chdaniel

I'm a non-technical founder.

I've built a couple of SaaS companies, many products, etc. Some failed, some allow me to conduct my living.

I'm non-technical so please consider you're explaining this to a Neanderthal:

What's the deal with this increasing trend of open-source SaaS companies?

Sure I know of WordPress and what have you - but what's the implication of e.g. Cal dot com, who's a Calendly alternative, but it's open source and it's clearly a business?

For instance, is it that: • people contribute to it (since it's open-source) and the founders can therefore build a better product... • ...whilst the PEOPLE also get a better free product, if they so choose to run it on their instance?

Is the above true? Because if so, I get it - it's a win-win, and the founders "tap into" a bigger pool of "effort", if that makes sense.

What other implications are there? Thanks so much.

But to give more context:

The situation: the classic startup advice always says "talk to your users" (Paul Graham on Twitter, just one random example[1])

Problem: Ok, any practical examples? I don't mean theory, I mean me listening to founder X talk to user Y. With good AND bad examples

If this gets enough traction, I'll do it. Would you listen?

[1]: https://twitter.com/paulg/status/898476047263518720