The Second Annual Open Source 50 (2010 Edition): Participate Now
Welcome to The VAR Guy’s Second Annual Open Source 50 survey, which runs Jan. 5 through March 31, 2010. Our goal is to identify the 50 most promising open source channel partner programs. The partner programs can involve pure open source companies or hybrid (open source/closed source) companies. The survey takes about 15 minutes (or less) to complete. We’ll announce the results in Q2 2010.
If you have any questions or comments please contact:
Joe Panettieri
Editorial Director
TheVARguy.com
joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com
The Inaugural Open Source 50 (2009 Edition Results)
When we embarked on our inaugural Open Source 50 research project (in late 2008/early 2009) we hoped to rank the top 50 companies, one through fifty. But in some instances the data we reviewed was pretty darn weak. Many open source companies are just getting started with their partner programs.
Our decision: We split The Open Source 50 into two sections:
- The top-ranked companies (1 to 25)
- The best of the rest (25 additional companies that have promising — but unproven — channel strategies)
Methods to Our Madness
The Open Source 50 is based on such variables as:
- Overall partner ecosystem size
- Annual partner network growth (in raw numbers)
- Annual partner network percentage growth
- Percent of revenue derived from partners
- Internal employees per channel partner
- The VAR Guy’s intense, daily coverage of open source in the IT channel
In order to be considered for The Open Source 50, companies had to complete a comprehensive online survey, which The VAR Guy and Nine Lives Media Inc. conducted from October 2008 until December 18, 2008. In addition, The VAR Guy’s team reached out to dozens of open source companies and their solutions providers to assemble this report.
For questions, comments or feedback please contact:
Joe Panettieri
Editorial Director
Nine Lives Media Inc.
joe [at] ninelivesmediainc.com
631-423-3536
The Complete Inaugural Report (2009 Edition): Free PDF Download
- The 35-page report is available now from The VAR Guy’s Resource Center (free registration is required). The report includes analysis of the open source IT channel, a close look at each of The Open Source 50 companies, key channel chiefs you need to know, and specific partner program initiatives at all 50 companies.
Selected Components Online (2009 Edition)
Our online content (see links below) focuses mainly on the open source industry’s top 25 partner programs.
- Part A: The Open Source 50
- Part B: Top Ranked Companies (Sorted 1 to 25)
- Overall Rankings 1 to 25
- Ranked By Percent of Revenue From Partners
- Ranked By Partner Ecosystem (Size, Growth) (2008 vs. 2007)
- Ranked By Employees (2008 vs. 2007)
- Part C: Best of the Rest (Unsorted)
Send feedback to joe [at] ninelivesmediainc.com
