Davos has long been defined by governments, large institutions, and long-established leaders, and that foundation hasn’t fundamentally changed. Most conversations are still shaped by those voices, with power concentrated in familiar places.
But this year, from inside the room, I noticed something different. Not a shift in who holds power, but in how certain voices were received once they entered the room.
Founders and startups are usually present at Davos, though typically on the margins. What stood out this year was that founder-led perspectives, particularly from those actively building and deploying technology at scale—were met with more engagement and sustained interest than I would have expected in the past. People were more willing to listen when the conversation touched on culture and media.
That context framed the rest of the week for me.
When technology stops being a side conversation
At Davos, technology now shapes geopolitics, culture, and economic outcomes in real time. Certain technologies are no longer trends; they are becoming core systems that shape how information is built, scaled, and distributed. What once felt like a niche industry conversation now sits much closer to questions of influence and legitimacy.
As technology becomes embedded in everyday systems, it stops being theoretical. It becomes infrastructure. And when technology reshapes infrastructure, it earns a seat in rooms like Davos.
Much of this shift is being driven by founder-led companies. Founders are closest to building and deploying these technologies, seeing their impact firsthand, and navigating the tradeoffs early. That proximity creates a different kind of credibility—especially in environments where decisions depend on how technology behaves once it moves beyond experimentation and into everyday life.
Throughout the week, conversations moved quickly into practical implications. People wanted to understand what happens when technology scales, who is affected, and how responsibility shows up once products leave controlled environments and enter culture at large.
Where founders fit when technology starts to scale culture
For founders and CEOs navigating growth, scrutiny, and global visibility, this environment requires a specific mentality.
The founders who made progress at Davos were clear about what they’re building and confident in where they are in the journey. They didn’t apologize for being early or shrink because they didn’t match the usual profile. They spoke from direct experience—grounded not in theory, but in what they are actively shaping and learning.
Being present is only the starting point. Being taken seriously comes from how you show up and what you contribute once you’re there.
Davos may not feel welcoming to founders by default. But founders who understand how these rooms work—when to listen, when to speak, and how to connect their work to broader systems of power—help shape what future conversations look like.
As technology continues to scale its influence on culture and power, how founders show up in these rooms will matter more than ever.
