diff --git a/docs/features/software-catalog/descriptor-format.md b/docs/features/software-catalog/descriptor-format.md
index fa4b8c23da..1ec35d10ce 100644
--- a/docs/features/software-catalog/descriptor-format.md
+++ b/docs/features/software-catalog/descriptor-format.md
@@ -483,6 +483,8 @@ metadata:
   description: Retrieve artist details
 spec:
   type: openapi
+  lifecycle: production
+  owner: artist-relations@example.com
   definition: |
     openapi: "3.0.0"
     info:
@@ -527,6 +529,41 @@ The current set of well-known and common values for this field is:
   [Protocol Buffers](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers) to use with
   [gRPC](https://grpc.io/).
 
+### `spec.lifecycle` [required]
+
+The lifecycle state of the API, e.g. `production`. This field is required.
+
+The software catalog accepts any lifecycle value, but an organization should
+take great care to establish a proper taxonomy for these.
+
+The current set of well-known and common values for this field is:
+
+- `experimental` - an experiment or early, non-production API, signaling that
+  users may not prefer to consume it over other more established APIs, or that
+  there are low or no reliability guarantees
+- `production` - an established, owned, maintained API
+- `deprecated` - an API that is at the end of its lifecycle, and may disappear
+  at a later point in time
+
+### `spec.owner` [required]
+
+The owner of the API, e.g. `artist-relations@example.com`. This field is
+required.
+
+In Backstage, the owner of an API is the singular entity (commonly a team) that
+bears ultimate responsibility for the API, and has the authority and capability
+to develop and maintain it. They will be the point of contact if something goes
+wrong, or if features are to be requested. The main purpose of this field is for
+display purposes in Backstage, so that people looking at catalog items can get
+an understanding of to whom this API belongs. It is not to be used by automated
+processes to for example assign authorization in runtime systems. There may be
+others that also develop or otherwise touch the API, but there will always be
+one ultimate owner.
+
+Apart from being a string, the software catalog leaves the format of this field
+open to implementers to choose. Most commonly, it is set to the ID or email of a
+group of people in an organizational structure.
+
 ### `spec.definition` [required]
 
 The definition of the API, based on the format defined by `spec.type`. This
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/examples/hello-world-api.yaml b/packages/catalog-model/examples/hello-world-api.yaml
index 298b0cb835..659c48adfb 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/examples/hello-world-api.yaml
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/examples/hello-world-api.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ metadata:
   description: Hello World example for gRPC
 spec:
   type: grpc
+  lifecycle: deprecated
+  owner: grpc@example.com
   definition: |
     // Copyright 2015 gRPC authors.
     //
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/examples/petstore-api.yaml b/packages/catalog-model/examples/petstore-api.yaml
index 01953a4a97..c8ce576cce 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/examples/petstore-api.yaml
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/examples/petstore-api.yaml
@@ -3,8 +3,13 @@ kind: API
 metadata:
   name: petstore
   description: The petstore API
+  tags:
+    - store
+    - rest
 spec:
   type: openapi
+  lifecycle: experimental
+  owner: pets@example.com
   definition: |
     openapi: "3.0.0"
     info:
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/examples/streetlights-api.yaml b/packages/catalog-model/examples/streetlights-api.yaml
index 4aeef993bb..d53b05fc2d 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/examples/streetlights-api.yaml
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/examples/streetlights-api.yaml
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ metadata:
   name: streetlights
   description: The Smartylighting Streetlights API allows you to remotely manage the city lights.
   tags:
-    - unstable
+    - mqtt
 spec:
   type: asyncapi
+  lifecycle: production
+  owner: streetlights@example.com
   definition: |
     asyncapi: 2.0.0
     info:
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.test.ts b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.test.ts
index 48de569213..35a1c59ef8 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.test.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.test.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ describe('ApiV1alpha1Policy', () => {
       },
       spec: {
         type: 'openapi',
+        lifecycle: 'production',
+        owner: 'me',
         definition: `
 openapi: "3.0.0"
 info:
@@ -109,6 +111,36 @@ components:
     await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/type/);
   });
 
+  it('rejects missing lifecycle', async () => {
+    delete (entity as any).spec.lifecycle;
+    await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/lifecycle/);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects wrong lifecycle', async () => {
+    (entity as any).spec.lifecycle = 7;
+    await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/lifecycle/);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects empty lifecycle', async () => {
+    (entity as any).spec.lifecycle = '';
+    await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/lifecycle/);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects missing owner', async () => {
+    delete (entity as any).spec.owner;
+    await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/owner/);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects wrong owner', async () => {
+    (entity as any).spec.owner = 7;
+    await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/owner/);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects empty owner', async () => {
+    (entity as any).spec.owner = '';
+    await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/owner/);
+  });
+
   it('rejects missing definition', async () => {
     delete (entity as any).spec.definition;
     await expect(policy.enforce(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/definition/);
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.ts b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.ts
index 59e16df9a7..972f6df96d 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/ApiEntityV1alpha1.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ export interface ApiEntityV1alpha1 extends Entity {
   kind: typeof KIND;
   spec: {
     type: string;
+    lifecycle: string;
+    owner: string;
     definition: string;
   };
 }
@@ -40,6 +42,8 @@ export class ApiEntityV1alpha1Policy implements EntityPolicy {
       spec: yup
         .object({
           type: yup.string().required().min(1),
+          lifecycle: yup.string().required().min(1),
+          owner: yup.string().required().min(1),
           definition: yup.string().required().min(1),
         })
         .required(),