OCV Catalyst Program

Applications for Spring 2026 are now open. Catalyst Spring 2026 begins February 9, 2026. Deadline to apply: January 16, 2026. Apply here.

Catalyst by Open Core Ventures is an open source sponsorship program that provides funding and mentorship to open source authors and maintainers to catalyze project growth part-time, maintaining their existing time and work commitments. The program aims to support open source projects with commercial viability by helping maintainers increase project usage, revitalize project activity, grow community contributions, and develop relationships with experienced open source experts.

Catalyst supports OCV’s mission to enable more people to become entrepreneurs and lower the barrier to starting an open core company, and its vision to start the majority of venture-funded open core companies. Despite technical promise and utility, many open source projects face challenges such as insufficient resources or stalled community growth. The Catalyst Program seeks to strengthen projects and the greater open-source developer community, as well as offer entrepreneurial opportunities to exceptional open source authors and maintainers.

The Catalyst Program has three goals:

1. Support open source sustainability through financial support and mentorship.

2. Increase the number of open source projects that have the potential to become open core companies.

3. Foster relationships with high-potential open core founders.

Program Details

Catalyst is a three-month program that provides funding and mentorship to eligible open source authors and maintainers.

1. Sponsorship awards are $10,000. Award amounts may vary on a project-by-project basis.

2. Program participants will receive goal-setting support in weekly hours with the OCV team.

3. Program participants will set quantifiable goals to be met over the three months and are expected to share brief bi-weekly progress updates.

4. Participants may be invited to be featured in a blog post.

Funding is not contingent upon meeting program goals. However, recipients who fail to meet reporting requirements or attend scheduled check-ins may be dismissed from the program and forfeit any remaining funds.

Eligibility criteria

Sponsorship is awarded to specific contributors. Foundations and non-profits are not eligible to receive sponsorship. Eligible projects must fulfill at least 1 of the following criteria:

1. Potential for commercial viability

2. An author or maintainer with an interest in becoming a technical co-founder

Sponsorship participants are expected to use the award funding to achieve the goals throughout the program.

Receiving sponsorship funds

Sponsorship awards will be given in two installments throughout the three-month program. Recipients are required to complete a W-9 and will receive a 1099 tax form from Open Core Ventures.

Sponsored projects and their authors who demonstrate notable growth in the sponsorship program may be invited to start an open core company under the standard OCV Model. Participation in the Catalyst Program does not guarantee an offer for further funding from Open Core Ventures.