Episode 217: Heather Meeker on her latest book, "From Project to Profit: How to Succeed in Commercial Open Source"

Guest Heather Meeker Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this
episode, host Richard Littauer welcomes renowned author and open
source lawyer, Heather Meeker, in our first venture into video
format. Heather discusses her journey from being a ‘big law’ lawyer
to focusing specifically on open source matters. She talks about
her latest book, From Project to Profit: How to Succeed in
Commercial Open Source, and the valuable insights it provides for
entrepreneurs and developers looking to transform their open source
projects into successful businesses. The conversation also delves
into the significance of open source, economic analysis, and the
mission of the Open Source Initiative. We end with Heather sharing
her all-time favorite open source project, Audacity, and why she
thinks it’s a perfect example of an exquisite open source project.
Press download to hear more! [00:01:49] Heather talks about her
current practice and how she’s focusing on open source matters
after leaving big law firms, driven by pandemic induced life
choices, and she touches on her involvement with AI related issues.
[00:04:18] Richard asks about Heather’s transition to writing for
the public, and she details her journey of writing articles since
the late 90’s and the process of creating her books. [00:06:41] We
hear about Heather’s book, From Project to Profit, and it’s focus
on the business potential of open source. She discusses the
audience and motivation behind the book. [00:10:17] Heather
describes the book’s layout: case studies, economic analysis,
business models, and a final checklist for starting an open source
business. [00:11:31] We learn about the checklist and the thought
process behind starting an open source business. [00:13:18] Heather
acknowledges that there are suggestions beyond VC funding, relating
it to family businesses, which may not grow large but can provide a
living and enjoyment. She tells us the book discusses setting
realistic goals for open source projects and understanding when
it’s appropriate to seek professional investment. [00:15:39]
Richard talks about community projects that aim to be sustainable
without necessarily seeking significant investments. Heather
explains most small open source projects start as labors of love
and discusses the motivations behind starting such projects, and
she notes the commitment required to build a business. [00:19:16]
Richard inquires about the fund that invests in open source
projects. Heather describes OSS Capital, focusing on early-stage
commercial open source software development, unique in its
dedicated investment thesis. [00:21:15] Heather shares that the
fund often approaches founders proactively, differing from
traditional VC operations. [00:22:21] Richard is curious about
equitable payment for contributors in open source projects, and
Heather states they prefer to fund companies started by the
projects' founders and describes the dynamic between contributors
and the core team. [00:25:03] What was the toughest section of the
book to write? Heather reveals the economic analysis was difficult
as it required refreshing her knowledge and ensuring accuracy. She
also didn’t mention specific economists but focused on basic
economic principles. [00:28:15] Richard asks about common pitfalls
in open source projects. Heather points out that mistakes in
start-ups are not unique to open source and expands on the issue of
companies taking code private due to misaligned investor interests.
[00:31:15] Richard questions if misaligned investors are a
by-product of capitalism, and Heather believes it’s possible to
sustainably create value with open source without prioritizing it.
[00:32:08] Richard asks what “open source” means to OSS Capital,
and Heather explains that for their fund, open source means the
core product is under a recognized open source license. She
discusses the challenge of defining open source for non-software
fields like AI and data. [00:35:31] Find out where you can buy
Heather’s book and follow her online. Quotes [00:11:44] “One of the
initial decisions that someone asked me is that they actually want
to run a business around an open source project and that’s a
non-trivial decision.” [00:31:24] “I do think it’s possible to run
a business sustainably, create a ton of value with the open source
projects, and never take it private.” Spotlight [00:37:33]
Richard’s spotlight is the book, Man’s Search for Meaning.
[00:38:10] Heather’s spotlight is one of her favorite authors,
Primo Levi, and some books he wrote, The Periodic Table and
Survival in Auschwitz. Also, another book she read called, Games
Mother Never Taught You, and the open source project, Audacity.
Links SustainOSS (https://sustainoss.org/) SustainOSS X/Twitter
(https://twitter.com/SustainOSS?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
SustainOSS Discourse (https://discourse.sustainoss.org/)
podcast@sustainoss.org (mailto:podcast@sustainoss.org) SustainOSS
Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss) Open
Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute)
(https://opencollective.com/sustainoss) Richard Littauer Mastodon
(https://mastodon.social/@richlitt) Heather Meeker X/Twitter
(https://twitter.com/HeatherMeeker4?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Heather Meeker Website (https://heathermeeker.com/) Heather Meeker
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermeeker/) Heather
Meeker YouTube
(https://www.youtube.com/c/HeatherMeekerOpenSourceLicensing/videos)
[From Project to Profit: How to Build a Business Around Your Open
Source Project by Heather
Meeker](https://www.amazon.com/Project-Profit-Business-Around-Source/dp/B0CKMKMFH5/ref=sr11?crid=371EUHUERWTB3&keywords=From+project+to+profit&qid=1700960660&s=books&sprefix=from+project+to+profit%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-1)
Sustain Podcast-Episode 46: Commercial Open Source with Joseph
Jacks (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/guests/joseph-jacks) [Man’s
Search for Meaning by Viktor E.
Frankl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27sSearchforMeaning)_
Primo Levi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo_Levi) The Periodic
Table by Primo Levi
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Periodic_Table_(short_story_collection))
Survival In Auschwitz by Primo Levi
(https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Auschwitz-Primo-Levi/dp/1492942588)
Games Mother Never Taught Me by Betty Lehan Harragan
(https://www.amazon.com/Games-Mother-Never-Taught-You/dp/0446357030)
Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org/) Credits Produced by
Richard Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/) Edited by Paul M. Bahr
at Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Show notes by
DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Special Guest: Heather Meeker.