19 Founders & VCs Backing Elon Musk's Doge

The Shift in Power: Silicon Valley's Growing Influence on Government

Historically, Washington, D.C. held primary sway over national policy. However, a significant change has occurred, with innovators in the technology sector now wielding considerable influence within the highest levels of government.

This transformation is largely attributable to the Department of Government Efficiency, widely recognized as DOGE. Much of the initial coverage surrounding DOGE centered on the connections its personnel have to Elon Musk, a prominent billionaire and close associate of President Donald Trump.

A Nexus of Entrepreneurs and Investors

Beyond these connections, a crucial element is the influx of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors who have embraced DOGE’s mission of reducing government expenditure.

TechCrunch has meticulously compiled a detailed list of founders and venture capitalists involved with DOGE. This information was gathered through public statements, legal documents, and independent reporting.

Our investigation has also uncovered a previously unreported DOGE member: Mike Gonzalez, the former founder of the HR technology company, TraceHQ.

From Startups to Public Service

Gonzalez represents just one example of a Silicon Valley founder transitioning into a role within public service. The ranks of founders-turned-DOGE employees include the co-founder of Airbnb.

Notably, one individual joined DOGE after selling his startup for close to $1 billion, seeking a renewed sense of purpose following a personal relationship’s end.

The Role of Venture Capitalists

The involvement extends to prominent venture capitalists as well. Marc Andreessen, a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, participates as a self-described “unpaid intern” at DOGE.

Furthermore, another individual dedicated seven years to Thiel Capital before assuming a position within the upper echelons of the federal government.

A New Era of Influence

Regardless of one’s perspective on DOGE, the increasing impact of Silicon Valley on the federal government is undeniable. The following details who is actively shaping this evolving landscape.

Founders

Nate Cavanaugh

Cavanaugh serves as the co-founder of two distinct startup ventures: Brainbase, a SaaS enterprise solution that was divested in 2022, and FlowFi, which successfully secured $9 million in funding to establish a marketplace connecting finance specialists with entrepreneurs.

He is currently assigned to a team associated with DOGE, with the responsibility of reviewing – and some allege, restructuring – the USADF and IAF, two governmental bodies responsible for funding development initiatives across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, as detailed in a legal action initiated by USADF President Ward Brehm.

Despite a lack of publicly documented political involvement, Cavanaugh acknowledges drawing significant inspiration from Peter Thiel, a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, regarding his perspectives on both the business world and broader global issues, as revealed in an interview with the VC firm Differential Ventures.

(back to top)

Stephen Ehikian

Ehikian has overseen the sale of two companies to Salesforce: Airkit.ai in 2023 and RelateIQ in 2014. Following these acquisitions, Ehikian held product-focused roles at Salesforce on two occasions, most recently as the Vice President of AI products.

President Trump appointed Ehikian to the positions of acting administrator and deputy administrator of the GSA in January. This agency plays a central role in managing federal government procurement contracts.

In this capacity, Ehikian is responsible for the management of GSA’s real estate holdings and the allocation of government technology contracts. He has indicated intentions to terminate existing leases, reduce consulting agreements, and has initiated personnel reductions within the GSA.

In March, California Senator Alex Padilla and New York Congressman Joseph Morelle jointly authored a letter to Ehikian, expressing opposition to his collaborative efforts with DOGE concerning these matters.

(back to top)

Justin Fulcher

Fulcher is the originator of RingMD, a telehealth startup based in Singapore. He garnered attention in 2013 when the Singaporean government provided RingMD with $500,000 in funding while he was just 21 years old.

Although RingMD expanded operations to several Asian nations, the company ultimately declared bankruptcy, as reported by Forbes.

Fulcher, now 32, was appointed by DOGE to lead reform efforts within the Veterans Administration (VA), resulting in a reduction of 1,000 staff members shortly after DOGE’s integration.

(back to top)

Joe Gebbia

Gebbia is the billionaire co-founder of both Airbnb and Samara, a startup specializing in pre-fabricated tiny homes that secured $41 million in investment during 2023. He also maintains a personal relationship with Elon Musk, who was reportedly considering the purchase of a Samara tiny home last year, according to filings from Tesla.

Within DOGE, Gebbia will contribute as a volunteer within the Office of Personnel Management, as he confirmed in a post on X following reports of his involvement in The New York Times. He stated, “My initial focus at DOGE is streamlining the cumbersome and paper-intensive retirement process.”

Gebbia has historically been a donor to the Democratic party, but revealed he cast his vote for Trump in 2024 and currently supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed health secretary.

(back to top)

Mike Gonzalez

Gonzalez established the HR technology company TraceHQ in 2019, subsequently selling it to Paylocity in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. He details on his website that his career began as a product manager at Facebook and included a period at Zenefits alongside David Sacks during his tenure as CEO, prior to launching his own venture.

Venture capitalist Sacks has since joined the Trump administration as its designated expert on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Gonzalez collaborated with Sacks on the finance team during their time together at Zenefits.

Gonzalez’s LinkedIn profile formerly indicated his full-time engagement with DOGE earlier this month as a “Senior Advisor” at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Following inquiries from TechCrunch, the reference to DOGE was removed from his LinkedIn profile.

Gonzalez has not publicly disclosed the specifics of his role at OPM, but in February, he expressed concerns on LinkedIn regarding the current state and procedures of the federal budget.

(back to top)

Vinay Hiremath

Hiremath is the co-founder of Loom, a video recording platform that was acquired by Atlassian in 2023 for $975 million.

As detailed in a blog post on his personal website, titled “I am rich and have no idea what to do with my life,” Hiremath recounts that following a relationship breakup, he sought to process his emotions by undertaking a mountain climb in the Himalayas. This experience led him to seek employment with DOGE.

His involvement with DOGE spanned approximately one month and involved conducting numerous recruitment calls. Hiremath noted that he was promptly integrated into Signal groups managed by DOGE and “immediately assigned tasks.”

Hiremath lauded DOGE’s work as “exceptionally important,” but ultimately resigned from the position, citing a need to prioritize personal well-being. He abandoned plans to relocate to Washington, D.C., opting instead for a trip to Hawaii, as stated in his post.

(back to top)

Brooks Morgan

Morgan is the co-founder and former CEO of Podium Education, an Austin-based edtech startup, as evidenced by a press release from the previous year, although he is no longer listed as a leader on the company’s official website.

His online presence is limited, but he is reported to have been involved in the edtech sector for over a decade, previously working for a company that developed a Facebook application for schools, which has since been acquired.

Morgan is believed to be contributing to DOGE’s initiatives within the Education Department, particularly concerning the potential augmentation – or even replacement – of existing staff with artificial intelligence, according to reports from The New York Times.

(back to top)

Kyle Schutt

Crunchbase identifies Schutt as a co-founder of KAMM, a software company based in Virginia, which state records indicate has been inactive since late November 2024.

Schutt has also contributed to the development of WinRed, as reported by WIRED, a for-profit fundraising platform that claims to have facilitated $1.8 billion in donations for Republican party candidates since 2023. He also served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at REVV, another online fundraising platform utilized by the Republican party.

He is affiliated with DOGE and currently holds a staff position at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, according to an internal staff directory reviewed by Politico. He previously worked at the GSA and is reportedly granted access to FEMA systems. He also has ties to Outburst Data, a company that hosts websites related to Musk and portions of the DOGE website.

(back to top)

Ethan Shaotran

Shaotran previously founded Energize.ai, although its website is currently inaccessible. He also created several iPhone applications, including a Donald Trump-themed running game titled “Donald Dash.”

In 2024, Shaotran informed Business Insider that he was a 22-year-old computer science student at Harvard, working independently on his startup, which offered an AI scheduling assistant and had received a $100,000 grant from OpenAI.

Shaotran was among the DOGE personnel named in a lawsuit filed by federal employees seeking to restrict DOGE workers’ access to federal records, although he was not personally named as a defendant.

Shaotran reportedly possesses a working GSA email address and requested access to a decade’s worth of GSA data. He also has access to email systems within the Department of Education and to the department’s back-end website, as reported by NBC.

(back to top)

Brad Smith

Smith is a seasoned entrepreneur in the healthcare sector, having co-founded Aspire Health (later acquired by Anthem) and CareBridge, a provider of at-home services for Medicaid patients (reportedly poised to be acquired by Elevance Health for $2.7 billion).

He also co-founded the healthcare venture capital firm Russell Street Ventures and served as CEO of Main Street Health, which delivers primary care services to individuals in rural areas.

Smith led the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation during President Trump’s initial term. He is considered a key leader within DOGE, alongside close associate of Elon Musk, Steve Davis.

As reported by ABC News, Smith has advocated for the privatization of certain aspects of Medicaid and Medicare. Within DOGE, Smith has requested access to the payment systems utilized by Medicare, according to The New York Times.

(back to top)

Jordan Wick

Wick is the co-founder of Intercept, a startup supported by Y Combinator. He also worked as an engineer at Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car company, as he shared in a podcast interview in 2024.

He is among the DOGE staff members granted extensive access to data held by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as indicated in a lawsuit filed by former USAID contractors, although he is not a defendant in the case.

Wick earned a degree in computer science from MIT in 2019 and also holds a master’s degree from the institution, according to an archived version of his website. He previously worked at Flexport, a logistics startup backed by YC.

(back to top)

Venture Capitalists

Baris Akis

Akis currently holds the positions of co-founder and president at the Silicon Valley venture capital firm, Human Capital.

Reports indicate his involvement in investigations concerning the payment systems of the Treasury Department, as detailed by The New York Times. He was also mentioned in legal proceedings regarding the legitimacy of DOGE, though not as a defendant in the case.

Akis represents the second connection to DOGE originating from Human Capital. Amanda Scales, formerly the firm’s head of talent acquisition, now serves as chief of staff within the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s HR division.

Marc Andreessen

Andreessen is recognized as the co-founder of the well-known venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz.

He publicly expressed support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024, a shift from his previous endorsement of Hillary Clinton in 2016.

In a podcast interview with the Hoover Institution, Andreessen identified himself as an “unpaid intern” assisting DOGE, specifically in the recruitment of its initial hires, as reported by the FT.

During the same podcast, Andreessen highlighted the alignment between Scott Kupor, a managing partner at a16z, and the objectives of DOGE.

Antonio Gracias

Gracias is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Valor Equity Partners, and maintains a long-standing professional relationship with Elon Musk.

Valor Equity Partners has invested in numerous high-profile startups, including Anduril, Dataminr, Eight Sleep, and Reddit, but is particularly noted for its investments in companies associated with Musk, such as SpaceX, Neuralink, SolarCity, The Boring Company, and Tesla.

Gracias served as a member of the Tesla board of directors from 2007 to 2021, encompassing both the period before and after the company’s initial public offering, as well as the acquisition of SolarCity by Tesla for $2.6 billion.

In an appearance on the VC All-In Podcast in February, Gracias disclosed his involvement with DOGE, stating he contributes on a part-time basis. He also indicated that DOGE employed over 80 full-time personnel at that time.

The New York Times reported that he is currently collaborating with DOGE’s initiatives at the Social Security Administration, where he is one of nine DOGE associates. Additional employees from Valor Equity Partners are also involved in the Social Security Administration team, according to the NYT.

Michael Kratsios

Kratsios previously held the position of managing director at Scale AI, a data labeling company that began collaborating with the Pentagon last year to test and assess AI tools for military applications.

From 2010 to 2017, Kratsios was employed by Thiel Capital, the investment office managed by venture capitalist Peter Thiel, as indicated on his LinkedIn profile. Thiel was an early supporter of Donald Trump in 2016. He also served as the U.S. Chief Technology Officer during Trump’s first term in office.

Bloomberg reported that Kratsios played a key role in the recruitment process for DOGE in late 2024, conducting interviews with potential candidates.

He has been nominated by Trump to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy. During his confirmation hearing, Kratsios addressed concerns regarding federal worker dismissals by stating that it is reasonable for the current administration to evaluate existing personnel.

Scott Kupor

Kupor is a managing partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and was the firm’s inaugural employee.

He currently serves on the boards of several companies funded by Andreessen Horowitz. He also formerly chaired the National Venture Capital Association, the lobbying organization representing the venture capital industry.

In December 2024, Trump announced his selection of Kupor to serve as the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Simultaneously, Kupor confirmed his assistance to DOGE.

As the federal government’s HR department, the OPM has become central to DOGE’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce. CNN reported that DOGE personnel are utilizing the OPM’s data and computer systems to gather information about federal employees across various agencies.

Shaun Maguire

Maguire is a partner at Sequoia Capital and previously co-founded the cybersecurity firm Expanse, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $800 million in 2020.

Reports suggest that Maguire has assisted in the screening of potential candidates for DOGE. He is a consistent and outspoken advocate for DOGE on the X platform.

Maguire is a vocal supporter of President Trump, having donated $300,000 to his campaign last summer.

Adam Ramada

Ramada previously served as a managing director at SpringTide Capital, where he participated in a $12 million funding round for the probiotic beverage company ZBiotics. His firm also invested in a supplier for SpaceX last year.

He was identified as a member of DOGE in a temporary restraining order sought by the American Federation of Teachers to prevent DOGE from accessing confidential information. However, the restraining order was subsequently denied by a federal judge.

In a signed statement, Ramada stated that he began working for DOGE in January, tasked with auditing contracts and programs within the Department of Education for inefficiencies, such as federal student loans. President Trump, a critic of the Department of Education, has recently signed an executive order initiating its closure.

In another declaration, Ramada, also listed as a GSA employee, indicated his assignment to the Labor Department to “enhance its information technology and data organization systems.”

Amanda Scales

Scales spent two and a half years at the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Human Capital, providing guidance to the firm’s portfolio companies on talent and HR matters, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Her supervisor at Human Capital, co-founder Baris Akis, served as an advisor to DOGE.

Currently, Scales holds the position of chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s influential human resources department, as indicated in an OPM memo.

Prior to joining Human Capital, Scales held a talent acquisition role at Uber, as stated on her LinkedIn profile.