The Apache Incubator
Business Profile
Core Value Proposition
The Apache Incubator provides services to podlings (incoming projects) seeking to join the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), helping them adopt the Apache governance style and operations and guiding them to services and resources to become top-level ASF projects.
Target Customer
Open source software projects that want to join the ASF, their communities, and project teams seeking mentorship and governance guidance to graduate to top-level ASF projects.
Key Differentiator
Mentor-driven, formalized path to ASF graduation based on the Apache Way, with dedicated mentors connecting podlings to ASF teams (e.g., Incubator PMC, Infrastructure) and a structured process for governance, community-building, branding, IP clearance, and graduation.
Implementation Timeline
Project incubation typically takes about 1.5 years
Pain Points
- 1Need for governance and community-building guidance aligned with the Apache Way
- 2Navigating the process to join ASF as a podling and progress to a top-level project
- 3Managing intellectual property considerations and ensuring proper IP clearance for code donations
Key Features
- 1Mentor delegation: each podling gets mentors who liaise with ASF teams to support operations and growth
- 2Structured incubation: guidance on governance, community development, and Apache-style processes
- 3Board reporting and graduation pathway: monthly reporting to the ASF board and a recommendation workflow for graduation to a top-level project
- 4IP clearance and donations handling: process to ensure proper due diligence for external code contributions
- 5Educational resources: cookbook, incubation policy, and various guides to support podlings during incubation
Target Customer Industries
Decision Makers
- 1Podling Mentor
- 2Incubator Project Management Committee (IPMC) Member
- 3Podling Project Management Committee (PPMC) Member
- 4Podling Committer
- 5Incubator Chair
- 6Mentors' Guide Contributor
Client Results
- 1Podlings graduate from incubation to top-level ASF projects (TLPs)
- 2Regular monthly-to-quarterly progress reporting to the ASF board
- 3A track record of assisting hundreds of podlings and mentors (e.g., 335 podlings assisted and 239 graduated as of April 2023; 300+ mentors; 25–50 podlings supported at any time)
Competitive Advantages
- 1Access to a structured, mentor-driven path leveraging the Apache Way
- 2Direct liaison with ASF teams (e.g., Infrastructure) to support operations
- 3Established processes for governance, community building, branding, publicity, and IP clearance
- 4Clear pathways to graduate to a top-level ASF project
- 5Formalized requirement for podlings to report progress and adhere to incubation constraints
Key Benefits
Additional Product Information
Product Description
An ASF program that provides services to incoming podlings to help them adopt Apache governance and operations, guiding them to resources and mentors to become top-level ASF projects.
Target Market
Incoming open-source projects seeking ASF membership and guidance to become recognized ASF projects
Unique Value Proposition
Gateway into the Apache Way with dedicated mentorship and a formalized, supported path to graduation as an ASF top-level project, including governance guidance, IP clearance, and branding support
Technical Requirements
Not specified in-depth; process documentation emphasizes guidelines (cookbook, incubation policy) and movement through established ASF processes rather than technical dependencies
Pricing Model
Not disclosed
Companies Solving Similar Problems
Based on matching: problems solved, target roles, key features, industries
Y Combinator
Y Combinator helps startups make something people want by providing early-stage funding, mentorship, and a strong network.
BuiltWith Web Technology Usage Trends
BuiltWith provides detailed web technology usage statistics and insights for businesses and developers.
SentientJobs
SentientJobs provides a comprehensive job board for AI, human, and hybrid positions, helping individuals find career opportunities in the evolving workforce landscape.
JBITSS Technology Solutions
Providing comprehensive technology solutions tailored to business needs.
goQR.me QR Code Generator
goQR.me QR Code Generator provides free QR code creation for commercial and print usage, including logo-enabled codes and vector exports (EPS/SVG) for high-quality print.
ICANN Lookup
ICANN Lookup provides the ability to look up the current registration data for domain names and Internet number resources.
Get More Profiles Like This
Join 2,000+ professionals getting weekly sales intelligence updates from GoAgentic
Ready to Transform Your Sales Pipeline?
Join 700+ sales professionals automating outreach with AI.
Start Free Trial
No credit card required