466: Reshape Free Products into Revenue-Generators with Ali Ghosdi of Databricks

Ali Ghosdi was a reluctant founder. He planned to become an academic researcher and professor, not lead a successful tech startup. In 2013, alongside six other co-founders, Ghosdi helped build an open-source data product called Apache Spark, a best-of-breed future predicting code. The research project eventually became a business called Databricks. In 2016, he was picked as CEO and helped transform the open-source startup into a technology enterprise with a $38 billion valuation. Databricks boasts investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Microsoft, and Amazon. 

Nathan and Ali discuss:

Being a reluctant startup co-founder

Partnering with Andreessen Horowitz as their first investor

The pros and cons of having co-founders

The pressure of living up to early success

Transforming an open-source startup into a revenue enterprise 

The difference between professional and founder CEOs

How startups and small businesses can use AI tools right now.

Why product market fit is an art

How to work backward in your business 

Why you shouldn’t listen to the consensus 

And much more data, AI, and product advice…


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