FOR years, companies like Oracle and International Business Machines (IBM) invested heavily to build new markets in China for their industry-leading databases. Now, boosted in part by escalating US tensions, one Chinese upstart is stepping in, winning over tech giants, startups and financial institutions to its enterprise software.
Beijing-based PingCAP already counts more than 300 Chinese customers. Many, including food delivery giant Meituan, its bike-sharing service Mobike, video streaming site iQIYI Inc and smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp, are migrating away from Oracle and IBM’s services toward PingCAP’s, encapsulating a nation’s resurgent desire to Buy China.