A prominent tech founder has officially announced a run for California governor, marking a high-profile entry into the state’s political landscape.
According to Axios, Ethan Agarwal, a tech founder who has raised tens of millions of dollars from VCs across two startups, is reportedly vying for the 2026 California gubernatorial seat.
Agarwal was characterized by Axios as a “Democrat who is a proponent of capitalism.” He expressed his primary concern to the outlet regarding the elevated cost of living and conducting business in the state, which has resulted in the departure of residents and the creation of alternative opportunities, including film productions.
He stated to Axios that California “could benefit from a little business and technology acumen to address issues in a manner that other candidates in the race will not.”
The Coterie, a fintech startup that Agarwal previously co-founded, raised $80 million from VCs, according to PitchBook, before its assets were sold earlier this year.
He also co-founded Aaptiv, a fitness app that emphasized audio and raised approximately $61 million before being sold to Pear Health Labs for undisclosed terms.
Agarwal has already organized campaign fundraising events, where DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang and Y Combinator President Garry Tan, who invested in The Coterie through his venture firm Initialized Capital, will serve as hosts.
He has already modified his LinkedIn profile to reflect his most recent role as a “Candidate for Governor.”