The Origin Story of Yuri Milner's Tech For Refugees
Many know Yuri Milner as the mind behind the Breakthrough Prize, the Breakthrough Initiatives, and the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. In April 2022, the billionaire announced a commitment of $100 million towards a new global initiative: Tech For Refugees.
Tech For Refugees is a non-profit that supports refugee relief efforts through technology. The initiative provides grants to pioneering tech organisations that use their services, networks, and expertise to help the world’s refugees.
Why Julia and Yuri Milner Started Tech For Refugees
Since joining the Giving Pledge in 2012, Yuri Milner and his wife Julia have organised and sponsored several major science-focused projects.
Aside from their work in science philanthropy, the couple has also contributed to humanitarian causes. In recent years, their Breakthrough Foundation has donated to causes related to Covid-19 and the global refugee crisis.
The Milners established Tech For Refugees following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Yuri Milner has always been aware of the challenges refugees face. On top of this, his family on his father’s side is from Ukraine. He spent many summers in the country during his childhood. The war in Ukraine has deeply affected him and Julia.
“We have been devastated by the heartbreaking suffering of the Ukrainian people,” the couple said in a statement during the Tech For Refugees launch.
The Milners added: “We believe that this initiative, in partnership with some of the world’s most creative technology companies and organisations, can provide practical assistance for people living in turmoil outside their homeland.”
Expanding Tech For Refugees: New Partners and Programmes
When Tech For Refugees launched in spring 2022, its initial focus was civilians fleeing Ukraine. Tech For Refugees’ first partners were Spotify, Flexport.org, and Airbnb.org.
As part of the initiative, Spotify offered its premium service at no cost to Ukrainian refugees. Airbnb.org provided free, short-term housing to up to 100,000 people fleeing Ukraine. And Flexport.org coordinated 409 aid shipments to 6 countries that took in Ukrainians. These shipments contained hospital beds, ambulances, and other emergency supplies.
Tech For Refugees has since extended its scope to other crisis regions around the world. Five more tech partners have joined the initiative: Uber, NeedsMap, UNICEF USA, Welcome.US, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Tech For Refugees also seeks additional technology partners to advance the efficiency and reach of its operations.
Tech For Refugees continues to support vital humanitarian work through various international programmes. These programmes bring essential aid and relief to those in need. Some of the people the programmes support include Turkey’s earthquake victims and communities escaping flooding in Pakistan.
Learn more about Tech For Refugees’ programmes.
About Yuri Milner
Yuri Milner is a technology investor and a Giving Pledge philanthropist. Most of his philanthropic works centre on celebrating scientists, spreading scientific ideas, and advancing fundamental research.
For example, Yuri Milner is a Breakthrough Prize co-founder. The world’s largest scientific awards, the Breakthrough Prize honours the groundbreaking achievements of scientists and mathematicians.
Yuri Milner has also founded the Breakthrough Initiatives and the Breakthrough Junior Challenge.
The Breakthrough Initiatives are a collection of research programmes focused on space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Yuri Milner announced Breakthrough Listen, the first multi-million-dollar programme, in 2015 with Stephen Hawking.
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual science video competition for teenagers. To date, nine students have won the challenge, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational prizes.
Yuri Milner is the founder of DST Global, one of the world’s top technology investment companies. In addition to the funds committed to Tech For Refugees, DST Global and Yuri Milner’s Breakthrough Foundation have donated $14.5 million to Ukrainian refugees.
In 2021, Yuri Milner published some of his ideas about science and humanity in a short book called Eureka Manifesto: The Mission for Our Civilisation. Eureka Manifesto is available to read or download online for free.
