The Founder Effect: What You Choose to Build Once You've Already Won

Creating a standout company is no longer the end goal. After an exit or exceptional financial success, the question appears: When you no longer have to build, what is worth building? Success gives more than capital and freedom. It gives perspective, networks, credibility, and early access to the ideas and technologies shaping the future. Some start again. Others become investors, mentors, ecosystem builders, or dedicate their time and capital to challenges that take decades to solve. Together, we’ll explore how successful entrepreneurs use their experience, capital, and influence to shape what comes next. Discussion

• Purpose Beyond Success What drives founders once money is no longer the goal?
• Seeing What’s Next Which shifts and technologies are still underestimated?
• Beyond the Company How do founders turn experience, capital, and networks into broader impact?
• Choosing What Matters Which challenges are worth committing to for the next decade?
• Legacy What will you enable for the next generation? In the room:
• After an acquisition: Brian Crain - Chorus One, acquired by Bitwise.
• Beyond one company: Helene Guillaume - Wild.AI, acquired by Zepp Health.
• Investing in what’s next: Jacob Lindberg - Vinter, acquired by Kaiko; Dmitry Stepanov - leads AAL VC and Yango Ventures.
• Enabling other builders: Hadi Moussa - Oyster CEO; previously held leadership roles at Airbnb, Deliveroo, and Coursera; Alex Golod - angel investor and technology executive; Web Summit mentor and judge.
• Building for long-term impact: Karolina Attspodina - WeDoSolar, bringing solar to urban households. Why Web Summit is full of conversations about how to build extraordinary companies. We ask what happens after. Success doesn’t have to reduce ambition. It can expand its scale, time horizon, and impact - from building companies to enabling founders, institutions, technologies, and breakthroughs that shape the next decade. Schedule 18:30 - Welcome Reception 19:30 - Fireside Discussion 20:30 - Audience Q&A 21:00 - Curated Networking Reception 22:30 - Close Attendance is limited. Applications are reviewed individually to ensure a relevant, high-quality community.