Andrew Yang (born January 13, 1975, in Schenectady, NY) is an entrepreneur, author, political leader, and philanthropist best known for his 2020 U.S. presidential campaign and his bold advocacy for Universal Basic Income (UBI). The son of Taiwanese immigrants, Yang grew up in Westchester County, NY.

After excelling at Phillips Exeter Academy, Yang earned degrees from Brown University (Economics and Political Science) and Columbia Law School. He started his career as a corporate lawyer but quickly shifted to the startup world, finding purpose as CEO of Manhattan Prep, which he grew until its sale to Kaplan in 2009. He then founded Venture for America, a nonprofit that placed young graduates in startups across struggling U.S. cities, aiming to revitalize local economies through entrepreneurship.

Yang was recognized as a “Champion of Change” and a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship by the Obama White House. In 2017, Yang announced his run for president, captivating younger voters with his “Freedom Dividend” proposal—$1,000 per month for every American adult to counter job loss from automation. His campaign’s slogans—“MATH” and “Not Left, Not Right, but Forward”—sparked a passionate “Yang Gang” and elevated UBI into the national debate.

Following his presidential bid, Yang launched Humanity Forward to pilot direct cash relief and advocate for data privacy, mental health, and democracy reform. In 2021, he ran for NYC Mayor and later founded the Forward Party, seeking to break the two-party gridlock through ranked-choice voting and open primaries.

His latest venture, Noble Mobile, is a the first wireless carrier that pays you to use your phone less - putting money back in consumer's pockets and getting them off their phones.

Yang is the author of Smart People Should Build Things, The War on Normal People, Forward, and The Last Election. His most recent book, "Hey Yang, Where's My Thousand Bucks?" is a collection of stories and reflections from his life in the public eye. He lives in NYC with his wife, Evelyn, and their two sons. A champion of pragmatic solutions and future-focused ideas, Andrew Yang continues to challenge America to rethink work, technology, and the shape of its democracy.