Partner with OSS
Open Source with SLU partners with companies, nonprofits, community groups, and research organizations on programs and projects that advance education, innovation, and the public good. Here's how organizations work with us.
Build Software Together
You have a software need. We have development teams.
Propose a project and get a dedicated team of emerging developers, guided by a graduate Tech Lead and faculty mentors, building your software over a full academic year. All work is open source by default, with options for sponsored proprietary development.
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- Teams of four developers working at least 22 hours/week for 28 weeks.
- Projects span web, mobile, IoT, AI/ML, data tools, and more.
- You participate in project initiation, regular check-ins, and project launch.
- Proposals evaluated on feasibility, alignment with program goals, and learning value.
- Existing projects can be sustained by successive teams across semesters.
Access Fresh Talent
See candidates perform before you hire.
Sponsor a development team and get direct access to emerging developers delivering real results on work your organization values. Evaluate skills, work habits, and cultural fit through actual project collaboration. Not interviews.
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- Developers approaching graduation work on projects aligned with your interests.
- Faculty mentors with industry experience provide oversight.
- Skip traditional internship management. Open Source with SLU handles coordination.
- Identify and cultivate top talent for future hiring, with an inside view of their capabilities.
- Tax-deductible investment in education and innovation.
Learn about the talent pipeline ⇨
Place Industry Fellows
Send your people to mentor ours.
Experienced professionals from your organization can join our Industry Fellows program, mentoring development teams for a semester. Your people gain leadership experience and community visibility. You build relationships with the next generation of talent.
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- Industry Fellows receive a university affiliation including campus access, email, and library privileges.
- Commitment: at least two in-person mentoring events per semester plus online participation.
- Fellows receive training to support effective mentoring relationships.
- Application required. See the full page for current timelines.
Learn about the Industry Fellows program ⇨
Engage Our Programs
Deeper, sponsored collaboration beyond a single project.
Partner on co-developed curricula, host collaborative workshops, sponsor events, or explore how open source practices can strengthen your organization's workflows. This is the path for partnership ideas that don't fit the categories above.
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- Co-develop educational programs and workforce development initiatives.
- Sponsor hackathons, demo days, and community events.
- Explore open source adoption strategies for your organization.
- Collaborative research and feasibility studies.
- Custom engagement models tailored to your goals.
Sponsor Our Work
Invest in the future of open source education.
Financial sponsorship and in-kind contributions support stipends, project development, and community infrastructure. Sponsorship is the organizational equivalent of an individual donation, with the potential for much larger impact.
More info...
- Sponsorship starts with a conversation. We'll find the right fit for your objectives.
- Options range from event sponsorship to multi-semester program partnerships.
- Tax-deductible contributions to education and innovation.
- Contact oss@slu.edu to explore options.