ParStream Is A Real-Time Big Data Analytics Platform

ParStream is a big data analytics platform that is capable of delivering sub-second response time on terabytes of data. Launched in 2008 in Germany by Michael Hummel, CEO Joerg Bienert, CTO Norbert Heuer, Chief Architect, ParStream is able to analyse massive amounts structured and semi-structured data at high-speed. They can process all the (new) data in real-time as well as providing full data granularity analytical flexibility.

The distributed, massively parallel processing columnar database is based on a shared nothing architecture, in which each node is independent and self-sufficient and none of the nodes share memory or disk storage. The High Performance Compressed Index (HCPI) that they develop enables fast and accurate decompression of the data. ParStream does not use Hadoop as Joerg Bienert believes it is not great for real-time analytics.

Some of the key features of ParStream are that it is capable of easy querying while delivering advanced analytics, it supports multiple types of data that can be imported, transformed and indexed fast and it is fast to set-up. ParStream is capable of running on standard infrastructure, in private or public clouds as well as on premises on single servers or dedicated server clusters.

Currently ParStream is between A and B funding and in 2012 raised $ 5.6 million in funding backed by Khosla Ventures, Baker Capital, CrunchFund, Tola Capital and Data Collective. In 2013 they were named Top Big Data Startups to Watch by CIO.com and were a Red Herring Top 100 Europe winner. In 2012 they won the Gartner Cool Vendor Advance Award. In addition they have a Patent-pending algorithm for massively parallel-processing technology.

ParStream is definitely a big data startup to watch in the coming years. They have developed a great technology that will enable companies to make faster and better decisions with all the data at their hands. TechCrunch believed earlier that they are a likely acquisition target, as they compete directly with HPs Vertica and EMCs Greenplum. Time will see how that will go, but for now we give them an 8 bits rating.