Positioning and Strategy with Open Source

Consultant Emily Omier discusses her work with open source companies on product strategy and positioning. She explains the unique challenges and opportunities such companies face, particularly the tension between commercial offerings and open source projects. Emily highlights the importance of solid product strategy, shares her process from customer interviews to leadership workshops, and addresses common misconceptions and struggles companies encounter. Additionally, she touches upon the strategic reasons for open-sourcing software.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

00:16 Understanding Product Strategy in Open Source

01:58 Engaging with Companies at Different Stages

03:10 Workshop and Internal Knowledge Surfacing

04:16 Differentiating Open Source and Commercial Offerings

07:09 Common Struggles and Misunderstandings

10:35 Community Building and Its Importance

14:21 Open Sourcing Projects: Reasons and Benefits

17:28 Experience at All Things Open

18:07 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Guest: Emily Omier is a consultant who helps open source startups accelerate growth with killer positioning. She also hosts The Business of Open Source, a podcast about building open source companies and is the founder of Open Source Founders Summit, a business-focused conference for leadership of open source companies.