WORKSHOP
MariaDB in Practice: Community, Education, and AI with Vector Search
Date: 5th Nov 2025 Time: 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Venue: Workshop Room 3, NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bangalore
FEES: • Rs.299 for Pro pass holders • Rs2699 for Standard Pass holders • Rs2999 for all others (Limited seats available)
The workshop will showcase how MariaDB brings together a global open-source community, a strong educational program, and cutting-edge technical innovations like vector search. Participants will gain insight into community-driven development, opportunities for students and universities, and practical examples of how MariaDB Vector is applied in real-world use cases.
Anna Widenius
CEO, MariaDB Foundation
Sergei Golubchyk
Chief Architect, MariaDB Plc
Kaj Arnö,
Executive Chairman of the Board, MariaDB Foundation
Hemant Prasad
CEO, Crest Infosolutions
- Developers and DBAs working with MySQL or MariaDB
- Students and educators interested in modern open-source databases
- IT professionals exploring AI-driven database features
- Open-source contributors and enthusiasts
- Welcome and Introduction – MariaDB Foundation (Anna Widenius): Foundation’s role in safeguarding openness and neutrality; Overview of MariaDB adoption worldwide
- MariaDB Hackathon Awards Ceremony (Kaj Arnö): Celebrating community innovation; Showcasing winning projects
- MariaDB for Universities (Kaj Arnö): Building the next generation of database experts; Opportunities for students, researchers, and educators.
- MariaDB Vector (Sergei Golubchyk): Introduction to vector search and AI with MariaDB; Technical deep dive: implementation, performance, and use cases.
- Use Case for MariaDB Vector (Hemant Prasad, Crest Infosolutions): Real-world deployment example from industry
- Basic familiarity with relational databases (MySQL or MariaDB)
- Curiosity about AI/ML applications in data management
- (Optional) Laptop with MariaDB installed for hands-on exploration (not mandatory)
- Willingness to Learn: An open mind and a willingness to learn and apply new concepts. Note: For hands-on workshop, attendees should bring their own laptop with tools installed
Benefits/Takeaways of this workshop for the attendees (What will attendees do after attending the workshop which they were not able to do before attending this)
Understand how MariaDB evolves beyond MySQL in community and technology | Learn how to engage with MariaDB through hackathons and university programs | Gain insight into vector search and how to start applying it in AI-driven applications | Explore a real-world deployment case of MariaDB Vector in industry | Identify new ways to connect with and contribute to the MariaDB ecosystem
About Speakers
Kaj Arnö is a seasoned software industry leader, database industry veteran, and Open Data champion, with decades of experience shaping global technology ecosystems. He is the Co-founder of MariaDB plc, having served as CEO of the MariaDB Foundation from 2019 to 2025, and currently holds the role of Executive Chairman. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Projekt Fredrika and a board member of Schildts & Söderströms.
Kaj’s career includes pivotal leadership roles at MySQL AB, where he served as VP of Professional Services, VP of Engineering, CIO, and VP of Community Relations. Following the acquisition, he became MySQL Ambassador to Sun Microsystems and later Sun’s VP of Database Community. Earlier in his career, he founded Polycon Ab in Finland, serving as its CEO and main entrepreneur for 14 years. In addition, Kaj is a respected columnist and contributor to various industry publications, recognized for his thought leadership and advocacy for open technologies.
Hemant Prasad is a serial entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience in the IT industry, having successfully established and scaled business ventures across multiple regions and territories. His expertise lies in planning, strategizing, and delivering medium to large-scale Digital Transformation initiatives, with a strong focus on Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Document Management Systems (DMS), and Workflow/BPM solutions.
With professional experience spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and India, Hemant brings a truly global perspective. He is recognized for his ability to bridge cultural diversity and engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, particularly senior leadership, to drive impactful outcomes.