TL;DR
The Zulip project has transitioned to a new independent nonprofit, the Zulip Foundation, with leadership changes and a focus on long-term stability. Kandra Labs, the previous steward, is now fully owned by the foundation.
On May 15, 2026, the Zulip Foundation was officially launched, taking over governance and development of the Zulip open-source team chat platform from Kandra Labs, which is now fully owned by the foundation.
The creation of the Zulip Foundation marks a significant transition for the project, which has been maintained by Kandra Labs for over a decade. The foundation’s mission is to develop the best team chat experience, with a focus on public-interest organizations and communities. Kandra Labs will continue hosting and supporting Zulip, but now as an independent entity without external shareholders or debt.
The initial board of directors includes Zulip’s founder Tim Abbott, co-lead Greg Price, product lead Alya Abbott, and Rust community leader Josh Triplett. An advisory board with notable figures from academia and open source has also been established. Kim Vandiver has been appointed Interim President to oversee operations during the transition, ensuring stability across services such as Zulip Cloud and self-hosted deployments.
Why It Matters
This transition ensures Zulip’s long-term sustainability and independence, aligning its governance with models used by organizations like Mozilla and Wikipedia. It provides a formal structure for charitable fundraising and emphasizes the project’s commitment to open-source values, community support, and privacy.
team chat open source software
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Background
Prior to this change, Zulip was maintained by Kandra Labs, a mission-focused company that supported the platform for over ten years. The platform is known for its unique topic-based threading, which facilitates organized, parallel conversations. The move to a nonprofit structure follows ongoing discussions about ensuring the platform’s future amid growth and community needs.
“The Zulip Foundation formalizes our long-term commitment to Zulip’s sustainability and independence.”
— Tim Abbott, Zulip founder
“We are committed to maintaining stability and supporting the community during this transition.”
— Kim Vandiver, Interim President
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What Remains Unclear
It remains unclear how the transition will impact ongoing development velocity or future feature releases. The full composition of the future advisory board and additional board members is still being finalized. Details about funding strategies and potential new initiatives are also evolving.
privacy-focused team messaging app
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What’s Next
The foundation plans to recruit additional board members and advisory board participants. It will also focus on establishing sustainable funding models, expanding community engagement, and maintaining platform stability. Future updates on development milestones and community programs are expected.
Launching Greater Works: Turning a God-Inspired Vision into a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit (Chat Series)
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Key Questions
What is the Zulip Foundation?
The Zulip Foundation is a newly created nonprofit organization that now governs and supports the development of the Zulip team chat platform, ensuring its long-term sustainability and independence.
Will there be changes to how Zulip is developed or maintained?
Operational stability is currently prioritized, and while development velocity may slow temporarily during the transition, no major changes are expected in how Zulip is maintained or supported in the near term.
How does this affect Zulip’s community and users?
The move aims to strengthen Zulip’s community focus, especially for public-interest organizations, while maintaining existing services and support channels. Community involvement and transparency are emphasized.
What are the future plans for funding Zulip?
The foundation intends to explore sustainable fundraising avenues, including charitable donations and sponsorships, to support ongoing development and community initiatives.
