Struggling to Find an Open Source Business Model¶
by Grant Paton-Simpson
Abstract¶
After more than 45,000 downloads, the open source Python project SOFA Statistics has netted $90 (not $90k, just $90). This presentation will explain strategies tried so far, and the options available to open source projects.
- SOFA project
- 65,000 downloads
- Lots of positive reviews
- http://sofastatistics.com
Monetisation¶
- Surely must be possible to sell affordable to at least 0.5-2%
- Apparently a common rate for single-vendor commercial open source firms
Warning
When you play the role of market spoiler it’s much easier to be famous than rich
Warning
99% of the people who say, “The app store is a gold mine! I’m gonna be rich” are wrong
Why an open source business model?¶
- Low starting costs
- Lower risk of assets than an inventory system
Successful open source business models¶
- Android:
- Redhat: Enterprise guarantees as a business model
- Mozilla: He says it is Google (sugar daddy) but this is not true: Mozilla cleans up on advertising
- Eclipse: IDE support
Models¶
- Vulture Model: Pick up projects abandoned/dropped/screwed by Oracle
- Bounty Model: Throw out money to get something done
- Honey Model: TODO - find this out
Statements¶
“People who complain about open source companies closing off parts of their code generally haven’t tried to make money off of their open source projects. I suggest they go and try to do it.”