I am building an open source library that can be used to build voice assistants. The feedback I’ve received suggests I should build a product company instead. Here are several reasons why I’m choosing to build an open source library instead.

Strong Competition

I would face significant competition in the product space. Established competitors would likely crush a new entrant - they have more capital, better talent, and immediate market access. The chances of success would be very low.

Better Founder-Market Fit

As a founder of a traditional company, one has to handle multiple responsibilities including marketing, sales, hiring, and operations. I am primarily a developer who loves building things. With an open source project, I have excellent founder-market fit since my users are developers like myself.

Market Opportunity

There is currently no comprehensive open source alternative in this space - a clear gap in the market. I’m well-suited to fill this gap as a developer who understands the needs of other developers. Since the project is open source and free, the barrier to user adoption is much lower.

Career Benefits

An open source project with active users can be more valuable for career growth than a failed startup attempt on a resume.

Advice for Other Builders

I encourage other builders to consider this strategy instead of immediately jumping into building a product company:

  • User acquisition is typically easier with open source
  • Funding becomes more accessible once you have an active user base
  • User feedback helps refine the product into something people actually want
  • The success criteria are more flexible
  • Worst case: it’s a learning experience
  • Best case: it becomes a multi-million/billion-dollar company

(Note: This isn’t to discourage building product companies - they can offer potentially higher rewards for those willing to take the risk.)

FAQs

Q: Doesn’t open source mean you can’t make money? A: This is a misconception. Companies like Docker, Blender, and RASA have proven successful business models through enterprise versions and optimized hosted services.