Open source maintainers and developers should never feel guilty about building a business around their projects. It is entirely possible to create a thriving open source business without sacrificing your community or your values. In this talk, we will reveal how, by sharing best practices, stories, ideas, and invaluable advice collected over the past seven years from some of the brightest founders, executives, and leaders in the open source space. We will explore the challenges of building and growing an open source business, focusing on the transformation of free users into satisfied paying customers. With insights drawn from 20 years of experience and conversations with hundreds of business executives, maintainers, and product owners, we will discuss the best practices, metrics, and processes that can help drive growth and adoption in the open source space. Join us as we delve into the unique nature of selling open source and how it differs from traditional business models. We will emphasize the importance of differentiating your paid-for offerings from freely available software, and guide you on how to navigate the open source landscape to build a sustainable, scalable, and profitable business around your project – all while fostering a strong community that supports both your commercial and technical objectives.
Speakers: Matt Yonkovit