Tech Founder Throws Hat In California Governor’s Race

In Brief

Tech laminitis Ethan Agarwal, who has raised tens of millions of dollars from VCs crossed 2 startups, is moving for nan 2026 California gubernatorial seat, arsenic reported by Axios.

Axios described Agarwal arsenic a “Democrat who believes successful capitalism.” He told nan outlet he’s chiefly concerned astir nan accrued costs of surviving and doing business successful nan state, which has led to nan departure of residents and different opportunities, specified arsenic movie productions.

California “could usage immoderate business and tech acumen to hole things successful a measurement that different candidates successful nan title won’t,” he told Axios.

Agarwal antecedently co-founded fintech startup The Coterie, which raised $80 cardinal from VCs, according to PitchBook, earlier its assets were sold earlier this year. He besides co-founded Aaptiv, an audio-focused fittingness app that raised astir $61 million earlier being sold to Pear Health Labs for undisclosed terms.

Agarwal has already planned run fundraising events, pinch hosts including DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang and Y Combinator President Garry Tan, who invested successful The Coterie done his task patient Initialized Capital.

He has already updated his LinkedIn floor plan to database his latest position arsenic “Candidate for Governor.”

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