Web Summit and Founders Pledge: Unlocking $280 million for high-impact charities

Founders Pledge have formed a transformative alliance with Web Summit, the world’s largest technology events creator, connecting people and ideas that change the world. Together with Web Summit, we're leveraging the power of global tech leadership gatherings to drive high-impact philanthropy. This collaboration has resulted in an impressive $280 million in new charitable pledges over the past three years. By bringing together visionary founders and mission-driven investors, Web Summit has provided a platform for Founders Pledge to amplify its mission of supporting philanthropists to create the highest impact with their charitable giving.

How Web Summit fuels philanthropy

Web Summit’s ability to attract high-caliber entrepreneurs at their global events has been instrumental in the success of this initiative. By attending Web Summit events in Lisbon, Vancouver (formerly Toronto), and Rio, Founders Pledge has connected with hundreds of founders, many of whom have subsequently made meaningful commitments to give to charity. These pledgers come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from seed-stage startups to established Series C companies, demonstrating that meaningful philanthropy can begin at any stage of an entrepreneurial journey.

David Goldberg, Founder and CEO of Founders Pledge, speaks at Web Summit in November 2022.

While founders retain full autonomy over their charitable contributions, a distinct pattern has emerged: many choose to support causes related to climate action, education, and AI safety. These priorities align closely with the thought leadership and impactful discussions fostered at Web Summit events, highlighting the conference’s role in shaping both business and philanthropic strategies.

These new members join a global community of 2,000+ Founders Pledge members in 47 countries, including the people behind household names such as Bolt, Unity, Klarna, Wise, Webflow, Twelve and Replicate. Collectively the Founders Pledge community has pledged $11 billion to charitable causes.

Joining forces: a milestone event in 2024

In December 2024, the collaboration between Founders Pledge and Web Summit took a major step forward with an exclusive co-hosted event in New York City. Held at the inspiring Sommwhere art gallery, this intimate dinner brought together 30 founders, investors, and executives for a candid conversation on inequality and philanthropy. Led by Chris Hughes, Chair of the Economic Security Project and former Co-Founder of Facebook, the discussion underscored the importance of directing wealth toward solving pressing global challenges.

“The NYC dinner co-hosted by Web Summit and Founders Pledge was one of those rare moments—smart people, big ideas, and a shared drive to build something meaningful. These were my people, and I pledged shortly after.” Matt Friesen - Founder (Playlist and Into The Awesome) and Partner (La Performance)

Chris Hughes, Chair of the Economic Security Project and former Co-Founder of Facebook, speaks at the co-hosted dinner in NYC in December 2024.

Looking ahead: expanding the impact

As Web Summit and Founders Pledge continue to deepen their collaboration, the goal remains clear: to empower more founders to integrate philanthropy into their success stories. With Web Summit’s unparalleled reach in the tech ecosystem and Founders Pledge’s expertise in effective giving, this partnership is set to channel even greater resources toward significant global change.

For founders looking to make a lasting impact, Web Summit is more than just a conference—it’s a gateway to purpose-driven success. The $280 million pledged so far is only the beginning.

Find out more about future events at websummit.com. Catch the Founders Pledge team in Web Summit's upcoming events in Vancouver or Lisbon.