# Sponsors

The PuffinDB project was initiated and is currently funded by [STOIC](https://stoic.com/).

## Sponsorship Model
STOIC is currently discussing with several organizations (including competitors) that are interested in sponsoring this project. During its initial phases (most of 2023), this sponsorship will focus on the development of the [distributed query engine](docs/Query%20Engine.md) (most complex component). While a first release of PuffinDB should be made on the public repository (to be migrated to the [PuffinDB organization](https://github.com/PuffinDB)) sometime in Q2, the development of the [distributed query engine](docs/Query%20Engine.md) will initially be done using a private repository, only accessible to sponsors and carefully selected contributors. After its initial public release, further developments will take place on the public repository, while specific projects might still be initiated on dedicated private repositories. Nevertheless, all such projects will be advertised ahead of time, thereby ensuring full transparency. Finally, all projects will be released under [MIT License](LICENSE.md) eventually.

## Benefits
Sponsors receive the following benefits:
- Immediate access to private repository with pull request privileges
- Participation in bi-weekly sprint meetings
- Voting rights regarding critical architecture decisions and [roadmap](ROADMAP.md) priorities
- Addition of test cases to automated testing framework
- Technical support
- Marketing exposure
- 42 karma points

## Candidates
Sponsorship is open to both vendors and user organizations. The latter should consider sponsoring for the following reasons:
- Immediate visibility on a critical open source project that could have a significant impact on next-generation data stacks.
- Steering of project in a direction that benefits the end-user community.
- Access to expert resources for architecture design and planning.

## Competitors
Competitors should consider sponsoring PuffinDB, for the following reasons:
- This kind of open source project will happen, with or without PuffinDB — the market has a systemic need for something like it.
- The project will happen, with or without the support of any one organization — *if you can't beat them, join them!*
- Sponsorship will give competitors more visibility into what others are doing — good intelligence is priceless.
- PuffinDB only addresses the bottom layers of a next-generation data stack — most valuable innovations will happen on top.
- A larger syndicate of vendors will deliver better foundations — this next-generation data stack will benefit all parties involved.
- A larger syndicate of vendors will have more leverage with cloud providers — united we are stronger.

*Coopetition works!*

## Offer
The first five sponsors will receive a 50% discount on their first-year membership. Please email info at puffindb dot io for more information.
