It’s been 10 years since Apache Hadoop, open-source-based software used for storing, processing and analyzing big data, was brought into the technology picture. And executives at Hortonworks Inc. are increasingly focused on a single word to describe both its success and long-term mission: community.

The company’s business strategy from the start has been centered on supporting a 100 percent open-source data platform with a fairly ambitious goal.

“Our mission in life is to manage the world’s data, and to do it as an open-source community,” said Rajnish Verma (pictured), president and chief operating officer of Hortonworks.

Verma stopped by theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile livestreaming studio, and answered questions from hosts Lisa Martin (@Luccazara) and George Gilbert (@ggilbert41) during DataWorks Summit in San Jose, California. They discussed the benefits of an open-source strategy and the company’s recent partnership with IBM. (*Disclosure below.)

Verma joined the company five months ago after previously serving as the chief operating officer for TIBCO Software Inc. He’s spent a lot of time talking with customers since January as part of his role to advance Hortonworks’ global sales strategy.

Open-source attracts top talent

While there are many well-known benefits for open-source technology, one that Verma highlighted may surprise some people. “One of the biggest reasons that CIOs give me for choosing open-source as a business model is more to do with the fact that they can attract good talent,” Verma said.

Open-source has proven to be a strong hiring magnet and is “attracting millennial talent, young talent and sought-after talent,” he added.

By leveraging the power of the open-source community, Verma believes that Hortonworks has positioned itself as a key resource for multi-tenant data platforms. “We’ve become the platform on which customers can take advantage of excellent machine learning and AI tools to get insights,” he said.

During the DataWorks Summit this week, it was announced that IBM Corp. will phase out its BigInsights service and standardize its technology on the Hortonworks platform. Verma expressed confidence that the partnership will benefit both companies in the long run.

“IBM is known for game-changing next-technology moves. The opportunities are limitless,” he concluded.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s independent editorial coverage of DataWorks Summit. (* Disclosure: Hortonworks Inc. sponsored this DataWorks Summit segment on SiliconANGLE Media’s theCUBE. Neither Hortonworks nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE