Early Life
Ben Silbermann was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1982. His parents, Jane Wang and Neil Silbermann, are ophthalmologists. Silbermann attended the Research Science Institute at MIT in 1998 and graduated from Des Moines Central Academy and Des Moines Roosevelt in 1999. He then pursued a degree in Political Science at Yale University, graduating in 2003.
Rise to Success
Before co-founding Pinterest, Silbermann worked in Google's online advertising group. He left Google to design iPhone apps before co-founding Pinterest with Evan Sharp in March 2010. Pinterest quickly gained popularity as a visual discovery engine, enabling users to organize and share images, links, and ideas. The company's IPO in April 2019 valued Pinterest at approximately $12 billion. Silbermann transitioned to Executive Chairman in June 2022.
Key Business Strategies
Silbermann's vision for Pinterest focused on creating a platform that inspires users and promotes discovery. By emphasizing design aesthetics and emotional connection, Pinterest redefined how people discover and organize ideas. His strategies also included building an ethical and positive digital space, setting an example for other social platforms.
Philanthropy
Ben and Divya Silbermann founded the grantmaking foundation Tambourine, which has donated to organizations supporting global health and technology initiatives. They signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate more than half of their wealth to charitable causes. They have made early contributions to ALS-related nonprofits since 2022.
