Eric Frenkiel, CEO, MemSQL
Frenkiel, 26, is the CEO of MemSQL, a Y Combinator alum that has raised $5.1 million in funding from Y Combinator, New Enterprise Associates, and others. The company is the brainchild of two former Facebook developers who claim they have created the world’s fastest database. Hats off to them for convincing Ashton Kutcher to invest in a technology that places data into memory and translates SQL into C++.
VentureBeat: What’s was your greatest challenge in the first six months?
Eric Frenkiel: Our biggest challenge was technical, actually. Building a database is really tough, so it was getting a minimal viable product in time for YC’s Demo Day. Luckily, we have an amazing team that worked incredibly hard — those first few months were a difficult but a very exciting time!
VentureBeat: Do you have a mentor or advisor in the enterprise space?
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Frenkiel: Yes, Aaron Levie of Box is both is both an advisor and investor. [Editor’s note: He’s No. 8 on our list.]
VentureBeat: One piece of advice to young entrepreneurs starting enterprise companies?
Frenkiel: Always remember your only weapons are stealth and speed.
