Open Source Startup Podcast E166: Making Open Source Reliable & Secure with Fossa
Feb 19, 2025
Kevin Wang, Founder and CEO of Fossa, shares his journey in the open source realm, emphasizing the need for tools that enhance compliance and security. He discusses the transformation from a scanning to a fixing approach in product security. Kevin highlights the challenges of fostering trust in enterprise sales and his resistance to push into AI despite market pressure. The conversation also addresses effective growth strategies for startups and the personal challenges of transitioning from founder to CEO, focusing on leadership alignment with core values.
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Fossa's Origin
- Kevin Wang, CEO of Fossa, started with a developer tool focus, not security.
- His early experience at Cloudera highlighted the friction in open source adoption.
Early Open Source Landscape
- In 2013, open source was viewed with suspicion; some companies even banned its adoption.
- Commercializing open source was not a common practice back then.
Niche Expertise
- Go deep in a niche area to differentiate yourself as a founder.
- Kevin Wang gained expertise in open source licenses, an uncommon area.