Andrew Yang is a businessman, lawyer and philanthropist whose entrepreneurial endeavors led him to the new political party Forward.
Born on January 13,1975, in Schenectady, New York, Yang was raised in nearby Westchester County. His parents immigrated from Taiwan as graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s. After graduating from the elite Phillips Exeter Academy in 1992, Yang went to Brown University (1992-1996), studying political science and economics, and later attended law school at Columbia University (1996-1999).
After launching a variety of startups in the early 2000s, Yang eventually became CEO of Manhattan Prep, a test prep company, and later founded the successful nonprofit Ventures for America (VFA) in 2011, which prompted the Obama Administration to name him a “Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship” in 2015. Yang has penned two books: Smart People Should Build Things (2014) and The War on Normal People (2018).
Yang was a Democratic candidate for president of the United States in 2020. He filed to run for the office on November 6, 2017. He suspended his presidential campaign on February 11, 2020. Yang announced his run for the presidency under the slogan “Make America Think Harder” (MATH) along with his defining policy proposal of Universal Basic Income (UBI), which is a supplemental income offered to American adults to prepare them for the economic challenges incurred by artificial intelligence and automation. Prior to suspending his presidential campaign in February 2020, Yang built a strong digital coalition and attracted a base of loyal supporters called the Yang Gang.
In 2021 Yang changed his voter registration from Democrat to Independent. In a statement about the change, Yang said, “Now that I’m not a member of one party or another, I feel like I can be even more honest about both the system and the people in it…I believe I can reach people who are outside the system more effectively. I feel more . . . independent.” In July 2022 Yang alongside former Democrats, Republicans and Independents formed the new political party Forward.
Andrew Yang
The Surprising Truth About Young Entrepreneurs – They’re Fewer than Ever
We are bombarded with prominent images of young people starting tech companies, but the facts tell a different story. The proportion of people ages 20 to 34 who started a business in 2013 has dropped to its lowest level in 17 years. There's a crisis in entrepreneurship, and Andrew Yang, who heads Venture for America, explains what his organization is doing about it. VfA hosts its own annual conference in Detroit immediately following Techonomy Detroit, Sept. 15th & 16th.
Bizdom
Detroit Needs Talented People … and It’s Getting Them
Detroit’s unique challenges have given rise to bold policy prescriptions and created a hotbed of opportunities. In 2012, a dozen smart, enterprising recent college graduates moved to Detroit. They were Venture For America Fellows, assigned to local startups to gain experience and contribute energy to Detroit's revival.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang
The following transcript has been lightly edited and condensed for ease of reading. David Kirkpatrick: Okay, we’re going to bring Andrew Yang and Rich up here right away. Andrew Yang, presidential candidate, we’re happy to have you here. [APPLAUSE] Andrew Yang: Thank you all. Kirkpatrick: Somebody gave me this in the men’s room, but […]
Andrew Yang et al: Startups, Cities, and Innovation
The ideas are flowing fast, as is the money. Young (and old) the world over are increasingly drawn to entrepreneurship, and inventive tech solutions are emerging everywhere. Is “Silicon Valley” a spirit rather than a place? What makes a city attractive for company incubation? Is this energy likely to continue, or will cities like Detroit have trouble sustaining it? Will the successful companies of the future stay put or move elsewhere? In this session from our Sept. 16 Techonomy Detroit conference, angel investor Jill Ford, Josh Linkner of Detroit Venture Partners, VegasTechFund's Andy White, and Venture for America's Andrew Yang join moderator Andrew Keen examine how cities can grow and retain talent and innovative companies.
Conferences
Techonomy 24
Our featured annual retreat hosted in November 2024 includes business and tech executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and top academics at Techonomy 24 for deep and provocative dives into the consequential issues of our time. This three-day multidisciplinary, highly interactive retreat will help leaders prepare for a better future.
Conferences
Techonomy 23: The Promise and Peril of AI
Techonomy 23: is a three-day retreat dedicated to exploring the risks and rewards of the AI revolution. Join our live audience of 200 CEOs, CTOs, policymakers, academics, and thought leaders as we chart a course for practical, sustainable, and ethical AI development.
Conferences
NYC 19
The world is in sad shape, which means, among other challenging realities, that all of us need to ensure our work contributes to larger solutions. Tech changes everything, which we love, but it can’t just be a way to make more money.
