Unlike early pioneers SAS and SPSS (now owned by IBM), Revolution Analytics fits the mold of other key new players in the big data world: it supports and sells the commercial version of an open-source product, built and nurtured over many years by a dedicated community of enthusiasts.

FORBES: Revolution in the Big Data and Business Landscape

Among the best answers to this question was provided by a former client, Deepak Advani, Vice President, Predictive Analytics and the head of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) business, which is part of IBM, at a recent lunch.

FORBES: How IBM Helped "X Factor" Up Its Ratings