The platform isn't centrally controlled, but that doesn't mean that companies can't offer services to users on the network.

It's similar to Bitcoin, which has no central control, but now has an ecosystem of businesses that support Bitcoin users.

Our goal with OB1 is to build the OpenBazaar network and gain large adoption, and then offer those users services (such as dispute resolution, store hosting, search).

All of the investors are invested in other Bitcoin-related ventures. OpenBazaar has the potential to get people to actually spend Bitcoins, which people don't really do now. That then has the potential to increase Bitcoin's value, which will help their other Bitcoin-related investments.

For example, Andreessen Horowitz has invested quite a lot of money into Bitcoin mining operation, 21 Inc, who in turn have mined a lot of Bitcoin. If Bitcoin's price goes up, the value of 21 Inc's holdings go up.

>what was the incentive for donating 1m

BitTorrent received $41M in VC funding, and is free, does not collect data, and is not centrally controlled. They monetize through content distribution software integrations, business software, a search engine, and an ad supported Torrent client. I imagine OpenBazaar will monetize in similar ways.

Note: >to develop the OpenBazaar protocol and client, _and build the first business on top of the OpenBazaar network._

There are many opportunities where you can make money here. Think about an arbitrage service in case of a dispute. Or an escrow service. Or a reputation service maybe?

I think that the can be only One marketplace since it relies heavily on the network effect. For OB to be first and biggest is a big deal.

An easy way for them to make money is to follow https://Discourse.org or https://ghost.org biz model.

These are Open Source, but you can pay them to host for you.