Brian Forde

Yo, have you heard of Brian Forde? The dude’s a straight-up legend in the startup and politics world. He’s that guy who’s been everywhere, Congress, the White House, MIT, you name it, and keeps crushing it at the intersection of tech, finance, and public service.

So, here’s the lowdown. Brian’s a YC W19 alum, which already says a lot. Y Combinator doesn’t just let anyone in, and he jumped into it with Numero, a badass startup that’s all about powering fundraising for big political campaigns in the US. This guy’s mission? Using tech to shake up politics, make it more transparent, more fast. No bullshit.

Before Numero, he ran for Congress in 2018, CA-45, and he *crushed* it on fundraising, like, raised more cash than almost anyone running that cycle. That’s no small feat, especially for a challenger. It shows he’s got the hustle, the brains, and a real passion for changing how things get done in politics.

But that’s just the small visible part of a larger problem. Brian’s been deep in the tech scene too. He was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, focusing on tech and innovation, so he’s been in the trenches shaping policies that matter. Then, he took his tech game even further at MIT Media Lab, leading the Digital Currency Initiative. Basically, he was working on blockchain and crypto stuff before it was cool, trying to figure out how to make money systems more open and fair.

And wait, there’s more. Dude also founded Llamadas, S.A., one of the biggest phone companies in Nicaragua, after serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. That’s real on-the-ground stuff, helping build infrastructure in new markets, then turning around and working on high-level policy and tech innovation. His process? It screams passion for having an effect, no matter where he is or what he’s doing.

What’s crazy is how all these pieces fit together. His background in sociology from UCLA, then an MBA from London Business School, he’s got the brains and the street smarts. He’s more than just tech; he’s about using it to solve real-world problems, campaign finance, international development, digital currency. The fact that he’s recognized as a Young Global Leader by WEF and made the 40 under 40 Returned Peace Corps Volunteer list? That’s just proof he’s about that life, driven, effective, and ready to shake shit up.

Bottom line? Brian Forde is a prime example of what happens when you combine tech, policy, and hustle. He’s not just talking about change, he’s out here building it, whether that’s empowering campaigns, innovating with crypto, or helping communities abroad. The dude’s a bridge between worlds, government, startups, international development, and he’s doing it with a clear mission: make systems fairer, more transparent, and more accessible.

If you ask me, he’s one of those rare folks who’s not just in the game for himself, but genuinely trying to level the playing field. That’s why he’s so damn important, he’s proof that with the right mix of skills, passion, and hustle, you can actually change the world.