Sponsorship Brochurefor the 18th Annual
Debian ConferenceMontreal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017

DebConf17 will take place in Montreal in earlyAugust 2017. We anticipate that it will bring
together 300 attendees and lead to major advances for Debian and for Free Software in general.
We invite you to join us and support this event!
If you have any further questions after reading
this brochure, please do not hesitate to contact
us at sponsors@debconf.org.

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Hello from the organizers!
Thank you for your interest in DebConf, the annual conference of the Debian Project!
This brochure should give you an overview of the sponsorship opportunities for our conference.
It also introduces the Debian Project, and elaborates on the role of the annual conference within
the project.
We invite you to sponsor our conference at a level which fits your budget and matches yourdesired level of visibility in our community and the media. We oﬀer several sponsorship levels,detailed on page 6, and are also open to other opportunities. Our higher levels of sponsorship
include the possibility of advertising your job openings, and other means of engaging with ourbroad spectrum of participants.
DebConf is run on a non-profit basis, and all the organizers work as volunteers without compensation. Your contribution makes it possible for us to bring together a large number of Debiancontributors from all over the globe to work together, help and learn from each other, and forge
friendships. As our project is distributed, meeting face to face once a year improves the remotecollaboration among our contributors during the remainder of the year.
Thank you very much, in advance, for your support. If you have any questions or ideas to discuss,
we look forward to hearing from you at sponsors@debconf.org and to working with you!
— The DebConf17 team(some of whom are shown below)

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

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DebianThe Free Operating System
Debian is an operating system consisting entirely of Free and Open Source Software. The Debian
project is dedicated to remaining 100% free and to being a responsible “citizen” of the Free andOpen Source Software ecosystem. Our priorities are Free Software and our users. Our strict
guidelines serve as an example for many other projects.

Debian is Universal, Debian is Choice
Debian is known for its adherence to the Unix and Free Software philosophies, and for its extensiveness — the current release includes over 55,000 software packages for more than ten
computer architectures, ranging from the more common Intel 32-bit and 64-bit architectures
to ARM (cellphones and tablets) and the IBM S/390 (mainframes). Besides the well-known Linuxkernel, it also supports the FreeBSD kernel.

A Large, Distributed, and Non-profit Project
The Debian Project’s key strengths are its volunteer
base, its dedication to the Debian Social Contract,and its commitment to providing the best, universal operating system. Debian is produced by overa thousand active developers spread across theglobe, many of whom volunteer in their spare time.
Outside of DebConf, most communication takes placeon the Internet in mailing-lists and IRC chat-rooms.
Unlike all other Linux distributions of similar size,
Debian is an independent non-profit organization not under the influence of a commercialentity. Debian’s dedication to Free Software, its non-profit nature, and its open development
model make it unique among Free Software distributions.

A Pillar for Free Software
Debian’s high quality standards and its strict adherence to policy makes it a preferred choicefor derivative works. Currently, over 120 actively developed operating systems build on
Debian, including the widely popular Ubuntu and Linux Mint distributions, LiMuX, and Knoppix. More specialized derivatives range from grml (optimized for system administrators) to Tails(optimized for privacy). Debian runs in hundreds of schools thanks to SkoleLinux, powers gaming platforms with SteamOS, and has been deployed by public institutions such as the cities ofMunich and Vienna, and the German Federal Oﬃce for Information Security (BSI).
The Debian Project takes pride in being built upon by others, and we work actively with theteams behind derivative distributions to maximize the gains for all.

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

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DebConf
Debian Annual Conference
DebConf is the annual conference for Debian contributors and users interested in improving Debian.
Previous Debian conferences have featured speakers
and attendees from all around the world. DebConf16took place in Cape Town, South Africa and was attended by 280 participants from 30 countries.
Thanks to our sponsors, participation, accommodation, and meals are free of charge for qualifying Debian developers and contributors who apply for bursaries. In addition, a limited amount of Karen Sandler delivering a keynote at DebConf16
travel cost subsidies are available, to bring contributors who would not otherwise be able to attend. The
organization of DebConf itself is entirely volunteer-based.
DebConf17 will take place in August 2017 in Montreal, Canada. The venue, “Collège de Maisonneuve” is situated in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood, right next to the Montreal
Olympic Stadium and the Botanical Garden. The college oﬀers a spacious, open, yet aﬀordable
environment for plenary discussions and presentations, as well as informal workgroup meetings.
Accommodation for participants will be available on-site.
The first day of DebConf will be open to the public and we plan to schedule events of interest
to a wider audience then. This is a great possibility for interested users to meet our community,
for us to widen our community, and for our sponsors to increase their visibility. A job fair (seebelow) will be arranged too, in case you are looking to recruit!

Live World-wide Video Streaming
A dedicated team of volunteers with years of experience with video coverage will record all
sessions at DebConf, to be streamed live via the Internet. This allows for remote participationby those who are not able to attend.
All videos are also available after the conference for the further benefit of the community. All
this is free of charge to viewers. We thank our Platinum and Gold sponsors by inserting
their logos into the video streams.

DebCamp: Team Sprints
After working together remotely during the rest of the year, many teams use the opportunityof DebConf to come together for in-person collaboration, to tackle tough issues, and todrive big changes. We will provide the venue and infrastructure for such team sprints — wecall it DebCamp — during the week before DebConf.

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

5DebConf and Debian
A Democratic Project
Debian is an important project in the Free Software community, and has been so for over twodecades. One of the reasons behind this success is that Debian is more than just a software
project. It is a diverse and international community which thrives on its culture of openness andcommitment to Free Software.
DebConf has become one of the most important conferences on my annual calendar,and has inspired me over the last two years to become more involved withDebian. Debian is one of the most democratic and egalitarian software freedom communities in existence today. DebConf, as an annual event, showcases that community and enables it to flourish. DebConf16 was no exception. I encourage anyone who wants to examine first-hand a good model of a functioning Free Softwarecommunity attend DebConf.
Bradley M. Kuhn, Software Freedom Conservancy

Building a Strong Community
DebConf helps share the knowledge and experience of developers with the entire community. It
also helps individuals to put faces to the names they have been working with for years. DebConf
not only makes the Debian community stronger, but has become an integral part of it.
I have to say networking was the highlight of DebConf for me. Before attending, I
had only been in contact with 3 people that were at the conference, and those
3 had been virtual contacts, I didn’t really know them. [. . . ] I got to meet lots ofpeople that way, met some Debian contributors from my home country (Brazil), somefrom my current city (NYC), and yet others that had similar interests as I do who I
might work with in the near future.
Juliana Louback, GSoC Student

Project Synergy
DebConf gives contributors a chance to meet face to face, socialize, and brainstorm new ideas.
As a result people leave DebConf with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for Debian and its goals.
New ideas and systems that Debian implements often originate in an informal session
at DebConf.
As Debian Account Manager, DebConf is a priceless opportunity for me to handle
sensitive matters face to face, in an appropriate setting. Over time there will beseveral such issues accumulating that cannot easily be handled via email.
Enrico Zini, Debian Developer

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

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Our Oﬀer to Sponsors
Sponsorship Levels
Supporter Bronze SilverGoldPlatinumContribution in CAD$

< $2,600$2,600$6,500 $13,000$26,000

Contribution in USD$

< $2,000√$2,000√$5,000 $10,000√√$20,000√

Logo on sponsor webpage
Logo with backlink on all webpages
Access to swag bags
Logo on t-shirt and conference bag
Presence at job fair

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Logo on video streams and conference banners√

Logo on podium banners√Mention in press releases

Job Postings and Job Fair
DebConf attracts some of the smartest Free Software hackers from around the globe, many ofwhom are always on the lookout for new challenges. We provide our sponsors the chance toreach out to Debian contributors, derivative developers, upstream authors and othercommunity members.
For the fifth year in a row, there will be a job fair during DebConf. As a Platinum, Gold, or Silver
sponsor, you can use this opportunity to present yourself as an employer and engage indirect dialogue with potential job candidates.
Sponsors that participated in the job fair in previous years have said that this was a unique opportunity to engage with the community, some of them finding engineers for their open positions
that are hard to find elsewhere.
We invite all our sponsors to post job oﬀerings to our job wall.

Swag bags and raﬄe prizes
In addition to your logo on the attendees’ conference bags, we also invite you to distributemarketing materials and other goods in the bags if you support us at Bronze level or above.1
If you have smaller quantities of hardware to give away or you want to create some buzz
about your device at the conference, you could provide us with one or more items which wewill include in a raﬄe for attendees, obviously mentioning you.

1 All sponsor-provided content and initiatives must be coordinated with our organizing team.

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

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Diversity outreach programme
As in recent years, we will continue to reach out to groups who would otherwise be less likely
to attend our conference, in an eﬀort to increase diversity among our attendees. We have
travel and accommodation bursaries earmarked for diversity, which we find benefits both theconference and the project. If you are interested in this eﬀort, we would love to hear from you.

Additional sponsorship opportunities
We are always open to ideas regarding the involvement that our sponsors want to have withthe community. If you would like to sponsor in a unique way or you are interested in discussing additional sponsorship opportunities, please contact the sponsorship team at sponsors@debconf.org to discuss pricing and other details.
We will be happy to listen to your ideas and wishes for making the conference an unforgettable event for our participants.

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

8Sponsorship Assets
In the Words of Our Past Sponsors
There are as many reasons to sponsor DebConf as there are reasons Debian developers spend
their time fixing bugs, improving the overall system, and helping its installed base. In the wordsof some of our past sponsors:
Supporting DebConf is important to Hewlett Packard Enterprise because it’s such afantastic and productive conference! For us, DebConf is a great venue to meet andwork with Debian Developers. DebConf is where the Debian community comes
together to discuss problems, ideas and plans, and everyone goes home with newconnections, new ideas, and lots of energy.
Martin Michlmayr, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Sponsoring DebConf has benefited Bytemark in two ways: 1) it puts our brand in
front of exactly the right crowd and 2) it allows Steve, the Debian developer on ourstaﬀ, to keep in touch with the project that we rely on so heavily. We support DebConf
because it supports us.
Matthew Bloch, Bytemark Hosting
Sponsoring DebConf helps us to get the recognition we need from inside the Debian
Project. It is astonishing how many potential employees, partners and even customers
are aware of our sponsorship activities at DebConf. We even got a couple of exciting
job applications only through DebConf.
Peter Ganten, Univention GmbHThe Value of Sponsoring DebConf
Many of DebConf’s attendees are well known experts in their fields and their opinions
and views are followed by many individuals and businesses. Debian is a democracy ofits developers where smaller voices can easily be heard. Participating through sponsorship is
one of the many ways to help the project achieve its full potential, and DebConf is a powerfuldestination of sponsorship funds.
By sponsoring DebConf you directly support the progress of Debian and Free Software,and you help further in strengthening the community who continue to collaborate on theirprojects throughout the rest of the year.
To our attendees, your contribution is a strong signal of appreciation for their work. Throughgeneral visibility as part of our sponsorship programme, and the direct support of attendees,
sponsoring DebConf earns you goodwill in the Free Software community at large. Past DebConfs have also oﬀered great opportunities for contact building and recruitment.

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

9The Need for Sponsorship
DebConf has evolved from its humble beginnings in Bordeaux, France (2000) with 30 attendees and virtually no budget, to recent years where we regularly accommodate more than 250attendees (peaking at twice that) with budgets in the lower six-digit figures.
The conference is still organized entirely by volunteers without compensation. The Debian
Project does not engage in commercial activities and depends solely on donations from users andbenefactors.
DebConf draws much of its strength from the diversity of its participants. The Free Softwarecommunity, represented at the conference, is a globally active and very diverse crowd of people,
spanning many cultures and all levels of social status. Perhaps the most important aspect of
DebConf is that we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to attend —not just those that are nearby and can aﬀord it — because it benefits the conference,
every attendee, and ultimately Debian and the Free Software community.
We expect 300 attendees to DebConf in Montreal. A popular travel destination, Montreal is abeautiful old French-influenced city. There is a strong Debian community in North America,
within easy travel distance. Many of our contributors also come from further afield, and there
are attendees who require travel and/or accommodation assistance to attend. Our sponsors
enable us to help as many as possible, and bring the community together for DebConf.
All funds raised for DebConf will be used towards this goal. Any surplus after the conference
will be used for funding future Debian Free Software activities.

Invoices and tax-deductible donations
As a sponsor, you will receive an invoice from one of our fundraising entities, specifying thesponsorship level and associated benefits. The invoice explicitly lists sales tax (VAT) whereappropriate. Depending on your situation, sponsoring DebConf may thus be a normal business
expense.
We are also happy to receive donations through our registered not-for-profit entities in Germany and the US, if desired. We’ll gladly issue receipts for such donations, which may betax-deductible (check with your tax advisor for details).

More About DebConf
For more information about DebConf, the final reports from our past conferences illustrate thebroad spectrum, quality, and enthusiasm of the community at work:https://media.debconf.org/reports/.
For further details, feel free to contact us through sponsors@debconf.org, and visit our website
at https://debconf17.debconf.org

Thank you for taking the time to read this brochure. We hope to hear from you soon!

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org

10See You in Montreal!

DebConf attendees at DebConf16 in Cape Town, South Africa

Photo credits• Montreal panorama by Hussein Abdallah, CC-BY 2.0• DebConf17 team photo by Margarita Manterola, CC-BY-SA 4.0• Photo of Karen Sandler by Michael Banck, CC-BY 4.0• DebConf16 group photo by Jurie Senekal, CC-BY 4.0
LicenceThis brochure is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence, version 4.0, by attribution (CC-BY 4.0).

DebConf17 | Montréal, Canada, 5–12 August 2017https://debconf17.debconf.org | sponsors@debconf.org