01791nas a2200121   4500008004100000022001400041245006700055210006200122260004200184520138700226100002001613856003601633       2010                        eng d  a1913-610200aThe Business of Open: Common Pitfalls for Open Source Startups0 aBusiness of Open Common Pitfalls for Open Source Startups  aOttawabTalent First Networkc02/20103 aMany entrepreneurs look at open source as a panacea of sorts, a golden ticket to success. They assume that the value of the open source approach is apparent to all, undeniable, and the only way. The mistake they often make is carrying this passion into the way they form their startup. They assume that open source startups are somehow different, and that as a result they will carry themselves. I was once such an entrepreneur, with such a vision.

The reality is that an open source startup isn't really that different from other startups. It still needs to have figured out all of the essential components of a successful business. An open source strategy can certainly yield a competitive advantage, bringing faster time to market, lower development cost, collaboration opportunities, ecosystem positioning, and faster adoption. But, these advantages don't come along on their own. The open source strategy is just one piece of the larger business model. The other pieces have to be strong, too, or the whole might crumble. This article reviews the essentials for all startups and highlights special considerations and pitfalls for open source startups in particular. It also discusses how startups can use an open source strategy to gain competitive advantage by focusing the passion and energy surrounding participation in open source towards value creation and acquisition.1 aMacAulay, Mekki  uhttp://timreview.ca/article/324