Ron Conway's Resignation Shakes Silicon Valley
Ron Conway's Resignation Shakes Silicon Valley
After 25 years on the Salesforce Foundation board, Ron Conway resigned, sharply criticizing CEO Marc Benioff. Conway expressed deep disappointment, stating he "now barely recognizes the person" he once admired. The split centers on Benioff's controversial support for President Trump's call to send National Guard troops to San Francisco to address crime, a move Conway strongly opposed.
Clash Over San Francisco's Security and Values
Conway condemned Benioff's stance as detached from reality, especially criticizing the suggestion of a federal "invasion" to enforce security. He pointed out that San Francisco does not need troops simply because Benioff dislikes paying extra for Dreamforce event security. The disagreement highlights a broader clash over political views and approaches to public safety within the tech community.
Impact on Tech Philanthropy and Leadership
This resignation marks a significant fracture in Silicon Valley's philanthropic and business leadership. Conway’s departure signals how political positions can reshape long-standing alliances, raising questions about the future direction of Salesforce’s influence and the broader tech industry's role in civic issues.
About the People Mentioned
Ron Conway
Ron Conway is an American venture capitalist, super angel investor, and philanthropist, widely recognized as a central figure in Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem. Born on March 9, 1951, Conway graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in political science. He began his career in marketing at National Semiconductor Corporation (1973–1979) before co-founding, serving as President, and leading Altos Computer Systems as CEO (1979–1990), taking the company public on Nasdaq in 1982. He later served as CEO of Personal Training Systems (1991–1995), which was acquired by SmartForce/SkillSoft. Conway transitioned to angel investing in the mid-1990s, focusing early on internet startups and quickly establishing himself as a leading investor. He founded SV Angel, a prominent venture capital firm, and managed the Angel Investors LP funds from 1998 to 2005. His investments span numerous successful technology companies, and he played a key role in arranging Google’s Series A funding. Conway has been named to Forbes Magazine’s Midas List of top deal-makers since 2011, was recognized as Best Angel at the 2009 TechCrunch Crunchies Awards, and was included in Vanity Fair’s 100 most influential people in the Information Age in 2010. Beyond investing, Conway is known for his advocacy in technology, civic engagement, and immigration reform. He is the founder and chairman of sf.citi and co-founder of FWD.US. He is actively involved in efforts to address systemic racial inequity and support founders of color, notably through Slauson and Co. Philanthropically, Conway is a member of the Giving Pledge and supports organizations such as the Salesforce Foundation, UCSF Medical Center, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, College Track, and gun violence prevention groups including Sandy Hook Promise and Giffords.org. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Conway has been involved in securing PPE and fundraising for drug therapies and vaccines, including organizing the Covid-19 Tech Task Force. He remains a prominent voice and influential figure in both the tech and philanthropic communities.
Marc Benioff
Marc Russell Benioff, born September 25, 1964, in San Francisco, California, is an American internet entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Salesforce, a leading cloud computing company[5][1][2]. He graduated from Burlingame High School in 1982 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California in 1986[1][5]. Benioff began his career at Oracle Corporation, where he quickly rose to become the youngest vice president at age 26, before leaving in 1999 to found Salesforce with a vision to revolutionize enterprise software by delivering customer relationship management (CRM) through the cloud[1][4]. Salesforce launched from a small San Francisco apartment with the slogan "The End of Software," pioneering the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. The company went public in 2004 and has grown into a Fortune 150 company with over 70,000 employees and a market valuation exceeding $200 billion[1][2][3]. Under Benioff’s leadership, Salesforce introduced innovations such as the AppExchange—the first enterprise app marketplace—and expanded through acquisitions including Tableau, Slack, and MuleSoft, positioning the company as a comprehensive platform for business software[1][2]. The Salesforce Tower in San Francisco symbolizes the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability[3]. Benioff is also notable for integrating philanthropy into business through Salesforce’s 1-1-1 model, dedicating 1% of equity, product, and employee time to charitable causes. He co-founded the Pledge 1% movement, which has been adopted by thousands of companies[2][3]. Beyond Salesforce, he became the owner and co-chair of *Time* magazine in 2018[5][2]. Recognized widely for his leadership, Benioff has received numerous honors including Forbes’ “Innovator of the Decade,” CNN Business CEO of 2020, and accolades for his commitment to equality and social impact[2]. He continues to lead Salesforce into emerging areas such as AI agents, maintaining a focus on innovation and social responsibility[6].
About the Organizations Mentioned
Salesforce Foundation
The **Salesforce Foundation** is the philanthropic arm of Salesforce, dedicated to empowering nonprofits and educational institutions by providing access to Salesforce technology, resources, and strategic grants that help amplify their impact. Established as part of Salesforce’s broader commitment to corporate social responsibility, the Foundation focuses on enabling organizations to build tech-forward skills, particularly in STEM and AI, attract and retain quality educators, and connect education to careers through mentorship and career-aligned learning[6]. A key program under the Salesforce Foundation is the *Power of Us Program*, which offers nonprofits and educational institutions 10 donated Salesforce subscriptions plus deep discounts on additional products and services. This enables organizations with limited budgets and staff to leverage Salesforce’s powerful CRM tools to better manage their missions and operations[6]. The Foundation partners with organizations that demonstrate strong program impact and leadership reflective of their communities, emphasizing evidence-based approaches and adaptability[6]. However, it does not fund events, scholarships, or individual grants, focusing instead on scalable strategic partnerships[6]. In the broader Salesforce ecosystem, the term **Salesforce Foundations** (not to be confused with the Foundation itself) refers to a free product upgrade for Enterprise Edition customers, launched in 2024. This upgrade integrates Sales, Service, Marketing, Commerce, and Data Cloud features into a unified platform with AI-powered tools like Agentforce, enabling businesses to streamline operations and create consistent customer experiences across departments. This integration is transformative for enterprises seeking a seamless, cross-functional CRM experience without extra cost or complex data migrations[2][3][4]. Notable achievements include democratizing access to advanced Salesforce capabilities for nonprofits and businesses, enhancing operational efficiency via AI and data unification, and fostering a community of partners and customers aligned around social impact and technological innovation[1][6][7]. The Salesforce Foundation remains a pivotal force in bridging technology and social good, advancing workforce skills, and supporting education with a strong ethical framework and strategic vision[6].
Salesforce
## Overview Salesforce is a global leader in cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software, headquartered in San Francisco[1]. Founded in March 1999 by Marc Benioff and three co-founders—all former Oracle executives—Salesforce pioneered the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, delivering business applications via the internet rather than through on-premises installations[1]. This approach revolutionized enterprise software, offering simplicity, scalability, and accessibility from anywhere in the world[3]. ## Core Offerings Salesforce’s primary product is its CRM platform, which enables organizations to manage sales, customer service, marketing, commerce, and IT processes on a unified, AI-driven platform[1][5]. The company’s ecosystem includes specialized “Cloud” products—such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Commerce Cloud—each tailored to different business functions[3]. These tools help companies of all sizes gain a 360-degree view of their customers, streamline operations, and leverage data analytics for actionable insights[1][2]. Beyond CRM, Salesforce has expanded through strategic acquisitions, including MuleSoft for integration and Tableau for advanced analytics, further embedding itself in the enterprise technology stack[3]. The platform is highly extensible, with thousands of third-party applications available via AppExchange, and is supported by Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform for skill development[2]. ## Growth and Achievements Salesforce has grown from a disruptive startup into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, reporting $31.3 billion in revenue for its most recent fiscal year—an 18% increase over the previous year[1]. It is consistently ranked as the world’s #1 CRM provider by market share and innovation[5][6]. The company’s success is rooted in a customer-centric culture, continuous technological innovation, and a commitment to trust and transparency[4]. ## Current Status and Notable Aspects Today, Salesforce is at the forefront of integrating
