Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang is an American entrepreneur, attorney, and political commentator, born on January 13, 1975. He is best known for his role as the founder of the Forward Party and for his candidacy in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, where he advocated for a universal basic income (UBI) program, termed the "Freedom Dividend," which proposed giving every adult in the U.S. $1,000 per month to address job displacement due to automation.12

Education and Early Career

Yang was raised in New York by Taiwanese immigrant parents. He graduated from Brown University and later earned a law degree from Columbia Law School. His early career included a brief stint as a corporate attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell, which he found unsatisfying. He subsequently ventured into entrepreneurship, launching several businesses including a philanthropic fundraising website called Stargiving and serving as CEO of Manhattan Prep, a test preparation company that expanded significantly before being acquired by Kaplan, Inc..12

Venture for America

In 2011, Yang founded Venture for America (VFA), a nonprofit aimed at fostering entrepreneurship in economically distressed cities. VFA gained national attention but faced criticism for not meeting its ambitious job creation goals.1 Yang stepped down as CEO in 2017 but remained involved in advising startups aligned with his UBI vision during his presidential campaign.1

Political Career

Yang's political involvement escalated during his presidential campaign, where he gained recognition for his innovative ideas and approach to modern challenges. After leaving the Democratic Party, he co-founded the Forward Party in 2021 to promote a third-party alternative in American politics.23

Current Role

As of now, Andrew Yang serves as the Managing Partner at Wp Agency, where he focuses on delivering digital and design solutions to empower businesses.4 His diverse background in law, entrepreneurship, and political activism positions him uniquely within this role.

Yang continues to be an influential figure in discussions about technology's impact on society and economic policy reform.12