Frequently asked questions

Who can apply?

Anyone who is a current contributor or maintainer of an open source project on GitHub. You can also apply as a team for a given open source project (max of 3 people). Previous applicants are eligible to apply.

You must also:

• Be age eighteen (18) or older
• Have an active online profile on GitHub
• Be located in one of the regions supported by GitHub Sponsors
• Not be a current employee of GitHub and/or any of its parent/subsidiary companies
• Clear open source license
• Open source first project with demonstrated community traction and adoption
• Clear governance structure and plan for utilizing the funds prior to kick-off
• Deep focus in AI, Machine Learning, and AI infrastructure
• Commitment from core leaders to participate in and engage in the required programming
• Agree to Code of Conduct and Privacy Statement

How many projects will be selected? What are you looking for? Who decides who is selected?

We will select 10 projects for the cohort. All of our applications will be evaluated by a selection committee. You’ll be much more likely to be selected if you:

• Have an active and growing set of users
• Understand how you want to grow and maintain your project
• Wish to pursue open source work full-time

We are interested in projects working in the open focused on:

• AI Developers Tools and Infrastructure and Pipeline
• Models and frameworks, including architectures
• Hardware and hardware enablement
• Data and data infrastructure
• Marketplaces and tools that democratize access to AI
• AI powered developer applications and tools
• Cyber security

What do I get if my project selected?

As a part of the program, the participants will get:

• $40,000 per project in non-dilutive funding
• 5-10 hours per week of live instruction, workshops, and homework
• Office Hours with GitHub team for security reviews
• Q+As with enterprise Sponsors, community members, and GitHub leaders
• Introduction to, and at least one office hour with, M12, Microsoft’s Venture Fund
• Free access to relevant GitHub products, including a full year of GitHub Copilot
• Eligible projects will receive free Azure AI infrastructure credits including preferred access to high-end GPU virtual machine clusters and white glove go-to-market support
• A shared slack channel with your cohort to collaborate and support each other

What do I have to do if I’m selected?

• Selected participants must be able to work on their projects full-time (40 hours/week) during the program. This time commitment is inclusive of the 5-10 hours of weekly instruction, workshops, and homework. All meetings will be hosted in Pacific Standard Time.
• Contribute to the open source resources we have on GitHub so other developers can learn from your experience

What is the current timeline for the program?

Applications close March 5, 2024 at 12PM PST. The 2024 cohort program will kick off in April 22, 2024.

What is the format of the program?

The program is a 10 week virtual program with a mix of 1-to-1, group sessions, project work, and mentorship. Selected participants outline their goals and objectives at the beginning of the program and are supported to achieve those goals during the program. Participants receive mentorship and curriculum to help further their projects.

What are the next steps? When should we hear back?

We will evaluate applications on a rolling basis until they close March 5. Select participants will have a virtual interview to determine next steps. If you do not hear back from us by March 16, 2024 you were not selected to participate.

Can I apply if I am already a sponsored developer on GitHub?

Yes! We want to help you expand your funding and support as you look to build a full-time career in open source.

I want to help. How can I get involved?

Awesome! Sign up here for updates.