Open Core Ventures

Open Core Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on creating commercial open-source software companies. They identify promising open-source projects and collaborate with founders to build companies around them, providing initial funding of $2 million to accelerate growth. Their approach aims to democratize venture funding and reduce the barriers to startup creation by offering resources and support to first-time founders.

The firm's investment strategy centers on sectors that benefit from innovation and technical entrepreneurship, particularly in open-source software and infrastructure. They exclusively start open core companies, which combine open-source software with proprietary features to create sustainable business models. Open Core Ventures provides a comprehensive handbook of practical advice, created specifically for open core companies by experienced founders, to guide their portfolio companies through various stages of growth.

Founded by Sid Sijbrandij, CEO of GitLab, Open Core Ventures has a track record of supporting companies that have raised significant additional funding following their initial investment. Their portfolio includes companies like Fleet Device Management, Mermaid Chart, and FlowForge, reflecting their commitment to fostering innovation in the open-source software space.