David Gilboa
Also known as: Warby Parker
Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer
Known For
Co-founding Warby Parker and fundamentally restructuring optical retail economics through direct-to-consumer distribution, earning Fast Company's 2015 Most Innovative Company award.
About
Gilboa launched Warby Parker in 2010 with three college classmates, identifying an opportunity to upend the eyewear industry's inflated pricing structure through a capital-efficient online-first model that achieved profitability without venture debt. His background bridges technical and business domains—a UC Berkeley bioengineering degree provided analytical rigor, while roles at merchant bank Allen & Company and consulting firm Bain & Company shaped his understanding of market economics and organizational scaling. Since taking the co-chair role in 2021, Gilboa has steered the now publicly-traded company toward dual priorities: expanding physical retail presence while maintaining the direct-to-consumer edge that defined its competitive advantage. His influence extends beyond operations through venture investing via Good Friends, LLC, and leadership of the Warby Parker Impact Foundation, which advances vision care access for underserved populations. Raised between San Diego and Sweden, Gilboa completed his MBA at Wharton and serves on the Aspen Institute's Global Leadership Network.