--- title: 'Open Source Software Author/CTO at Open Core Ventures' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/open-source-software-author-cto-open-core-ventures-remote-s0c98rmqnww3' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-12' --- # Open Source Software Author/CTO at Open Core Ventures - **Company:** Open Core Ventures - **Location:** Remote - **Work type:** remote - **Posted:** 2024-10-15 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/opencoreventures/jobs/5356134004 ## Job description ## About Open Core Ventures [Open Core Ventures](https://opencoreventures.com/) (OCV) is a venture capital firm that starts [commercial open source software companies](https://opencoreventures.notion.site/Company-Formation-Process-9387ad96a1e043e4b47d38ad8117cf58). Our team identifies open source software projects with traction, recruits passionate project founders and contributors, and launches new companies. OCV companies aim to create tangible value for the open source community by providing access to resources and reducing the barrier to entrepreneurship. Our culture is [handbook-first](https://opencoreventures.notion.site/OCV-Public-Handbook-6d49e74d282b4c3fb9aa8a70869596b1). ## About the OCV Model OCV believes in the power of [open core](https://opencoreventures.notion.site/Open-Core-Business-Model-525879f382cb430e81274f669a026c15), and the impact of [open learning and collaboration](https://opencoreventures.com/core-values/). Our approach diverges from conventional venture capital because OCV starts companies and recruits founders; OCV does not invest in existing companies. The [OCV model](https://opencoreventures.com/operating-model/) enables experienced, capable, and technical open-source authors and contributors  to found companies,who otherwise would not have the resources to launch a successful startup. Sid Sijbrandij, founder and CEO of GitLab, serves as our General Partner. Location Fully Remote Duties/Responsibilities - Manage and contribute to your project and company full-time, collaborating with OCV and leveraging OCV resources including, and not limited to, CEO sourcing - Conduct customer discovery and leverage iterative feedback to build a commercial arm around your OSS project - Grow your open-source community alongside your business, advancing OCV’s mission Required Qualifications - Has made significant contributions to an open-source project with an existing community - Strong enthusiasm and excitement about being the founder of a company - Understanding of basic startup considerations ## Preferred Qualifications (Not Required) - Created or is the author/owner of the OSS project - Has prior entrepreneurial experience/experience as a founder The actual offer, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be at the company’s sole discretion and determined by a myriad of factors, including, but not limited to, years of experience, depth of experience, and other relevant business considerations. The company also reserves the right to amend or modify employee perks and benefits at any time. At Open Core Ventures, we operate in a transparent environment, with clear terms and open communication, guided by our public handbook. We celebrate and embrace differences as a strength and source of innovation. We dare to dream, dare to lead, and dare to change. We are resourceful, think creatively, and adapt quickly. We persevere, take challenges head-on, and do not bat an eye at the hard stuff. Open Core Ventures is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. ## About Open Core Ventures ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Open Core Ventures (OCV) is a venture capital firm that starts commercial open source software companies by recruiting founders around promising open source projects and providing initial funding and operational support. - **Entity Type**: Private (Venture Capital Firm) - **Headquarters**: Remote (HQ in the United States) - **Founded**: 2020 - **Founders**: Sid Sijbrandij (Co-Founder and Executive Chair of GitLab) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Venture Capital, Open Source Software, Startup Incubation - **Target customers**: Open source project maintainers and contributors (B2B, Founder-focused) - **Mission or purpose statement**: "To enable more people to become founders" and to make it so "the majority of venture-funded software companies are open core companies." [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) ## Products & Services - **Company Incubation Program**: OCV identifies open source projects with traction, recruits a founding CTO and CEO, incorporates and funds the company with $2M, and provides operational and strategic support until the company raises an external seed round. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/about) - **Catalyst Program**: A program for associates to run the incubation and growth of open source startups. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/about) - **Public Handbook**: An ever-growing handbook of practical advice created specifically for open core companies by experienced open core founders. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (Private firm) - **Key Metric**: OCV companies have raised over $40M in Seed+ investment following OCV’s initial funding. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Sid Sijbrandij (GitLab CEO), Rich Aberman (WePay founder, former YC Visiting Partner), Chris Hubbell (former Fund Strategy Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, former General Partner at ICONIQ Capital) [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/about) - **Growth Signals**: The firm is actively hiring for multiple roles including CTO, Full Stack Engineer, Investor, and Talent Lead, indicating a scaling phase. [boards.greenhouse.io](https://boards.greenhouse.io/opencoreventures) ## Competitive Advantages - **Unique Model**: OCV does not invest in existing companies. Instead, it starts companies from scratch around open source projects, recruiting founders rather than waiting for pitches. This is a "new approach to venture" that turns the traditional model on its head. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) - **Founder Expertise**: Founded by GitLab CEO Sid Sijbrandij, a champion of the open source community and a pioneer in scaling remote organizations. The team includes veterans from WePay, Andreessen Horowitz, and Y Combinator. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/about) - **Proven Playbook**: OCV provides a blueprint and operational support, with 50% of OCV companies closing follow-on funding within 12 months. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/about) ## Strategic Focus - **Current priorities**: Identifying open source projects with "massive potential" and recruiting technical founders to launch new OCV companies. The firm is focused on scaling its incubation model and expanding its team across engineering, investing, and talent functions. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) - **Direction for growth**: To make open core the standard business model for venture-funded software companies, creating more open software and enabling more contributors. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) ## Why Work Here - **Culture highlights**: OCV's five core values are Boldness, Transparency, Resourcefulness, Inclusion, and Documentation. The firm operates with a public handbook and a culture of open communication, turning the traditional venture model on its head. [handbook.opencoreventures.com](https://handbook.opencoreventures.com/ocv-employees/culture/values) - **Remote/hybrid/office policy**: Fully remote. The headquarters is listed as "REMOTE" and jobs are open to candidates in CA, CO, NY, TX, FL, GA, MA, NJ, PA (with a strong preference for SF Bay Area for some roles). [boards.greenhouse.io](https://boards.greenhouse.io/opencoreventures) - **Notable perks or engineering culture**: The firm is small (10 employees) and highly specialized, offering the chance to work alongside top-tier investors and operators from GitLab, Andreessen Horowitz, and Y Combinator. The work directly impacts the open source ecosystem by lowering the barrier to entrepreneurship. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-core-ventures) ## Sources 1. [opencoreventures.com](https://www.opencoreventures.com/) 2. [opencoreventures.com/about](https://www.opencoreventures.com/about) 3. [boards.greenhouse.io](https://boards.greenhouse.io/opencoreventures) 4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-core-ventures) 5. [handbook.opencoreventures.com](https://handbook.opencoreventures.com/ocv-employees/culture/values) ## Other roles at Open Core Ventures - [Investor - Open Core Ventures](https://feeny.ai/job/investor-open-core-ventures-open-core-ventures-san-francisco-bay-area-0jm6dcgagjjw) — San Francisco Bay Area - [Full Stack Software Engineer - Open Core Ventures](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-software-engineer-open-core-ventures-open-core-ventures-located-in-wwekxcpcj6n1) — Located in CA CO NY TX FL GA MA NJ, PA - [OCV's Catalyst v2 Application (Summer 2026)](https://feeny.ai/job/ocv-s-catalyst-v2-application-summer-2026-open-core-ventures-united-states-f8hgh3qxmsn5) — United States