How Open Source Companies Monetize the Cloud Without Killing the Community

Lucas and Luna dive into the delicate balance open-source companies face when building a cloud business alongside a free community edition. Using the example of MongoDB and its shift to the SSPL license, they explore what happens when a project tries to monetize cloud infrastructure without alienating its developer base. They break down the concept of the 'cloud tax,' the rise of managed services, and how companies like Elastic and Confluent have navigated similar tensions. Specific numbers include MongoDB's $1.5 billion in revenue and the 15% of its code contributed by community members. The episode also covers the risk of cloud providers like AWS offering 'as-a-service' versions of open-source projects without contributing back. Lucas and Luna discuss whether license changes are a fair defense or a betrayal of open-source values, and what the future holds for the next generation of open-source cloud-native projects. #MongoDB #SSPL #OpenSourceBusiness #CloudMonetization #DeveloperCommunity #Elastic #Confluent #AWS #CloudTax #ManagedServices #OpenSourceLicensing #BusinessStrategy #Technology #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #LucasAndLuna #Episode41 #CloudNative Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo