GitHub Launches Accelerator Program
GitHub, the version control service, has been supporting the financial needs of developers in the open source community for a few years now. Along with the individual support program GitHub Sponsors, GitHub has launched another initiative called GitHub Accelerator, which is aimed at helping open source projects create an economically viable basis.
Seed Funding and Guidance
GitHub Accelerator program aims to help open source projects and maintainers who wish to build a sustainable business model based on their development concepts. As part of the program, applicants can expect to receive seed funding of $20,000 and a ten-week program with guidance from experienced open-source leaders and workshops on implementing a sustainable business model.
20 Selected Projects
The first round of the accelerator program will start on April 17, 2023. From over 1,000 applications, the eight-member selection committee has chosen 20 projects with a total of 32 participants from 16 countries – including Germany – to benefit from the program. Projects range from tools and frameworks for web development, to libraries and terminal emulators to CAD tools for fashion design, and more.
Developing Business Strategies
The selected projects will be working with the GitHub team to develop a business strategy over the next few weeks. Along with ongoing work on the code, topics such as governance and the licensing of open source are also part of the agenda. Attendees will learn vital skills to help them launch their projects, including how to set funding goals, attract sponsors, form partnerships, and prepare for difficult conversations.
Future Plans
GitHub aims to use the experience gained from their work with the first 20 projects to improve and expand the accelerator program; it may help even more open-source projects in the future. Microsoft supports the program with its M12 GitHub Fund, providing an investment of 10 million US dollars.
For more details on the GitHub Accelerator, please see the November 2022 announcement and the blog post showcasing the first 20 projects.
