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Finding Sponsors for an Open Source Project?
vertigo72 asks: "What's the best way to find sponsors for an open source project? Is there some people or foundations that give grants for the development of free software? We develop an open source (GPL) box office software: phpMyTicket. At our knowledge at the moment this is the only open source software of this kind. The program is in advanced beta stage and was already used in production environment by us and by other people. The program is rather complex and big: we support online ticket shop, box office with thermal printer and control at doors with barcode scanner. Smarty, PDF and email template engines are used. Paypal and some other gateways are supported. Now we want to continue and to add more professional features, but alas this requires more funding."
"We tried to finance our development ourselves, but that didn't work. We tried support, installation and customization, and also a commercial license, but there are just not enough requests. We also had few donations (to the tune of around $50) via Sourceforge. Now, we searching for alternative solutions like sponsoring. Is there someone out there who can help us to keep the software free?"
[Obvious] Oh, well the best way to get funding would probably be to get information about your project posted on a high traffic, open source friendly discussion forum. Yea, I'd probably do that first...
begging for dollars on Slashdot... in other words, Congratulations! Your funds will be arriving shortly, I'm sure.
Do what they did back in the good ol' days of the dot com bubble: Come up with an idea that nobody wants, needs, or cares about. Then, create a corporation that has no assets. Write a press release about your product, which doesn't exist yet. Be sure to include a wide variety of terms from the IT bullshit generator. Supposing your company is called Inventri, your press release might begin, "Inventri today announced plans to begin development of its new software product, codenamed Widehorn." Be sure to include plenty of meaningless phrases, such as, "By leveraging innovative technologies, content providers streamline compelling enterprise solutions." Make sure the bullshit-o-meter explodes. Describe, in colorful terms, how your company provides "solutions," but do not specify what kind of solutions or what they're for. Make sure this is printed on nice glossy paper with lots of whitespace and a variety of high-tech-looking colors. PHBs and other stupid people (hereinafter simply called "management") drool over this kind of crap. Then, a bunch of venture capitalists (hereinafter "rich idiots") will come along and dump millions of dollars on you, hoping to become the next Gill Bates. All you have to do at that point is take the money, buy a fancy office building, fill it with fancy mahogany office furniture, buy all the supplies, like post-it notes, kleenex boxes, refillable pens, and other such stuff, and then hire a bunch of MCSEs, pay them $200,000 a year, and buy a BMW for everyone, including yourself. Make sure your business practices are innovative, such as allowing nerf toys to be used at work, buying lunch for employees every friday, and providing all employees with a paid subscription to Slashdot. When them money runs out and no code has been written, simply close the company and start from the beginning. It's that simple!
Although your description was excellent, I feel that it could be beefed up a bit by using the word "synergy" a few times. I've found that companies tend to get an additional 10% venture capital for each time the word "synergy" is used in their mission statement/press release.
I don't respond to AC's.
Because they bought a thermal printer, hosting, a barcode scanner and a venue.
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I've never really understood this reasoning, yet I hear it all the time:
"Well, if he can afford a Ferrari he can afford to maintain it."
Right, he's now a couple hundred thou poorer and probably in the hole for it, soooooooo. .
Obviously he has a lot of money left over. Plain logic is what we call that.
This must be how the government thinks:
"We just spent an unexpected $300 billion and had to borrow $200 billion of it from our most feared financial enemy. Daaaaaayam! We must be loaded. Let's go to Vegas everybody. Hot and cold running hookers for everybody!"
That would explain a lot. Funny how they never send my my share of the hookers, even though I'm footing the bill.
Here's how it works in the real world:
"Nah, I can't can't go to the movies tonight. I just bought a Ferrari and I'm broke dude. Can't even afford to put gas in the fucking thing."
Thank God for credit cards and assuming he will provide next month, eh?
"Hey, can you help me find someone who will give us money to give free help to people charging admission to shows?"
In the real world, however, this is what we call a win/win/win as all three parties get something satisfactory out of the deal.
Well, as long as it wasn't a Brian DePalma movie or Episode III.
KFG
Well, ther were going to do the whole thing as a hobby, but then that particular myth was debunked, so now they need to find a source of revenue.
Badass Resumes