How Open Source Companies Build a Trust and Safety Business

Episode 21 of The Open Source Business with Fexingo explores how open source companies are building commercial offerings around trust and safety—a space traditionally dominated by proprietary vendors. Hosts Lucas and Luna examine the specific case of CrowdStrike, which built a multi-billion-dollar business on top of the open source Falcon sensor, and contrast it with the challenges faced by smaller projects like the content moderation platform Hive. They discuss the unique dynamics of licensing in adversarial markets, the tension between transparency and security, and why trust and safety may be the next frontier for open source monetization. Drawing on recent developments through May 2026, including regulatory shifts in the EU around platform liability, the hosts offer concrete strategies for companies navigating this delicate balance. Listeners will learn one tangible takeaway: how to design an open core model that can survive an adversarial threat landscape without giving away the crown jewels. #CrowdStrike #Hive #OpenSource #TrustAndSafety #Cybersecurity #ContentModeration #OpenCore #BusinessModel #Licensing #Monetization #Security #Compliance #Regulation #DSA #BusinessAndTechnology #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #OpenSourceBusiness Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo