Current Bitcoin open-source grants focus on experienced developers with a long history of contributions and a concrete proposal.
But how does a new contributor get to the stage where they are suitable for a grant?
There is a funding gap for software developers aspiring to ramp up their open-source contributions and pinpoint the area where they can add value long-term.
This issue is particularly acute for developers from the Global South, who face financial obligations and the prospect of lost income during the transition to open-source development.
The Btrust Starter Grant provides full-time funding to qualified software engineers to start contributing to open-source Bitcoin projects, with a goal to identify a focus/niche for long-term contribution.
This grant program sets the stage for engineers to contribute meaningfully, build credibility and find direction through sustained contributions to open-source projects, without worrying about livelihood.