How to go open source

For closed source startups

Some open source companies are open source because the project came first, got traction and then there was a product built on top of it.

But sometimes the product comes first, and the founders decide to open source a portion of their code after they’ve gotten some commercial traction.

Is that you? If you’re pretty sure you want to go open source but aren’t quite sure how to mitigate risks from doing so and maximize chances of success, this option is for you.

Here’s what companies can expect to get out of this engagement:

• Understanding of the value that open sourcing a portion of their code would bring to their company

• What they would need to invest in the open source project in order to get the value they expect

• The biggest risks from the open source strategy and how to mitigate them

The concrete deliverables after this engagement are similar to the deliverables after a positioning workshop for open source companies. Specifically:

• A positioning canvas for project, product and entire company

• A six-month product and project roadmap

• The written copy for the project’s ReadMe

• A sales narrative that takes into account the new open source strategy

The actual engagement is a workshop, and can be either as a virtual workshop or as a leadership off-site in Paris. If this sounds right for you, get in touch.

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Before we work together, I have to be confident that a) your problem is something I can help with and b) everyone on the leadership team has bought into the idea of changing your strategy.