The Business of Open Source

Today I’m at the Open Source Summit in Austin and I’m chatting with Rob Slaughter, CEO of Defense Unicorns. He explains the mission of Defense Unicorns, which is making secure software delivery easier for secure infrastructure providers. We talk about the unique use of open source software by the Department of Defense and discuss the government’s relationship with the open source community. Rob shares some of his background and motivation for founding Defense Unicorns, and we wrap up by talking about the importance of finding a niche problem when founding your company and the challenges of working with a fixed budget as an open source company.

Show Notes

Highlights:
  • Open source software at the department of defense (1:36)
  • Is there risk associated with using open source software in the department of defense? (5:30)
  • Does the public sector contribute to and participate in open source communities? (9:13)
  • Rob’s background and work experience (14:25)
  • What led Rob to found Defense Unicorns (16:35)
  • Rob’s focus on a specific niche in the founding of his company (17:33)
  • How working with a fixed budget affects an open source company (19:33)

Links:
Rob

What is The Business of Open Source?

Whether you're a founder of an open source startup, an open source maintainer or just an open source enthusiast, join host Emily Omier as she talks to the people who work at the intersection of open source and business, from startup founders to leaders of open source giants and all the people who help open source startups grow.