Certified COSS™

The Certified COSS™ Framework is the industry-defining standard and certification mark for "true" Commercial Open Source companies, designed to establish trust and predictability in the asset class. Analogous to a "GAAP" for open source, the framework evaluates startups on four critical pillars: rigorous intellectual property stewardship via the Open Core Covenant, verified community health metrics, a clear commercialization strategy, and operational maturity .

Earning the COSSA Certified™ mark signals to investors, partners, and customers that a company has committed to a durable, non-predatory business model that balances commercial ambition with authentic community engagement. For founders, certification unlocks preferential access to the Investor Council and capital pipelines; for investors, it serves as a powerful de-risking mechanism against legal uncertainty and community revolt .