GitHub Accelerator: our first cohort and what's next

GitHub Accelerator is a 10-week program launched to support open source maintainers by providing an initial sponsorship of $20,000 and guidance from leaders in the field, aiming to help them establish sustainable funding for their projects. The first cohort in 2023 consists of 20 diverse projects with 32 participants from various countries and covers a wide range of industries and software applications. The program seeks to assist maintainers in making open source work a full-time career by testing new funding models and sharing insights with the community. Participants engage in weekly sessions on topics such as licensing, governance, sponsorships, and community management, and at the program's conclusion, GitHub plans to share the outcomes and lessons learned. Additionally, GitHub has introduced features like organization-funded sponsorships and bulk sponsorships to make it easier for companies to support the open source projects they depend on.