How Weaviate Grew from Open Source Project to AI Startup | Bob van Luijt

How do you turn an open-source project into a full-scale AI startup? 🤔 In this episode, Bob van Luijt, CEO & co-founder of Weaviate, shares the real journey of scaling an AI-native database—from the early days of open source adoption to building a company with 100+ employees worldwide. 🚀 In this episode, we cover: ✅ How Weaviate started as an open-source experiment and turned into a funded AI startup ✅ The challenges of hiring & scaling a startup team ✅ Why fundraising is really “borrowing from the future”—and how to do it right ✅ The role of open source in startup growth & adoption ✅ How to survive and scale in the AI & database market If you’re an engineer, founder, or interested in AI, startups, and open-source growth, this episode is packed with lessons. 🔔 Subscribe for more deep tech conversations! Connect with Bob van Luijt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobvanluijt https://x.com/bobvanluijt #Software #Programming #Podcast - Connect with Patrick Akil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-akil https://twitter.com/PatrickAkil_ Feedback is always welcome :) Beyond Coding is a weekly podcast with fireside chats on tech, entrepreneurship and career journeys. Common topics are: software engineering, leadership, self-improvement and entrepreneurship. Authentic, informative and inspiring. That's the aim for each episode. Shoutout to Xebia for making these episodes possible 💜: https://www.xebia.com Beyond Coding on your favourite podcast platforms 🎙: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7asIKIPU3N6n0SNWHxwMnQ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-coding/id1572440477 Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy81YmI1N2VhYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw== Audible - https://www.audible.com/pd/Podcast/B08K56MZBQ Anchor- https://anchor.fm/beyond-coding Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id4169675 Breaker - https://www.breaker.audio/beyond-coding Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/gljc9jhh Radio Public - https://radiopublic.com/beyond-coding-G3YVLg Equipment we use 💕 Rodecaster Pro - https://www.amazon.com/-/en/dp/B07M5LQ1YZ/ref=sr_1_1 Rode Procaster - https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Procaster-Broadcast-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B001IPUJJI/ Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro - https://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Professional-Headphones-Limited-Renewed/dp/B07KWY57MR/