Co-Founder and Executive Chair - GitLab
Sid Sijbrandij is the Co-founder and Executive Chair of GitLab Inc., the most comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps platform. He also served as CEO from 2012-2024. A pioneer of open-core companies and new models of entrepreneurship, Sid has built numerous companies through Open Core Ventures, where he is the General Partner. As President and Director of the Sijbrandij Foundation, Sid has launched initiatives to improve and reimagine how we approach issues such as cancer treatment, clean energy, city development, and how we engage with both art and technology. He is also a Board Member of the GitLab Foundation.
In this fast-moving spotlight talk, GitLab co-founder Sid Sijbrandij explores how art can anchor identity, inspire belonging, and shape the emotional fabric of new cities. Drawing on his unique perspective at the intersection of technology, community, and visionary projects, Sid makes the case for why placemaking isn’t a luxury—it’s a strategic necessity for building cities that endure.