Neo4j has been ranked in the top 20 database management systems by DB-Engines for the first time, marking a milestone validation of graph databases. The company's journey began when its founders were working on an enterprise content management system and struggled with the limitations of relational databases like Informix, which couldn't handle connected data queries. They then created a new kind of database optimized for connected data: the graph database. Fifteen years later, Neo4j is now in the top 20 globally, with its previous version Informix holding the same position. This achievement underscores the growing adoption and success of graph databases in various industries.