Funding sources

Seeking large and long term funding sources will be something OSArch will look into as the organization grows. This page is to grow a list of potential places to seek funding.

Business models

One source of funding is find ways to commercialize individual products or bundles of products.

Corporate sponsors

For-profit organizations can pay developers directly to work on functions the organization needs, while strengthening the core product.

• Speckle creators have been hired by ARUP.

Charity / Foundation

• VLC which the world wide famous video reader which have his revenue based on donations and services. They have created an organization called videolan
• Framasoft help peertube to raise money. They did multiple funding campaign based on donation. What is interesting with Framasoft is that it was created by teachers which wanted to promote the use of FOSS. What they showed is that non coders has really important to relief coders from communication and funding campaign. They are an association which is officially working for public interest. So any donation made to them can have 66% taxes cut which mean that it cost only 33% of what you donate.

SAAS

This is a 'software as a service' model in which there the hosting of a software solution is on a subscription basis.

Examples

• https://wisdomplexus.com/blogs/open-source-saas-solutions/
• https://databricks.com/

Open Core

This is a way of splitting functionality into two categories where parts of the solution are available on different terms. For example parts of the software could be released on a 'non-commercial use only' with a payment option for commercial use. MySQL / MariaDB have a license they call Business Source License (BSL)[1] (not a free software license).

Examples

• https://www.confluent.io/confluent-community-license-faq/

External resources

• Doing business with Open Source, Michael Widenius, TEDxVasa with MySQL founder Monty Widenius
• MySQL and MariaDB story with MySQL & MariaDB founder Monty Widenius
• MySQL founder tries a new software licensing model

Support

This is where the software name is protected and when buying software with that name support is included.

• VLC which the world wide famous video reader which have his revenue based on donations and services. They have created an organization called videolan

Examples

• Redhat Linuz

External Resources

• The adoption of open source software in business models: A Red Hat and IBM case study "A framework recently developed by some of the authors is used to evaluate and identify the key factors important to the integration of OSS strategies into traditional business models."

Crowdfunding: Decentralized Funding

Crowdfunding platforms like Bountrysource, Gitcoin, Gofundme, or similar, enable raising small amounts of money from a larger group of people, whether they be individuals or corporations. Campaigns can range from more generic (please fund this software) to more specific, (please fund this one specific feature or tool). Funding specific features/tools could help signal where development priorities should be dedicated in the general roadmap of the project.

Charities and Foundations

Global

shuttleworthfoundation

https://www.shuttleworthfoundation.org/

United Kingdom

UK Research and Innovation

Example:

• £170m Transforming construction challenge "The transforming construction challenge is an integral part of the Construction Sector Deal, aiming to accelerate the shift in construction towards manufacturing and digital processes and a value outcome approach."

European Union

The EU funds large projects in the construction sector with a special focus on energy use reduction and increased efficiency. Coordination of efforts at energy use reduction in the construction sector are organized by [BUILD UP] (about)

For an overview of EU activities involving BIM see How is the EU supporting BIM and ICT development in the buildings sector?

Horizon 2020

"... with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020 [extended to 2025]) ... Horizon 2020 [has an] emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation. Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and time so participants can focus on what is really important. This approach makes sure new projects get off the ground quickly – and achieve results faster."

Examples:

See also

• Donations Directory

External Resources

• Open Source: From Community to Commercialization, Peter Levine
• Business Source License (BSL) (not a free license)