CockroachDB is an open-source project that has grown significantly since its inception seven years ago. The creators of the project, Spencer Kimball, Ben Darnell, and Peter Mattis, founded a for-profit company called Cockroach Labs to support the development of the database. They sponsor several maintainers who contribute to the growth and evolution of CockroachDB. These maintainers include Daniele Varrazzo, Tom Payne, Dominik Honnef, Tim Graham, Keith Doggett, and Jack Christensen. Their work helps ensure compatibility with other projects and contributes to the overall success of CockroachDB. The company encourages community involvement and collaboration through its contributing guide.