Open Source Startup Podcast

Andrew Norris, Co-Founder & CEO of DevCycle, shares insights into his journey from Taplytics to launching a feature flagging platform based on the OpenFeature project. He discusses the fascinating shift from A/B testing to focusing on engineers, highlighting the importance of open standards to prevent vendor lock-in. Norris also delves into DevCycle's growth strategies, combining open-source principles with a sustainable business model, and emphasizes the necessity of feature flags in modern software development.

Aviram Hassan, Co-Founder & CEO of MetalBear, shares insights on transforming cloud development with their tool, mirrord, which allows developers to run local code in remote environments. He discusses the pain points of traditional staging setups and how their innovative approach enhances concurrency. Aviram highlights the significance of open-source in building trust with major enterprise clients and reveals how early monetization aligns with their mission. Tune in for valuable strategies on streamlining developer workflows and navigating the challenges of open-source software.

Manik Surtani, Head of Open Source at Block, and Bradley Axen, Principal Engineer, share their insights on launching successful open source projects. They delve into the formation of Block's Open Source Programs Office, emphasizing community engagement and transparent practices. They discuss the innovative Goose project, which automates coding tasks and evolves through user collaboration. The duo also highlights challenges in integrating open source with AI, showcasing its significance in enhancing productivity and addressing real-world applications.

Nikhil Rao, Co-founder of Reflex, shares insights from the rapidly growing open-source framework that simplifies web app development entirely in Python. He discusses deploying with just Python, the challenges of low-code frameworks, and how Reflex is shaping the future of web development. Rao highlights innovative applications in finance and pharmaceuticals, empowering users without programming skills to build custom apps. He also reflects on the journey of balancing engineering and entrepreneurial skills while fostering a supportive open-source community.

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.

Tobie Morgan Hitchcock, Co-founder and CEO of SurrealDB, discusses his innovative serverless cloud database that has gained 30K stars on GitHub. He highlights how his non-traditional background helped him redefine database creation from first principles. Tobie delves into the significance of open-source for building trust, the necessity of design in infrastructure products, and how integrating diverse database types can enhance user experience. He also balances customer feedback with strategic vision while navigating the challenges of startup marketing.

Misha Bragin, Founder & CEO of NetBird, shares his journey in creating a zero trust networking platform that simplifies secure access for remote users. He discusses the shift from hardware to software, driven by the surge in remote work. Misha explains why traditional VPNs are outdated and highlights the advantages of the WireGuard protocol. He also delves into the unique features of NetBird compared to Tailscale, and the importance of hiring a technical marketer early for technical founders. Insightful and engaging!

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.

Max Stoiber is Co-Founder & CEO of Stellate, the GraphQL edge platformrecently acquired by Shopify.In this episode, we discuss:The Stellate journey from idea to initial traction to acquisitionThe market size (and limitations) for GraphQL, APIs, and DevToolsHow he ran a top-notch acquisition process for StellateWhy startups fail

Florian Forster is Co-Founder & CEO of Zitadel, the cloud security platform aiming to build the future of identity and access management. Their open source project, also called zitadel, provides identity infrastructure and has 10K stars on GitHub. In this episode, we dig into: The benefits of having an open source auth vendor Authentication vs. authorization Building the "GitLab for identity" Why customization matters for an auth product Demand for self-hosting options for auth Appealing to developers and security teams