Lecture 1 - Setting Up Infrastructure

Kim Polese, CEO of SpikeSource, relates the challenges she learned while starting a company. She realized that though entrepreneurs might see potential in their technology and have the right people in their company, that alone will not ensure success in the marketplace. It requires making sure that all the pieces are in place for that company, she says.

Lecture 2 - Birth of Java

Polese describes the development of Java at Sun and the various things that made it a success.

Lecture 3 - Solving a Real Problem

According to Polese, SpikeSource is solving a real problem, which makes it really exciting.

Lecture 4 - Popularity of Open Source

Polese discusses why open source is popular amongst venture capitalists.

Lecture 5 - Importance of the Community and Data and Process Automation in Businesses

Polese empahsizes working with the community and the role of data and process automation in business.

Lecture 6 - Software as a Service

Polese talks about how software has transitioned from a product that generates revenue to a service. She sees the software industry slowly shifting towards this idea.

Lecture 7 - Value of the Long Tail

Polese explains the concept of the "long tail".

Lecture 8 - Lessons Learned

Polese shares some lessons learned along the way and gives advice to budding entrepreneurs to never stop learning and to find the right people and the right idea for their business.

Lecture 9 - Ethics in Business

Polese talks about the importance of being ethical and not being evil while running a business.

Lecture 10 - When Should You Open Source?

Polese believes that entrepreneurs should open source their proprietary software only if the open source supports and enables their core business.