Creating a Greener World Through Open-Source Software with Nicolas Höning

The Business of Open Source

Nicolas Höning is the Co-Founder and CEO of Seita, an open-source energy optimization and digitalization company. Nicolas took an unconventional path to founding an open-source startup, and throughout this episode he describes how creating a greener world through open-source software is more than a business endeavor for him - it’s a personal mission. Nicolas describes perfectly the challenges that open-source founders face, and is transparent on the decisions he’s still weighing when it comes to choosing an open-source product model and the benefits and challenges of being a boot-strapped startup. I was particularly interested to learn how his company’s project, V2G Liberty, helps individuals who are looking for a greener way to optimize the charging of their electric vehicles, and why Nicolas doesn’t market his other products to individual users.

Highlights:

• I introduce Nicolas Höning, who is the Co-Founder and CEO of Seita, an open-source energy digitalization company (01:00)
• Nicolas describes the unique nature of building open-source software for the energy sector (03:34)
• How Nicolas wound up developing software for the energy sector (05:30)
• The mission at Seita and how it’s also reflected personally in Nicolas’ life mission (06:57)
• Why open-source was an important part of the delivery of Seita’s mission (09:25)
• Nicolas describes the challenge of identifying his users and customers (11:28)
• Why Nicolas doesn’t focus on individual users (14:36)
• Nicolas describes his project V2G Liberty, which helps individuals optimize their EV charging (17:42)
• How Nicolas initially funded Seita and his commercial strategy moving forward (19:51)
• Why Seita launched a commercial product before launching an open-source project (23:30)
• What Nicolas has been considering when deciding between an open core and open source product model (26:35)
• The biggest challenge Nicolas is facing right now at Seita (32:43)
• How listeners can connect with Nicolas and learn more (33:57)

Links:

Nicolas

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nhoening/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nhoening
• Company: https://seita.nl/