California, August 2025 – Tech entrepreneur Ethan Agarwal, known for co-founding multiple venture-backed startups, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 California gubernatorial election.
Speaking to Axios, Agarwal described himself as a Democrat with strong pro-business views, emphasizing his concern over the state’s rising cost of living and challenging business environment. He argued that California needs leaders with “business and tech acumen” to address issues that have pushed residents and industries—such as film production—out of the state.
Startup Background
Agarwal has been a prominent figure in the startup ecosystem. He co-founded The Coterie, a fintech platform that raised around $80 million in venture funding before its assets were sold earlier this year, according to PitchBook data. Prior to that, he launched Aaptiv, an audio-based fitness app, which secured $61 million in funding before being acquired by Pear Health Labs.
Fundraising Support
His campaign has already attracted notable backers from the tech world. Fundraising events are being planned with the support of DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang and Y Combinator president Garry Tan, whose firm Initialized Capital was an early investor in Agarwal’s ventures.
With his entry, Agarwal joins a crowded field of candidates vying to lead the world’s fifth-largest economy, pitching himself as a business-minded reformer who can bring Silicon Valley’s problem-solving ethos into state politics.
