When you think of TechCrunch Disrupt and the startups jostling for money and media attention, love and giving may not be the first things that come to mind. Salesforce.com Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff used his time on stage with TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington to remind the assembled tech multitude that a culture of giving back is just as important as a culture of innovation or profitability.

An annual conference for tech startups to showcase their products for venture capitalists and the media, held this year at Pier 48 in San Francisco, the event may be most famous as the place where the Pied Piper app launched on HBO’s Silicon Valley.

While the rest of the world imagined a new royal baby wearing an Apple Watch, Arrington and Benioff traded friendly gibes and discussed big ideas.

Arrington asked about the launch of Salesforce Ventures, the company’s newly-announced venture capital arm with $100 million to invest.

The fund will focus on companies building innovative mobile apps and connected products that extend the power of the Salesforce1 platform.

Impressive demo by @Benioff @salesforce 1 - great product we use. Marc @TechCrunch Disrupt on stage w/ @arrington pic.twitter.com/6jMTLYE1Xu

— Tim Armstrong (@timarmstrongaol) September 9, 2014

 “We can do a lot for companies that are built on our platforms,” Benioff added. “We’ll bring you with us.”

Benioff’s passion for philanthropy showed through when Arrington asked about the Salesforce CEO’s support of University of California at San Francisco Children’s Hospital and the San Francisco Unified School District. 

“We’re committed to a number of things,” Benioff said, “but I don’t think there’s anything more important than our children’s health and education.”

"We can look back and say, we didn't just make a buck, but we were also able to give back." - @Benioff #TCDisrupt pic.twitter.com/8jijDsyXem

— Salesforce (@salesforce) September 9, 2014

Salesforce was built on the 1:1:1 model of philanthropy, Benioff explained, where one percent of the company’s product, one percent of equity and one percent of employee time are devoted to improving communities around the world.

Technology is impermanent, Benioff concluded. “What really matters is giving back to others.”

Learn more about how salesforce.com became the world's most innovative company by visiting our website or downloading the free e-book below.