Zulip Charts Independent Course with Values-Driven Approach to Team Chat

In an ecosystem where communication tools frequently pivot toward monetization at the expense of user trust, the Zulip team has publicly codified its core operating principles. These values—centered on permanence, openness, and sustainability—offer a deliberate contrast to typical venture-backed SaaS models.

Commitment to Long-Term Reliability Zulip explicitly prioritizes building software "that will always be there" for organizations. This principle influences architectural decisions and business planning, with uninterrupted service for early customers dating back to 2013. The team emphasizes designing systems that remain viable for decades, addressing a critical concern for teams choosing foundational communication infrastructure.

100% Open Source Without Compromise Unlike many "open-core" models where essential features are restricted to paid tiers, Zulip maintains a fully open-source codebase under the Apache 2.0 license. Self-hosted installations receive identical functionality to the cloud offering. This transparency has enabled thousands of organizations—from small communities to large enterprises—to deploy Zulip without vendor lock-in. The source code and complete documentation are publicly accessible.

Deep Investment in Contributor Growth Zulip cultivates contributors through extensive mentorship and unique educational resources. With over 185,000 words of contribution documentation—covering everything from Git workflows to architectural philosophy—the project lowers barriers to entry. Formal internship programs have nurtured 100+ participants since 2016, with alumni often reporting the experience surpassed their formal CS education. This focus on readability and mentorship sustains a diverse contributor base.

Sustainable Business Without Venture Capital Operating through Kandra Labs, Zulip explicitly rejects VC funding to avoid growth-at-all-costs pressure. Instead, revenue comes from paid cloud hosting tiers and U.S. National Science Foundation SBIR grants. This allows principled decisions without investor demands for compromised monetization. The team maintains lean operations by emphasizing maintainable code, rigorous testing, and automation—ensuring the platform doesn't require large teams just to "keep the lights on."

Supporting Communities Without Means Hundreds of open-source projects, academic research groups, and non-profits use Zulip Cloud Standard free through their sponsorship program. This initiative has grown exponentially, aligning with Zulip's mission to empower valuable organizations regardless of funding. Eligible groups can apply via the Zulip sponsorship page.

By formalizing these values, Zulip positions itself not just as tooling, but as a counter-model to volatile tech ventures—proving that communication infrastructure can thrive through community alignment rather than aggressive monetization.