(CNN) — Here is a look at the life of Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
Personal
Birth date: January 13, 1975
Birth place: Schenectady, New York
Birth name: Andrew M. Yang
Father: Kei-Hsiung Yang, researcher at IBM and GE
Mother: Nancy L. Yang, systems administrator
Marriage: Evelyn (Lu) Yang (2011-present)
Children: Two sons
Education: B.A. in Economics, Brown University, 1996; J.D. Columbia University School of Law, 1999
Religion: Protestant
Other Facts
His parents are originally from Taiwan.
Would be the first Asian-American US president.
The primary proposal for his political platform is the idea of universal basic income (UBI). This “Freedom Dividend” would provide every citizen with $1,000 a month, or $12,000 a year.
Believes that automation and AI will make millions of jobs obsolete.
Yang established Freedom Dividend, a pilot program to push for universal basic income, in which he personally funds monthly cash payments.
Is featured in the 2016 documentary, “Generation Startup.”
His campaign slogan is “MATH,” or “Make America Think Harder.”
In 1992, he traveled to London as a member of the US National Debate Team.
After graduating from Columbia, Yang practiced law for a short time before changing his career focus to start-ups and entrepreneurship.
Timeline
2002-2005 – Vice president of a healthcare start-up.
2006-2011 – Managing director, then CEO, of Manhattan Prep, a test-prep company.
2009 – Kaplan buys Manhattan Prep for more than $10 million.
September 2011 – Founds Venture for America, a non-profit which connects recent college graduates with start-ups. Leaves the company in 2017.
2012 – Is recognized by President Barack Obama as a “Champion of Change.”
April 2012 – Ranks No. 27 on Fast Company’s list of 100 Most Creative People in Business.
February 4, 2014 – His book, “Smart People Should Build Things: How to Restore Our Culture of Achievement, Build a Path for Entrepreneurs, and Create New Jobs in America,” is published.
May 11, 2015 – Obama names Yang an ambassador for global entrepreneurship.
November 6, 2017 – Files FEC paperwork for a 2020 presidential run.
February 2, 2018 – Announces his run for president via YouTube and Twitter.
April 3, 2018 – His book, “The War on Normal People,” is published.
March 2019 – Yang explores the possibility of using a 3D hologram to be able to campaign remotely in two or three places at once.
January 4, 2020 – Launches a write-in campaign for the Ohio Democratic primary in March of 2020 after failing to fully comply with the state’s ballot access laws.
