01006nas a2200121   4500008004100000022001400041245004100055210004100096260004200137520065300179100001600832856003600848       2011                        eng d  a1913-610200aLessons from an Open Source Business0 aLessons from an Open Source Business  aOttawabTalent First Networkc05/20113 aCreating a successful company is difficult; but creating a successful company, a successful open source project, and a successful ecosystem all at the same time is much more difficult. This article takes a retrospective look at some of the lessons we have learned in building BigBlueButton, an open source web conferencing system for distance education, and in building Blindside Networks, a company following the traditional business model of providing support and services to paying customers. Our main message is that the focus must be on creating a successful open source project first, for without it, no company in the ecosystem can flourish.1 aDixon, Fred  uhttp://timreview.ca/article/441