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Founding Sponsorship Guide
Invest in the Future of Open Source (OS)
Open Studio Labs (OSLabs) is soliciting partners to invest in a "first-of-its-kind" Engineering Residency (ER). Our commitment is to solve the open source talent shortage, with as much as 20% of commercial open-source software undersupported, and while open source saved companies $9 trillion in development costs. We all benefit when the OS ecosystem is healthy.
This guide offers an overview of available sponsorship opportunities. Sponsoring companies receive multiple direct benefits, including reduced technical debt, improved security and compliance, sustainable support for critical projects, de-risking open source dependencies, and marketing (case studies, press releases, and media) opportunities. We intend to develop an alliance of organizations to proactively address the talent shortage impacting OS worldwide.
Overview
In early 2025, OSLabs will launch its first Open Source (OS) Engineering Residency (ER) cohort. This on-site, in-person team will start in Durham, NC, to tackle pressing OS issues using a team-building approach impacting upstream commercial OS projects. To spotlight progress, OSLabs will provide a KPI-driven dashboard to track ongoing contributions to build quality, respect, and trust. Additionally, OSLabs aims to add three new cohorts annually and every trimester and expand geographically and our scope.
Key Benefits
Investing offers three benefits: it provides real-world exposure, drives impactful changes to open source, and provides access to highly skilled talent.
Real-World Exposure for Emerging Talent
- Bridge the Talent Gap: Sponsorship permits residents to experience how to fail and succeed in learning the complexities of real-world open-source challenges through hands-on undertakings.
- Accelerated Learning: Residents pursue a "See It, Learn It, Teach It" method, reinforcing mastery of gained practical skills in contributing to essential commercial upstream open-source projects.
- Build Readiness: Sponsoring Open Studio Labs equips next-gen engineers with the readiness to handle the technical demands of enterprise-level environments.
Access to a Pipeline of Skilled Talent
- Bridge the Talent Gap: Sponsorship permits residents to experience how to fail and succeed in learning the complexities of real-world open-source challenges through hands-on undertakings.
- Accelerated Learning: Residents pursue a "See It, Learn It, Teach It" method, reinforcing mastery of gained practical skills in contributing to essential commercial upstream open-source projects.
- Build Readiness: Sponsoring Open Studio Labs equips next-gen engineers with the readiness to handle the technical demands of enterprise-level environments.
Become a Founding Sponsor and Support OS Future
Invest in the "first-of-its-kind" Engineering Residency (ER) that addresses the open source talent shortage while prioritizing long-term sustainability. Your sponsorship fuels the evolution of open source, which not only drives innovation but also fosters transparency.
Take the lead in shaping tomorrow by assembling a more promising eco-conscious and ethically trustworthy tech ecosystem—making a real-world impact that aligns with your values and benefits the planet.
Sponsorship Levels
- Principal Sponsor: $50,000, limited to 10 companies
- Supporting Sponsor: $25,000, limited to 10 companies
- General Sponsor: $10,000, limited to 10 companies
The floor for the inaugural 12-month residency pilot is to reach an initial investment of $500K to launch the first cohort.