Garrett Camp

Early life and education in Calgary

Garrett Camp was born on October 4, 1978, and spent his formative years in Calgary, Alberta. His father worked as an economist while his mother was an artist, and both parents later transitioned into careers as home builders. This environment likely provided an early blend of analytical and creative thinking. Camp pursued higher education at the University of Calgary, graduating in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He continued his studies at the same institution, earning a master's degree in software engineering where he focused on collaborative systems, evolutionary algorithms, and information retrieval. This technical foundation would prove crucial for his future ventures in building internet scale platforms.

Founding StumbleUpon and early success

In 2002, Camp co founded StumbleUpon, pioneering one of the web's first personalized discovery engines. The platform allowed users to find and recommend interesting websites through a simple toolbar, predating modern algorithmic content feeds. The company's success attracted the attention of eBay, which acquired StumbleUpon in 2007. Following the acquisition, Camp continued to work on expanding the service. In a notable turn of events, he was part of a management buyout that spun the company out from eBay in 2009, regaining its independence. Camp eventually left StumbleUpon in 2012 but reacquired it in 2015 through his new venture studio, Expa. The platform operated until 2018 when it was transitioned into a new venture called Mix, which was built in part through Expa Labs.

Co founding Uber and global expansion

The concept for Uber was conceived by Camp in Paris in 2008, leading to the official founding of UberCab in 2009 alongside Travis Kalanick. The service revolutionized urban transportation by connecting riders with drivers through a smartphone app. Under Camp's early product vision, Uber rapidly expanded across the United States and then internationally throughout 2011 and beyond. Camp served on Uber's board of directors for many years, providing strategic guidance as the company grew into a global phenomenon. In 2020, he stepped down from the board but remained as a board observer, and as of recent reports, he holds the title of cofounder and chairman. His influence on the company's origin story was later dramatized in the 2022 television series Super Pumped, where he was portrayed by actor Jon Bass.

Expa and investment philosophy

In 2013, Camp founded Expa, a startup studio designed to conceive, build, and launch new technology companies. Expa Labs, launched in 2014, functions as the operational arm of this vision, providing capital, shared services, and product expertise to a portfolio of ventures. The model allows Camp to apply his experience from StumbleUpon and Uber to help other entrepreneurs scale their ideas. Beyond Expa, Camp has made personal investments in various technology startups over the years. His past investments have included companies like Prism Skylabs, a video analytics firm, and BlackJet, an on demand private aviation service. This investment activity reflects his ongoing interest in disruptive models across different sectors of technology.

Recognition and awards

Camp's innovative work has been recognized by several major publications and institutions. In 2007, he was named to the MIT Technology Review's prestigious TR35 list, honouring top innovators under the age of 35. The following year, Bloomberg Businessweek listed him as one of Tech's Best Young Entrepreneurs. His dual impact through StumbleUpon and Uber was formally honoured in 2013 at the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards. These accolades highlight his consistent role in creating and scaling technologies that have changed how people interact with the digital and physical world. His recognition serves as a notable point of pride within the Canadian technology community.

Philanthropy and public life

In 2017, Garrett Camp made a significant commitment to philanthropy by signing The Giving Pledge, promising to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes during his lifetime. To execute this pledge, he established the Camp Foundation, which funds nonprofit projects. A key beneficiary is Every.org, a nonprofit that provides technology to other charities to help them accept donations in various forms including stock, cryptocurrency, and cash. His substantial wealth, estimated at US$4.8 billion as of September 2026 by Forbes, places him among Canada's wealthiest individuals. His life as a public figure has also included moments of scrutiny, such as in June 2019 when Uber drivers protesting for better pay and conditions picketed his newly purchased Beverly Hills mansion.

Connection to Canada and ongoing influence

Despite living primarily in Los Angeles, Camp maintains strong ties to his Canadian roots. He is a graduate of the University of Calgary and has returned to campus for visits, engaging with the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs. His story is frequently cited as an example of Canadian innovation achieving global scale, particularly in the competitive fields of software and transportation. The evolution of his net worth, from being ranked as the third richest Canadian in 2015 to a Forbes estimated $4.8 billion in 2026, reflects the dynamic nature of tech valuations. Through Expa, his investments, and his philanthropic foundation, Camp continues to shape the technology landscape, supporting new ideas while working to address societal challenges with his wealth.

Questions about Garrett Camp

How did Garrett Camp come up with the idea for Uber?

The initial concept for Uber was conceived by Garrett Camp during a winter trip to Paris in 2008. He found it difficult to hail a cab and imagined a service where one could request a ride with the simple push of a button on a mobile phone. This idea evolved into UberCab, which he officially co founded with Travis Kalanick in 2009. The service aimed to solve urban transportation inefficiencies by connecting riders with drivers through a smartphone application.

What is Expa and what does it do?

Expa is a startup studio founded by Garrett Camp in 2013. Its purpose is to conceive, build, and launch new technology companies by providing them with initial capital, shared operational services, and hands on product strategy. Expa Labs, launched in 2014, serves as the lab and development arm of this model. The studio works with entrepreneurs to develop their ideas from the ground up, applying Camp's experience from building StumbleUpon and Uber to help new ventures scale.

What philanthropic work does Garrett Camp do?

Garrett Camp is a signatory to The Giving Pledge, committing to give away the majority of his wealth to charity. He established the Camp Foundation to manage his philanthropic efforts. A major initiative funded by the foundation is Every.org, a nonprofit that builds technology to help other charities accept donations in various forms like stock, cryptocurrency, and donor advised funds. His philanthropy focuses on leveraging technology to increase the efficiency and impact of charitable giving.

Where did Garrett Camp go to university?

Garrett Camp attended the University of Calgary in his hometown. He graduated in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He continued his education at the same institution, earning a master's degree in software engineering. His graduate studies focused on areas like collaborative systems, evolutionary algorithms, and information retrieval, which provided a direct technical foundation for his future work on search and discovery platforms like StumbleUpon.

What is Garrett Camp's net worth?

Garrett Camp's net worth is estimated at US$4.8 billion as of September 2026 according to Forbes. This wealth primarily stems from his co-founding role at Uber Technologies Inc. Earlier estimates show significant variation, with Forbes calculating US$5.3 billion in 2015 and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index listing US$6.18 billion in February 2024. These fluctuations reflect changes in market conditions and asset valuations. His fortune ranks him among the world's billionaires and consistently places him as one of the richest Canadians.

Is Garrett Camp still involved with Uber?

Yes, Garrett Camp remains involved with Uber as its cofounder and chairman. However, he stepped down from Uber's board of directors in 2020, transitioning to a board observer role. He has left the day to day operations of the company. His current focus includes his venture studio, Expa, which he founded in 2014. He also dedicates time to philanthropy through his Camp Foundation, having joined The Giving Pledge in 2017.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.