Capitalists for Capitalism Manifesto

The Call for Principled Business

Join the movement

Sign the Manifesto

Stand publicly with capitalists who believe principled business is the greatest force for human progress.

Overview

Just because someone is a businessperson doesn't mean they support capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system based on free and voluntary production and trade. That means it is fundamentally based on certain principles, like respect for individual agency, creating value, opportunity to innovate, collaboration, and bottom-up experimentation. Too few businesspeople embody these principles in their actions and even fewer actively stand up for these principles and the system of capitalism itself.

This is a call to build a movement of business leaders that are actually for capitalism, advance the principles that have built the modern world, and are critical to humanity's future prosperity.

This manifesto is a call to build a movement of principled business.

Section 1

Why is this needed?

Too few capitalists understand, implement, or stand up for the principles of capitalism.

Changing this would not only strengthen the moral underpinnings of how business is conducted, but also unleash incredible prosperity. There is a fundamental human desire to treat people well and for greater well-being for ourselves, our loved ones, and others. Capitalism has been and continues to be the greatest system at providing exactly that for humanity.

Capitalism is not just an abstract theory. It is brought to life through those who do business, and so business leaders are in a unique position as those who implement capitalism, witness its inner workings, and provide direction for its future activities.

As such, this manifesto calls for business leaders to realize that they are the heroes of society, and to lean into that role.

If capitalists don't stand for capitalism, we cannot expect others to.

Being the best representatives of capitalism means recognizing that it lives through the daily choices and actions of business leaders.

Being the best advocates of capitalism means speaking up for capitalism, not just one's own business interests.

Being the best collaborators in capitalism means finding ways to do more business with others based on the principles of capitalism.

For investors

Evaluating the principles of those you invest in and back those who are committed to the principles of capitalism
Mentoring your portfolio companies to embrace these principles
Seeking to use the examples of those companies you support not only on how to make more money, but how to leverage capitalism to make people's lives better

For executives

Incorporating the principles of capitalism into the way you level up your employees
Developing programs for your company that imbue the principles of capitalism in your culture and brand
Leveraging your position to share stories as examples of capitalism advancing humanity

For entrepreneurs

Making the principles of capitalism core to the way your business operates
Seeking out values-aligned investors, team members, and other partners
Making the goal of your business to show what can be done through the free and voluntary interactions of people

For nonprofit leaders

Seeing for-profit entities as contributors to society as much as nonprofit entities
Learning from for-profit entities
Elevating capitalism and others who embrace its principles as a solution to many social problems

Section 2

What is Capitalism?

Simply put, capitalism is an economic system that's based on private ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined by the free and voluntary trade between them.

This was a revolutionary system compared to the systems that came before it.

Historical systems

Feudalism

Wealth and power concentrated in landowners; peasants worked the land in exchange for protection and subsistence.

Mercantilism

Focused on maximizing national wealth through strict regulation of trade and accumulation of precious metals.

Socialism

Means of production owned and directed collectively, either by the state or the workers.

Communism

Classless society where all property and resources are communally owned.

Fascism

Private ownership exists, but the state directs the use of that property to serve national goals.

Capitalism too is based on certain underlying principles. At its core is a belief in the principle of Respect for Individual Agency.

Core principles

Creating Value

Rather than relying on a conception of preordained value, there is a presumption that value is determined by what people reveal is valuable to themselves. Profit is a byproduct of creating value for others that did not exist before.

Opportunity to Create

Individuals have the agency to start new businesses, improve existing ones, develop new products or services, and pursue opportunities that others do not see or believe in.

Collaboration

Capitalism isn't about competition as much as collaboration, and finding ways to help each other. Voluntary trade only happens when interests align in a win-win-win scenario.

Bottom-Up Experimentation

Progress comes from experimentation. When individuals and private entities try new ideas, they uncover insights and innovations that might otherwise be missed.

The evidence

85% → 9.2%

Global extreme poverty rate decline over 200 years

1,248%

Increase in global GDP per capita, 1982–2022

28.5 → 71 years

Global average life expectancy, 1800–2022

12% → 87%

World literacy rate, 1820–2022

The case for capitalism is not merely that it delivers the best results for people. It is also that it respects the moral authority of every individual.

Section 3

The Problem: Capitalists Against Capitalism

Given all of the positive impacts of capitalism on humanity, why are business leaders themselves too often anti-capitalist?

Some capitalists don't understand capitalism as a system.
Some capitalists are actively opposed to capitalism as a system.
Some capitalists are scared to speak out for fear of being attacked.
Some capitalists are not really practicing capitalism — they use regulation and special privileges to protect themselves from competition.
Some capitalists are unprepared to defend capitalism effectively.

If capitalists don't stand for capitalism, why would anyone else?

For those that are not yet sure of the benefits or importance of capitalism, there is a need to change the dominant, negative narrative.

For those who feel alone, there is a need for business leaders to have a peer-support network to stand up for capitalism.

For the next generation, we need the best and brightest to enter business as a way to make the world freer and more prosperous.

Section 4

The Solution: Capitalists For Capitalism

Capitalism is not just a theory. It is a system implemented and practiced in the real world. At its heart are business leaders and the businesses they run.

This is why it is imperative for capitalists who support the principles of capitalism to do three things:

Be the best representatives

Embody the principles of Respect, Value Creation, Aligning Interests, Collaboration, and Opportunity through actions.

Be the best advocates

Speaking openly about the benefits of capitalism as a system, sharing stories as business leaders, and encouraging others to support the system.

Be the best collaborators

Engaging in trade and business relationships with others who share these values. Not only is this good for capitalism, it is good for business as well.

Business as disruption

Uber broke the stranglehold of taxi monopolies with ridesharing.

WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal created new communication tools that protect the privacy of users.

Bitcoin and the blockchain created alternative mechanisms for establishing trust.

Section 5

Two Futures

Why does this matter? Because the progress humanity has achieved under capitalism over the past 200 years is not guaranteed to continue for the next 200.

Nothing guarantees that progress will continue — there is every possibility that humanity will regress. And it is up to those at the forefront of the most powerful system for progress, to do what they can to advance it.

Imagine young people dreaming of being entrepreneurs, executives, innovators who want to create value previously thought impossible. Imagine a world without poverty, where life expectancy is well over 100 years, literacy is universal.

This is a call for capitalists to bring about that future by being for capitalism.

The movement

Signatories

180 signers

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Jul 30, 2026
Adel Edris Alawadhi
Chairman, The Corporate Group
"Be part of the network"
Jul 29, 2026
Raymond DeWitt
CEO, 1031 DST Group
"Capitalism provides the most opportunties for the most people to create and have abundance. It is our duty as Americans to fight for this. This is the foundation of the US financial system. More than ever before we need to strengthen the fight against communism."
Jul 23, 2026
Cameron Belt
Economist/Author
"I am signing because there is no surer path to spreading prosperity, progress, and peace than through principled business."
Jul 23, 2026
Diego Laurentin
Technology Specialist, Principled Business
Jul 15, 2026
Eric S Harry
Jul 14, 2026
Justin Koh
CEO & Co-Founder, Magnoli Technologies, Inc.
"Capitalism is a crucible. I’m a third-generation entrepreneur, and the lessons passed down from my grandfather to my father, and from my father to me, taught me perseverance, accountability, and the responsibility of BUILDING SOMETHING REAL. Entrepreneurship forces constant growth. The journey never ends! It’s not just a job; it’s a lifestyle... one that shapes how you think, how you lead, and who you become."
Jun 30, 2026
Michael Popchuk
"Capitalism has proven to be the fairest and most efficient system for creating and distributing wealth, yet it is constantly attacked by dangerous ideologies. We should cherish and protect it, because once it’s gone, it may not be easy to get back."
Jun 29, 2026
Jerry Ramsden
"I am a devout Capitalist"
Jun 29, 2026
Sean McMahon
Author, This Year's Game
""The creative man is driven by the desire to achieve, not to beat others." -- Ayn Rand"
Jun 26, 2026
Braxton Jarratt
CEO, Integrity AI
"Aligned mission."
Jun 23, 2026
Erik Cocks
Fractional CMO, Erik Cocks
"This is right in my lane and principled business will survive the fads."
Jun 22, 2026
Karl G. Schlegel III
"Capitalism is a force that can elevate society and bring the full extent of individual agency to bear when paired with principles"
Jun 20, 2026
Margarita Vesga
Conscious Business Consultant
Jun 12, 2026
Jerry Vachaparambil
Jun 12, 2026
Danielle Newman
Jun 12, 2026
Ava Charon
"Interest in the mission"
Jun 12, 2026
James Hilligoss
Jun 12, 2026
Don Fritz
"it's a cool thing to do"
Jun 12, 2026
Billy Pearson
Jun 11, 2026
Bret Jamerson
Jun 11, 2026
Randy Tate
CEO, iFlip
Jun 1, 2026
Randy Tate
CEO, iFlip
"For the Freedomfest competition"
Jun 1, 2026
DIAKITE MAMADOU B
May 19, 2026
Will Collins
Founder, MyPlayer Athlete LLC
May 16, 2026
Bendjedid Rachad Sanoussi
Founder and CTO, Green Leaf AI
May 16, 2026
Jeff Pierce
Co-founder, LeaderReps
May 15, 2026
Andrew McDonald
CEO, Land & Sea Energy
May 13, 2026
Patrick Geyer
May 11, 2026
Yong Jihn Kim
CEO, Cutting Edge Superconductors, Inc.
May 9, 2026
Kenneth Lebersfeld
Chairman, Capitol Lighting
May 5, 2026
Vida Benvenisti
General Manager Brazil, Mad Impact
May 5, 2026
Ramesh Tirumala
Founder and CEO, Aapya Solutions Inc.
May 5, 2026
Rich Gupta
CEO, RAMAS
May 4, 2026
James Nolan
Owner, Solomon Partners LLC
May 3, 2026
Francois Xavier Nshimiyimana
Managing Director, Kigali Agribusiness Incubation Center (KAIC)
Apr 28, 2026
Abdullah Tijani
The Liberalist
Apr 19, 2026
Kenneth Kruger
Apr 15, 2026
Cynthia Davis
Apr 15, 2026
Chris Davitt
Apr 13, 2026
John Rodgers
Apr 9, 2026
Benaya cherlow
Apr 9, 2026
Tyrone Moodley
Apr 9, 2026
Heath Dieckert
Apr 7, 2026
Dan Evans
Apr 2, 2026
Stephen Deason
Apr 2, 2026
Randal Zahora
Mar 31, 2026
Pedro Kreutz
Mar 22, 2026
Raphael Feldman
Mar 20, 2026
Luis Hernandez
Mar 19, 2026
Ross Greenberg
Mar 18, 2026
Christine Song
Mar 18, 2026
Samiksha Khanna
Mar 16, 2026
Kristi otto
Mar 15, 2026
Jill Bugbee
Mar 15, 2026
Patrick Smale
Mar 14, 2026
Rob Griesmeyer
Mar 12, 2026
Zain Hasan
Mar 12, 2026
Jeff Street
Mar 10, 2026
Luis Javier Hernandez Derbez
Mar 10, 2026
Christian Johannes Huening
Mar 10, 2026
Dusan Matuska
Mar 6, 2026
Mark Bailey
Mar 5, 2026
Angela Han
Mar 5, 2026
Jessie Markell
Mar 5, 2026
Michelle Cirocco
Mar 4, 2026
Christopher Bradford
Mar 4, 2026
Dylan Dean
Mar 4, 2026
Kristin Davis
Mar 2, 2026
Marcellino D'Ambrosio
Feb 26, 2026
Zac Hill
Feb 23, 2026
Justin McEvily
Feb 22, 2026
Nate Hurd
Feb 19, 2026
Robert Chatfield
Feb 17, 2026
Nate Littlewood
Feb 16, 2026
Ari Rastegar
Feb 12, 2026
andrea sanchez
Feb 9, 2026
Ari Rastegar
Feb 9, 2026
Themis Kaniklidou
Feb 4, 2026
Julian Rodriguez
Feb 2, 2026
Alice Chen
Feb 2, 2026
Mark Marasch
Jan 31, 2026
Michael Bajic
Jan 30, 2026
Michael Zeman
Jan 30, 2026
Sami Yabroudi
Jan 29, 2026
Israel Suero
Jan 29, 2026
Lauren Tannhauser
Jan 29, 2026
Marcelo Faria
Jan 29, 2026
Galo Flores
Jan 29, 2026
Perry Albin
Jan 29, 2026
Michel Eganya
Jan 29, 2026
Binh Dang
Jan 28, 2026
Niko LeMieux
Jan 28, 2026
Tyler Coursolle
Jan 28, 2026
Victor Cho
Jan 28, 2026
Joel Franck
Jan 28, 2026
Ron Jones
Jan 28, 2026
Rich Shields
Jan 28, 2026
Dean Zarras
Jan 28, 2026
Marsha Familaro Enright
Jan 28, 2026
Rasheed Griffith
Jan 28, 2026
Mirjana Perkovic
Jan 28, 2026
Mirjana Perkovic
Jan 28, 2026
Ashish Gupta
Jan 28, 2026
Matthew Goitia
Jan 28, 2026
Roger Borgelt
Jan 28, 2026
Norman Horn
Jan 28, 2026
lars mapstead
Jan 28, 2026
David Thayer
Jan 28, 2026
Agyemang Richard
Jan 28, 2026
Sean Themea
Jan 28, 2026
Jim Woods
Jan 28, 2026
Nancey Trevanian Tsai
Jan 28, 2026
Darjan Minov
Jan 28, 2026
Matthew Tyrmand
Jan 28, 2026
Zach Oehlman
Jan 28, 2026
Carl Barney
Jan 28, 2026
Eldar Souliaev
Jan 28, 2026
Raúl Cepeda
Jan 28, 2026
Douglas Pestana
Jan 28, 2026
Cedric Wesley
Jan 28, 2026
Max Kirby
Jan 28, 2026
Erik Olson
Jan 28, 2026
João Ferreira
Jan 28, 2026
Bill Murphy
Jan 28, 2026
Paul Sippil
Jan 28, 2026
Richard Lorenc
Jan 28, 2026
Omar Hernández
Jan 28, 2026
Richard Leon
Jan 28, 2026
Ann Marie Miller
Jan 28, 2026
Julius Wendenburg
Jan 21, 2026
Roy Vella
Jan 20, 2026
Lindy Lou Snider
Jan 16, 2026
Juan David Villegas
Jan 14, 2026
Timothy Washington
Jan 11, 2026
Kristina Pool
Jan 8, 2026
Winnie Tsao
Jan 8, 2026
Sammy Verghese
Jan 8, 2026
peter Safo Osei
Dec 17, 2025
Lokendra Thakur
Dec 15, 2025
Eden ósk
Dec 6, 2025
Valgerður Helgadóttir
Dec 6, 2025
Josh Broward
Nov 11, 2025
Noah Lydiard
Nov 10, 2025
João Ferreira
Nov 8, 2025
Steve Thomas
Nov 7, 2025
Michael Atkinson
Nov 5, 2025
Divas Chhetry
Nov 4, 2025
Danielle Laughlin
Oct 31, 2025
Erika Mandel
Oct 30, 2025
Kenton Toews
Oct 26, 2025
Ananth Natarajan
Oct 24, 2025
Mohamed Mukassabi
Oct 23, 2025
Zussel Ramos
Oct 22, 2025
Toni Toomey
Oct 21, 2025
Keith Williams
Oct 17, 2025
Tom Schnell
Oct 17, 2025
dudley fitzpatrick
Oct 14, 2025
Robert Begley
Oct 13, 2025
Kieran Corbett
Oct 7, 2025
Ronald Russo
Oct 4, 2025
Glennon Simmons
Sep 25, 2025
John Tillman
Sep 24, 2025
Ian Fleming
Sep 7, 2025
Michael Savage
Sep 2, 2025
Mark Bair
Aug 25, 2025
Justin Sadeghian
Aug 10, 2025
Steven Scesa
Aug 8, 2025
Kåre Johan Teigen
Aug 4, 2025
Laidlaw Zhang
Jul 30, 2025
marcus pittman
Jul 1, 2025
Cynthia Reyes
Jun 9, 2025
William Steele
May 27, 2025
Caroline Carralero
May 27, 2025
David Stancel
May 27, 2025
Asher Boekestein
May 27, 2025
Jonathan Willbanks
May 27, 2025
Chip Joyce
May 27, 2025
Joe Studholme
May 20, 2025
Noor Khawaja
May 16, 2025