19 founders and VCs working with Elon Musk’s DOGE

Nate Cavanaugh

Nate Cavanaugh co-founded two startups: Brainbase, an enterprise SaaS company he later sold (Jonas Software Acquires Brainbase), and FlowFi, which raised $9 million last year to build a marketplace connecting entrepreneurs with financial experts. At DOGE, he is part of a team reviewing operations at agencies like the USADF and IAF, following legal challenges raised by a former agency president. Although his past shows no overt political involvement, he has credited influential thinkers like Peter Thiel for shaping his perspective.

Read also: AI Is coming to the classroom

Stephen Ehikian

Stephen Ehikian has a notable track record of selling companies, including two acquisitions by Salesforce—Airkit.ai in 2023 and RelateIQ in 2014. After his companies integrated into Salesforce, he held a product leadership role and most recently served as VP of AI products. Appointed by President Trump as acting administrator and deputy administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), Ehikian now oversees the agency’s real estate and technology contracting efforts amidst sweeping reforms.

Justin Fulcher

Founder of RingMD, a telehealth startup based in Singapore, Justin Fulcher made headlines when the Singapore government backed his venture with $500,000 at age 21. Although RingMD expanded across Asia before eventually facing bankruptcy (as reported by Forbes), Fulcher now plays a role at DOGE, tasked with overseeing significant reforms at the Veterans Administration after a major round of layoffs.

Joe Gebbia

As the billionaire co-founder of Airbnb and a creative visionary behind the pre-fab company Samara, Joe Gebbia has also dabbled in initiatives that blend design with technology. With Samara raising $41 million in 2023 and being personally linked to Elon Musk’s circle, Gebbia now volunteers at the Office of Personnel Management. His first assignment involves streamlining the outdated retirement process for federal workers.

Read also: Amazon Alexa Fund is now backing AI startups

Mike Gonzalez

Mike Gonzalez launched the HR startup TraceHQ in 2019 and sold it to Paylocity in 2023. With early roles at Facebook and Zenefits, where he worked alongside industry leader David Sacks, Gonzalez quickly moved into government service by joining DOGE as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. His recent online musings reveal deep concerns about the federal budgeting process.

Vinay Hiremath

Co-founder of Loom, a video recording startup that Atlassian acquired for $975 million in 2023, Vinay Hiremath has experienced both personal and professional ups and downs. After a transformative hike in the Himalayas following a breakup, he joined DOGE. Although his stint involved intensive recruiting efforts, Hiremath eventually left the role to focus on personal priorities, opting for a change of scenery in Hawaii.

Brooks Morgan

Brooks Morgan, formerly the CEO of the Austin-based edtech startup Podium Education, has over a decade of experience in the education technology space. Despite maintaining a low social media profile, Morgan is reportedly active in DOGE’s initiatives at the Education Department, especially in implementing AI to reshape administrative roles.

Kyle Schutt

Listed as a co-founder of a Virginia-based software company called KAMM, Kyle Schutt also played key roles at fundraising platforms like WinRed and REVV. Currently involved with DOGE at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Schutt leverages experience from working with FEMA systems and Musk-related ventures to enhance government technology operations.

Ethan Shaotran

Ethan Shaotran, a former founder behind Energize.ai and creator of several iPhone applications (including a whimsical Trump-themed game, “Donald Dash”), has earned recognition for his technical acumen. At 22, while studying computer science at Harvard, he secured a $100,000 grant from OpenAI for his AI scheduling assistant. He is now one of several DOGE employees involved in high-level federal data access initiatives.

Read also: NA10 MCP Agent Update

Brad Smith

A seasoned healthcare entrepreneur, Brad Smith co-founded Aspire Health, which was later acquired by Anthem, and CareBridge, a service provider for Medicaid patients. Smith’s previous leadership at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation coupled with his strong advocacy for privatization in federal healthcare makes him a vital voice within DOGE, especially regarding reforms at Medicare.

Jordan Wick

Jordan Wick, co-founder of the Y Combinator startup Intercept, brings engineering expertise from his time with Alphabet’s Waymo and logistics startup Flexport. A MIT graduate with advanced degrees, Wick has been granted extensive access to data at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as part of DOGE’s broader information review initiatives.

Venture Capitalists

Baris Akis

Baris Akis, co-founder and president of Human Capital—a Silicon Valley VC firm—has been involved in inquiries into the Treasury Department’s payment systems. His name also surfaced in legal documents scrutinizing DOGE’s activities. Notably, Human Capital is linked to DOGE through former employees who continue to hold influential roles within federal agencies.

Marc Andreessen

Marc Andreessen, co-founder of the renowned venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, made a high-profile political pivot by backing Trump in 2024 despite earlier endorsements of Hillary Clinton. Describing himself as an “unpaid intern” for DOGE in a Hoover Institution podcast, he has helped identify and recruit top talent for the initiative.

Antonio Gracias

Antonio Gracias is the founder and CEO of Valor Equity Partners and has a long-standing relationship with Elon Musk. His firm has backed projects from SpaceX and Neuralink while Gracias himself served on Tesla’s board. Recently, he has been involved with DOGE’s efforts at the Social Security Administration, supporting reforms within one of the nation’s key benefit systems.

Michael Kratsios

Former U.S. CTO and managing director at Scale AI, Michael Kratsios boasts a history spanning Thiel Capital to high-level Pentagon AI evaluations. His experience in staffing and federal technology has been critical in DOGE’s recruitment efforts. Recently, he was nominated to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy and has defended mass staff evaluations during confirmation hearings.

Scott Kupor

As a managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a pioneer employee at the firm, Scott Kupor’s board memberships and lobbying credentials are well respected in the venture capital community. Recently, President Trump selected him to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management. In that capacity, Kupor has played a key role in DOGE’s drive to trim the federal workforce.

Shaun Maguire

Partner at Sequoia Capital and co-founder of the cybersecurity firm Expanse (which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $800 million), Shaun Maguire has also contributed to recruiting efforts for DOGE. A vocal supporter of President Trump, he has publicly disclosed his financial contributions to the campaign while actively engaging on social media regarding DOGE’s mission.

Read also: N8N AI Agent: Breakthrough MCP Update

Adam Ramada

Adam Ramada, formerly a managing director at SpringTide Capital, has been involved in funding innovative companies like probiotic drink startup ZBiotics. His work extends to overseeing audits of federal education contracts and improving government IT systems at the Labor Department. Legal documents have mentioned Ramada in the context of DOGE’s access to sensitive federal data.

Amanda Scales

Amanda Scales brought years of experience advising on talent and HR for Human Capital before transitioning to her current role. As chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management, she is strategically positioned within DOGE’s framework, ensuring that federal human resources operations are both efficient and forward-thinking.

Conclusion

The integration of Silicon Valley’s brightest minds into federal operations through DOGE signals a pivotal moment in government reform. From startup founders to seasoned venture capitalists, these 19 influential figures are leveraging their private-sector expertise to spark efficiency and innovation in public service. For more insights on government reform and technology’s role in modernizing policy, stay tuned to industry updates and trusted news sources.