Open Source Startup Podcast
E169: Building New Standards for Observability - Lightstep & OpenTelemetry
Mar 19, 2025
Ben Sigelman, Co-Founder & CEO of Lightstep and a pioneer behind OpenTracing and OpenTelemetry, shares insights on the journey of creating a groundbreaking observability platform. He discusses the strategic pivot that led to Lightstep's success and the benefits of open-sourcing technologies. Ben delves into the merger of OpenTracing and OpenCensus into OpenTelemetry, exploring its widespread adoption among tech companies. Additionally, he reflects on team dynamics during the ServiceNow acquisition and the importance of cultural alignment in startups.
38:31
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Quick takeaways
- Lightstep emerged from an understanding of gaps in the observability landscape, leading to a successful pivot focused on tracing solutions.
- The merger of OpenTracing and OpenCensus into OpenTelemetry unified the observability standards, significantly enhancing adoption and industry growth.
Deep dives
The Genesis of LightStep
LightStep originated from the creator's desire to address the shortcomings he observed in the observability landscape. After a challenging experience with a failed social media venture, he pivoted to focus on what he understood best—observability and tracing. Early on, he and his co-founders identified a gap in the market concerning efficient tracing solutions, which led them to concentrate their efforts on LightStep. This focus on timing and market fit played a crucial role in the initial success of the company.
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