How Techstars Supported the Growth of the Pledge 1% Movement

How Techstars Supported the Growth of the Pledge 1% Movement

Pledge 1% is a global force for entrepreneurial philanthropy, embraced by over 10,000 companies and responsible for billions of dollars in pledged equity. Long before it became a worldwide movement, Techstars played a key role in supporting its early adoption and embedding it into the culture of startups.

On a recent episode of the Give First podcast, Techstars Co-Founder Brad Feld and Sameer Dholakia reflected on how Techstars helped encourage founders to give back from day one, and why the movement aligns naturally with Techstars’ Give First ethos.

Where It Started:

In 2006, Rally Software Co-Founder Ryan Martens approached Brad Feld with a bold vision: build a company that gives back from day one, inspired by Salesforce’s early 1% model. That conversation led to the creation of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado, one of the earliest examples of formalized startup equity philanthropy.

Techstars Leads by Example:

Techstars was not just an observer. It committed early and helped set the tone.

• Techstars pledged 1 percent of its profits
• Foundry Group pledged 1 percent of its carry
• Dozens of Techstars portfolio companies adopted the pledge

By encouraging founders early, Techstars helped the Pledge 1% approach gain traction well before it became a global movement.

Proving the Model Works:

As Techstars portfolio companies grew and exited, their pledged equity turned into real philanthropic capital. This success demonstrated the power of startup giving and inspired leaders like Atlassian’s Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes to scale the movement globally.

A Natural Fit for “Give First”:

Pledge 1% aligns with Techstars’ core value: helping without expecting something in return. For many founders, Techstars provided their first exposure to the pledge and gave them a path to embed impact into their culture from day one.

A Lasting Impact:

Today, the movement has generated more than $3B in pledged equity. Many Techstars alumni continue to adopt the pledge as they scale, extending the ripple effect that began in Boulder.