Who is Ethan Agarwal? Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Running for California Governor

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ethan Agarwal confirmed his entry into the race for California Governor. The 40-year-old Democrat is best known as the founder of the audio fitness app Aaptiv and fintech platform The Coterie.

Agarwal has made it clear that while he supports progressive values like pro-choice, gun control, LGBTQ rights, and immigration reform, he strongly believes in capitalism and meritocracy. He argues that California needs more business and tech expertise to solve long-standing challenges.

In an interview with Axios, Agarwal said, “Capitalism is how you lift people out of poverty, how you solve education and energy crises.” He emphasized that his policies would focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical reforms rather than just ideology.

Who is Ethan Agarwal? Early Life and Family Background

Ethan Agarwal was born in 1985 in Montreal, Canada. He was raised in Los Gatos, California, where he developed a passion for education and business. His father, Vinod Agarwal, was a professor at McGill University before founding LogicVision, a semiconductor company that went public in 2001.

Ethan describes his father as his biggest mentor, shaping his vision of blending academic knowledge with entrepreneurship.

Education Journey

Ethan studied at Harker School before attending Johns Hopkins University. From 2003 to 2006, he earned a BA in Economics and Political Science, with a minor in Business.

After graduation, Ethan began his career as an investment banker. He later pursued an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, one of the most prestigious business schools in the world.

Career in Finance and Consulting

Before entering entrepreneurship, Agarwal worked at some of the biggest names in global finance. He was an analyst at Lehman Brothers and later joined McKinsey & Company as a management consultant. These roles gave him experience in finance, operations, and strategy, which he says will now help him design business-friendly policies for California.

Entrepreneurial Success: Aaptiv and The Coterie

In 2016, Ethan launched Aaptiv, an audio-based fitness app. The platform offered guided workouts and quickly became popular worldwide, crossing 200,000 subscribers. Backed by major investors including Amazon and Disney, Aaptiv established Agarwal as a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

After selling Aaptiv, Ethan shifted to the fintech industry. He co-founded The Coterie, a financial platform designed to simplify access to credit and modern banking solutions.

Political Vision

Ethan Agarwal’s entry into the California Governor race has drawn attention because of his unique mix of Democratic values and capitalist principles.

He acknowledges comparisons with Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin New York mayoral candidate. But Agarwal insists that his campaign will stay focused on California’s own challenges.

His goals include:

• Using technology and business innovation to improve the economy.

• Tackling the energy crisis with sustainable solutions.

• Reforming education to prepare students for future jobs.

• Supporting immigration and diversity as drivers of growth.

From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, and now into politics, Ethan Agarwal’s journey reflects his belief in hard work, innovation, and leadership. With his campaign for California Governor, he aims to bring a new balance of progressive social policies and capitalist-driven solutions.