Today, we @PrototypeFund had the pleasure of announcing a new expansion to our funding program, with two new funding lines and 19 million € for FOSS projects 🎇
-
It means: 140 projects will be funded with up to 100.000€ and 90 will get additional Second Stage funding - on top of the grants we have already secured.
It means: 140 software projects will be built with users in mind rather than the companies behind them.
It means: 140 teams will get a chance to work on their dream project.In a critically underfunded FOSS world it's a lot, but at the same time, it's nothing compared to the absolutely crazy amounts of money available in proprietary tech.
We are incredibly lucky to work with one of the few public institutions that have decided to invest in technologies built by people and for people. With our program, the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie & Raumfahrt has been paving the way to more funding for FOSS communities for almost 10 years. They haven't just provided funds; they've also supported us in experimenting with ways to build better funding structures.
-
We are incredibly lucky to work with one of the few public institutions that have decided to invest in technologies built by people and for people. With our program, the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie & Raumfahrt has been paving the way to more funding for FOSS communities for almost 10 years. They haven't just provided funds; they've also supported us in experimenting with ways to build better funding structures.
They've taken risks with us, followed us on paths far from traditional state funding methods and encouraged us to explore ideas we didn't even dare to dream of.
With @PrototypeFund BMFTR has made it possible to create a blueprint for other institutions that want to fund technology for civil society. Almost 10 years later, we have demonstrated that the model works.
-
They've taken risks with us, followed us on paths far from traditional state funding methods and encouraged us to explore ideas we didn't even dare to dream of.
With @PrototypeFund BMFTR has made it possible to create a blueprint for other institutions that want to fund technology for civil society. Almost 10 years later, we have demonstrated that the model works.
I can confidently say that a FOSS world with @PrototypeFund is better than a world without it — but Prototype Fund alone won't save the FOSS world.
So, while we celebrate more funding, we should also start thinking about where the next 19 million €, ideally with a few more zeros added, will come from. Let's urge funders and public institutions, not only in Germany, to follow the example set by BMFTR in funding those who build technology for actual people.
-
I can confidently say that a FOSS world with @PrototypeFund is better than a world without it — but Prototype Fund alone won't save the FOSS world.
So, while we celebrate more funding, we should also start thinking about where the next 19 million €, ideally with a few more zeros added, will come from. Let's urge funders and public institutions, not only in Germany, to follow the example set by BMFTR in funding those who build technology for actual people.
That said: 19 million € for FOSS — woohoo 🥳 ! The past few months have been a wild ride, and it's incredible to see this upgraded version of Prototype Fund come to life so quickly. We couldn't have done it without the fantastic support of Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt, our wonderful colleagues at VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, our mother ship @okfde and, of course, every single member of Team @PrototypeFund (best team ever 🩷).
-
That said: 19 million € for FOSS — woohoo 🥳 ! The past few months have been a wild ride, and it's incredible to see this upgraded version of Prototype Fund come to life so quickly. We couldn't have done it without the fantastic support of Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt, our wonderful colleagues at VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, our mother ship @okfde and, of course, every single member of Team @PrototypeFund (best team ever 🩷).
I can't wait to stand by the side of all the projects we'll be funding over the two years, I can't wait to read your proposals for our new funding tracks.
If you haven't checked out what's new yet, you can do so here: https://www.prototypefund.de/en/blog/ptf-3-0
PS: We turn 10 next year. Want to celebrate with us? Save the date, 11.06.27, Berlin. -
I can't wait to stand by the side of all the projects we'll be funding over the two years, I can't wait to read your proposals for our new funding tracks.
If you haven't checked out what's new yet, you can do so here: https://www.prototypefund.de/en/blog/ptf-3-0
PS: We turn 10 next year. Want to celebrate with us? Save the date, 11.06.27, Berlin.Btw: If you're at #FrOSCon and missed our talk - we're here, say hi
-
Today, we @PrototypeFund had the pleasure of announcing a new expansion to our funding program, with two new funding lines and 19 million € for FOSS projects
It's tempting to write a classic "woohoo, more funds, let's celebrate" post. 19.000.000€ is more money than my brain can comprehend, and I've been working as a funder for a while.
It's a lot.
@shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke Does GNU Mes fit this? we should try!
-
@shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke Does GNU Mes fit this? we should try!
@ekaitz_zarraga @PrototypeFund @janneke That’s a bit vague. Send us a bit more info at info@prototypefund.de and we’ll reply!
-
@ekaitz_zarraga @PrototypeFund @janneke That’s a bit vague. Send us a bit more info at info@prototypefund.de and we’ll reply!
@shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke We probably will!
We are a fundamental project for a secure and trustable software supply chain.But we don't have any team member currently living in Germany.
-
@shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke We probably will!
We are a fundamental project for a secure and trustable software supply chain.But we don't have any team member currently living in Germany.
@ekaitz_zarraga @PrototypeFund @janneke We can fund teams only if one person at least resides in Germany
-
@shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke We probably will!
We are a fundamental project for a secure and trustable software supply chain.But we don't have any team member currently living in Germany.
@ekaitz_zarraga @shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke@mastodon.social
We should ask Stefan, I believe he's German. -
Today, we @PrototypeFund had the pleasure of announcing a new expansion to our funding program, with two new funding lines and 19 million € for FOSS projects
It's tempting to write a classic "woohoo, more funds, let's celebrate" post. 19.000.000€ is more money than my brain can comprehend, and I've been working as a funder for a while.
It's a lot.
@shiro @PrototypeFund This is great. Now please make it condition that no LLM driven projects will be included.
-
It means: 140 projects will be funded with up to 100.000€ and 90 will get additional Second Stage funding - on top of the grants we have already secured.
It means: 140 software projects will be built with users in mind rather than the companies behind them.
It means: 140 teams will get a chance to work on their dream project.In a critically underfunded FOSS world it's a lot, but at the same time, it's nothing compared to the absolutely crazy amounts of money available in proprietary tech.
@shiro@chaos.social Hey, thanks!!
-
We are incredibly lucky to work with one of the few public institutions that have decided to invest in technologies built by people and for people. With our program, the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie & Raumfahrt has been paving the way to more funding for FOSS communities for almost 10 years. They haven't just provided funds; they've also supported us in experimenting with ways to build better funding structures.
@shiro I never thought I would say this:
Danke Doro Bär! -
Btw: If you're at #FrOSCon and missed our talk - we're here, say hi
-
Today, we @PrototypeFund had the pleasure of announcing a new expansion to our funding program, with two new funding lines and 19 million € for FOSS projects
It's tempting to write a classic "woohoo, more funds, let's celebrate" post. 19.000.000€ is more money than my brain can comprehend, and I've been working as a funder for a while.
It's a lot.
@shiro @PrototypeFund Fantastic news! I like everything about this – a funding track for people new(er) to programming (even with the possibility of 10% mentoring! :O); a track to build alternatives to big tech; and of course so much more room for new projects overall!
Thanks for making this happen! Pretty epic!
-
@ekaitz_zarraga @shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke@mastodon.social
We should ask Stefan, I believe he's German.@janneke @ekaitz_zarraga @shiro @PrototypeFund @janneke when i doubt, get a Jürgen or a Dieter.
-
Btw: If you're at #FrOSCon and missed our talk - we're here, say hi
@shiro
I can't wait to read your proposals
@mastoreaderio unroll please -
@shiro
I can't wait to read your proposals
@mastoreaderio unroll please@cdarwin here's the unrolled thread: https://mastoreader.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fc.im%2F%40cdarwin%2F117100415507021148
Next time, kindly set the visibility to 'Mentioned people only' and mention only me (@mastoreaderio). This ensures we avoid spamming others' timelines and threads unless you intend for others to see the unrolled thread link as well.
Thank you!
-
@sabrinkmann @NGIZero Different funds have different grant sizes, there’s no norm for funds
We used to do 50k grants but when you split them between teams of 4 over 6 months, that’s not a lot of working hours per person.
100k works better for how we fund and who we fund, so we adapted.
