WHERE

Where We Come From, Where We Are, and Where You Enter

1. Where It Was Founded

The World Comedy Foundation was founded in Dayton, Ohio—a city long known for its culture of resilience, innovation, and grassroots creativity. The Foundation was established to provide public stewardship for the growing infrastructure being developed by Rampantly and to ensure the long-term accessibility and ethical direction of this work.

Rampantly, the digital trust that created the World Comedy Web, is now based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From its earliest days, Rampantly has operated as a cultural platform rooted in justice, representation, and visibility for artists on the margins.

These are not cities traditionally considered media capitals—and that’s the point.This movement wasn’t born in New York, LA, or Silicon Valley.It was built in communities where mutual aid, creativity, and cultural infrastructure are survival strategies, not just artistic choices.

2. Where It Started Growing

In 2020, Rampantly hosted its first major virtual event: Comeday 2020, a multi-day online comedy marathon that brought together performers from 100 different cities around the world.

That was the moment it became clear:This was never just one community’s project.It was a global call for better tools, better representation, and a better system.

Since then:

• Rampantly and the World Comedy Web have expanded to over 1,200 city pages, each representing local scenes, shows, artists, and organizing activity.

• The World Comedy Foundation has developed a framework to launch local chapters in every major metro area, giving comedians and organizers everywhere a path to leadership, visibility, and community building.

3. Where You Can Enter

The World Comedy Web is designed with intentional points of entry for anyone, anywhere, who wants to be part of a new kind of comedy economy.

Whether you're:

• Running a mic in Lagos

• Producing a show in Minneapolis

• Touring across India

• Starting out in Manila

• Teaching satire in Cairo

• Or just curious in your corner of the world—

You can start at comedy.foundation and join from anywhere.

No insider network required.No gatekeeper approval.No waiting for industry validation.

Every city page, metro directory, member profile, and festival listing is part of a global strategy to decentralize access and elevate local voices. Wherever comedy happens, you’re already in the right place.

4. Where This Is Going

The World Comedy Web isn’t just broadcasting comedy from urban centers—it’s rebuilding the cultural grid so that laughter, representation, and economic opportunity can radiate from every neighborhood, every region, and every scene.

This is a platform that moves in all directions:

• Globally networked

• Regionally coordinated

• Locally organized

The goal is not just to connect cities.The goal is to empower them—to give each comedy community the tools it needs to thrive on its own terms while being supported by a global system of shared visibility and cooperation.

This is where comedy becomes a civic practice.This is where the commons gets its infrastructure.This is where laughter returns to the people—wherever they are.