How single-node performance and embedded analytics are revolutionizing database architecture for modern applications Tradegate Direct: Europe's most direct online broker – trade for free, efficiently, and directly on the stock exchange. Trade directly here In this episode, we dive deep into the world of analytical databases with Mark Raasveldt, the co-founder and CTO of DuckDB Labs. Mark takes us through his fascinating journey from academic research to building one of the most talked-about databases in the industry. We explore: How DuckDB emerged from academic research at CWI Amsterdam The technical philosophy behind embedded analytical databases Why single-node performance still matters in the age of distributed systems The challenges of building a database system from the ground up Open source business models and the DuckDB Labs approach The evolution of columnar data formats and Parquet optimization How DuckDB is making high-performance analytics accessible to all developers The future of analytical data processing and embedded systems This conversation offers unique insights into database architecture, performance optimization, and the intersection of academic research and commercial success.