E14: From Google Engineer to Cockroach Labs Co-Founder -- a Conversation with Spencer Kimball

Aug 1, 2023

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In this episode, I have the pleasure of hosting Spencer Kimball, a former Google engineer turned tech entrepreneur, and now the Co-Founder & CEO of Cockroach Labs. Spencer shares his journey from working at Google to creating his project, Viewfinder, which eventually led to the birth of CockroachDB. Spencer discusses his advice for founders as they approach the challenge of starting a company, finding co-founders, and more. We also delve into the decision to change CockroachDB's licensing to protect it from being monetized by other companies.

Highlights
[00:00] - From Google engineer to tech entrepreneur, Spencer shares his journey and the birth of his project, Viewfinder. He reveals the dream that sparked his desire for more than just a tech job at Google.
[01:02] - The struggle to find a suitable database for Viewfinder led to the creation of CockroachDB. Spencer discusses the need for a scalable, transactional, and open-source database that didn't yet exist.
[03:24] - Passion and belief are key to weathering the ups and downs of a startup. Spencer shares how a founder's vision can drive the company forward despite inevitable disappointments.
[08:53] - Finding the right co-founder is crucial. Spencer shares his advice, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and mutual respect.
[13:09] - The need for a database that could handle rapid growth and complexity was the key insight behind Cockroach Labs. Spencer discusses how this need led to the creation of CockroachDB.
[18:40] - To protect CockroachDB from being monetized by other companies, Spencer explains the decision to change its licensing. He also discusses the challenges of balancing open source with business needs.
[20:59] - The story of Elastic serves as a cautionary tale. Spencer shares how Amazon exploited Elastic's open core business model, leading to a reevaluation of Cockroach Labs' own model.
[21:53] - The Business Source License (BSL) at Cockroach Labs provides a time period of protection from direct competition. Spencer explains how it reverts to a pure open source license after a certain term.
[26:01] - Quantum Round (Rapid-fire questions)

Thank you to everyone who made Data Council 2025 Oakland an incredibly experience! This year's talk videos will be uploaded to YouTube by end of May 2025.

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