Open Source Project

Open Source Project Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Open source projects offer a unique avenue to innovate and collaborate without the constraints of conventional business models. In simple terms, this involves developing software with a codebase that's freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute.

Imagine taking part in creating tools that range from operating systems to specialized software, with contributions from talented developers globally. Open source projects empower you to craft impactful tech solutions while building a community around shared goals and improvements.

Starting an open source project requires dedication to coding, managing contributions, and fostering an inclusive environment. You'll need to champion transparency and continuous iteration. If contributing to global tech development and rallying a community around a shared vision excite you, open source projects are an inspiring path to consider.

In this list, you'll find real-world open source project success stories and very profitable examples of starting a open source project that makes money.

1. EspoCRM ($360K/year)

Oleksii Avramenko, one of the founders of EspoCRM, noticed a gap in the market for a universal and affordable CRM solution for small and mid-size businesses. With previous experience in the CRM industry, Avramenko and his team created EspoCRM, which has since seen significant success with an average of over 16,000 downloads per year and earning up to $30k a month. Through their innovative approach and dedication to customer satisfaction, EspoCRM has become a go-to CRM application for businesses looking to improve efficiency and performance.

How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 1

How We Developed A $30K/Month Open Source CRM

EspoCRM, an open-source CRM application for small and mid-size businesses, has seen an average of over 16,000 downloads per year and makes up to $30k per month, offering efficient tools to systematize customer data, improve sales cycles, and automate routine administrative tasks.

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