees, no external funding disclosed), and the most recent major product release — Matisse 9.1 with cloud-oriented replication — dates to June 2013.

Name

Matisse Software

Legal name

Matisse Software Inc.

Website

https://matisse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Matisse Software is a privately-held Mountain View database vendor offering Matisse 9, a post-relational SQL database that combines native object, XML, and SQL support to eliminate ORM, serving enterprise customers in aerospace, pharmaceuticals, nuclear energy, and financial services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Database Management Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Model Databases (HDAEAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Embedded / Edge Databases (HDAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Post-relational database
• Object-oriented database
• SQL database software
• Embedded database
• Native object persistence

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Matisse generates revenue through deployment licenses for its database software. Standard Edition starts at $1,570 for 2 users. Matisse Lite (embedded version) starts at $245 for 1 user. Developer trial version with limited features is free.
2. Developer Licenses: Developer license pricing available by contacting the sales department. Provides full development capabilities for application building.
3. OEM/VAR Programs: Licensing options for OEMs and Value-Added Resellers who embed or resell Matisse database technology. Contact via [email protected].
4. Education & Non-profit Licensing: Discounted licensing available for qualified educational and non-profit organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Matisse Software develops and licenses the Matisse 9 Post-Relational SQL Database, a single-engine database that combines native Object, XML, and SQL support to eliminate object-relational mapping (ORM) overhead. The product is offered in enterprise (Matisse 9 / Standard Edition) and embedded (Matisse Lite) editions, with language-specific bindings for Java, .NET, C++, Eiffel, Python, PHP, and Objective-C. The company also sells the Matisse Database Modeler visualization tool and operates open-source language interfaces under the Matisse Interfaces Public License (MIPL).

Product overview

Matisse Software offers a unified database platform centered on Matisse 9, a Post-Relational SQL Database that combines native support for Object, XML and SQL within a single database. The core Matisse DBMS is available in two editions: the full Matisse DBMS for enterprise deployments and Matisse Lite for embedded applications. The platform provides language-specific interfaces including Java, .NET (C#/VB.NET), C++, Eiffel, Python, and PHP bindings. Matisse SQL delivers ANSI SQL with object extensions for working with object hierarchies. The Matisse Database Modeler provides visualization capabilities for data modeling. The product portfolio also includes open-source language interfaces released under the Matisse Interfaces Public License (MIPL), and supporting services for consulting, training, and technical support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Matisse Lite: The embedded version of Matisse DBMS, priced starting at $245 for 1 user.

Products and services

• Matisse 9 Post-Relational SQL Database combining native Object, XML, and SQL within a single engine; positioned as the first SQL-Object programmable data server for enterprise deployment, eliminating object-relational mapping and targeting object developers and database administrators.
• Matisse 9 for Mac OS X Mac OS X edition of the Matisse 9 Post-Relational SQL Database providing a state-of-the-art data management solution for Apple platform environments.
• Matisse 9.1 Matisse 9.1 release with replication innovations, enabling organizations to deliver unbreakable performance-critical services in the cloud via automatic database mirroring and replication.
• Matisse Lite Embedded edition of the Matisse DBMS designed for lighter deployments, priced starting at $245 for 1 user, for organizations needing the post-relational engine in embedded applications.
• Matisse Database Modeler Standalone visualization tool for modeling and understanding Matisse database schemas, marketed as the solution to visualize the power of data in Matisse environments.
• Matisse Objective-C Interface (Open Source) Open-source Objective-C language binding providing Apple developers with an open data framework for accessing Matisse database from Objective-C applications.
• Matisse Python Interface (Open Source) Open-source Python-Matisse interface providing Python developers with a pythonic interface to the Matisse post-relational database.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-to-1 total cost of ownership improvement over legacy databases
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IBMcoreTechnology or IntegrationAvailability of Matisse on IBM platforms allows object developers to fully exploit the power of their object development language. Matisse combines native object support with SQL, allowing object developers to harness the power of objects when building next-generation object applications.
• IBM/Rational SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration of Matisse with Rational Rose makes it easy for developers to design software applications and databases using the same UML modeling tool. Part of IBM's integrated, full life-cycle solution combining software engineering best practices with market-leading tools.
• EuriwarecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFrench system integrator uses Matisse for REX, a suite of knowledge management products. Euriware stated 'Matisse is the only product which provides a truly dynamic and adaptive object data model and maintains effective consistent links between objects.'
• Power Computing and CommunicationsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversity of Amsterdam's commercial software arm collaborated with Matisse on e-commerce applications, virtual laboratory for DNA experiments, and electronic auto toll system simulator.
• University College NorthamptonminorOthersMatisse used with Eiffel for development of Web-based learning environment based on 'pedagogic objects'. Also being evaluated for teaching object-oriented development in undergraduate computing degrees.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft SQL Server: Mainstream enterprise RDBMS explicitly named as Matisse's pricing benchmark; represents the standard incumbent Matisse positions itself against on cost/performance.
• MongoDB: Dominant document/NoSQL database that competes for the same developer mindshare Matisse targets by eliminating ORM-style impedance mismatch, though via document rather than object model.
• PostgreSQL: Open-source relational database with rich JSON/XML support and extensibility — a broadly incumbent alternative whose object-relational features pressure Matisse's differentiation.
• Oracle Database: Largest enterprise RDBMS vendor with object-relational features and embedded database options — direct incumbent competitor, particularly in aerospace, pharmaceutical, and financial-services accounts.

Emerging players

• FoundationDB: Distributed, ACID-key-value store from Apple with a layered data-model architecture — emerging peer addressing developers needing scalable, multi-model capable infrastructure.
• ArangoDB: Multi-model database combining document, graph, and key-value models with a SQL-like query language — emerging peer in the multi-model category where Matisse competes.

Direct peers

• db4o: Open-source object database for Java and .NET, with native object persistence mirroring Matisse's value proposition for OO application developers.
• Objectivity/ObjectStore: Long-standing distributed object database serving mission-critical and complex-data applications — a direct peer in the object-DBMS segment Matisse targets.
• InterSystems Caché: Multi-model post-relational database combining objects, SQL, and multidimensional access — the closest architectural analogue to Matisse and the leading incumbent in this niche.
• Versant Object Database: Object-oriented database with Java/.NET language bindings and persistence-by-reachability semantics — directly competitive with Matisse's native object persistence for OODBMS use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/matisse-software

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Matisse Software