At Open Source, we believe strong communities start with strong connections. We actively engage with local businesses to build lasting partnerships. Through collaborative events and community networking, we’ve fostered meaningful relationships that not only sustain our team but also strengthen the local STEM ecosystem.

Open Source x Valtrek

Valtrek Automation Solutions has been a crucial sponsor since the 2023-2024 season. Not only do they provide financial and material donations to the team, but we also present regular "design reviews" to their top engineers. During these reviews, we discuss each mechanism in relation to our game strategy, and they critique and question our designs. This process pushes us to "know every millimeter of our bot" and often encourages us to think outside the box while striving for improvement.

Open Source x Willis City Council

In July 2025, we met with the Willis, Texas City Coucil, Mayor William Brown, and WISD Superintendent, Dr. Kimberley James, to discuss FIRST, our team goals, and advocate for STEM programs in our community.

Open Source x STERIS

STERIS has been a financial sponsor since the 2023-2024 season. They graciously open their doors to us every reveal day, allowing us to use their conference room for workshops. Thank you for the free hot chocolates and vanilla espressos! At the end of each season, we participate in a "presentation lunch" with their senior management and engineers to discuss our overall design, summarize our competitive season, and present our business plan for the next year.

Open Source x GE Vernova

We carry an ongoing relationship with GE Vernova of Houston, Texas into the 2025-2026 DECODE season, supporting outreach events by connecting them to multiple FIRST Tech Challenge teams across Texas and introducing them to Houston FIRST directors with the hopes of greater regional involvement.

Open Source x Spear Point Engineering

After meeting at a Willis City Council meeting, we scheduled an in-person robot demo with Spear Point Engineering. We gave an in-depth presentation about FIRST and our team while also touring their office and learning about the "interconnected" nature of municipal and civil engineering. This meeting also connected us with a potential new mentor!

Open Source x Raise 3D

Early in the 2024-2025 season, we were fortunate to connect with Raise 3D. We toured their Houston facility and demonstrated our "Into the Deep" bot. After the presentation, we collaborated with their engineering and technical team, brainstorming several ideas to enhance our bot's robustness and lifting capacity. Raise 3D also generously donated 3 kg of ESD-mitigating filament and offered to collaborate with us on future 3D printing projects.

Open Source x RobotLAB

During the Into the Deep season, we met with RobotLAB Houston. We gave a presentation on FIRST, demonstrated our competition robot, toured their facilities, and learned about industrial robots. Owner, Keith Edwards, made a donation to our team and expressed interest in volunteering with FIRST as a judge.