For several weeks, the tech sector appeared to lean towards Republican support in the elections, with some notable Silicon Valley investors endorsing Donald Trump. However, a series of subsequent events showed that Kamala Harris still enjoys backing from influential figures in the advanced technology world.
It began with Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, announcing his support for Harris on the same day Biden ended his campaign. Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, poured $7 million into her campaign coffers last week. Last Wednesday, the website VCs for Kamala was launched, featuring over a hundred venture investors who pledged to vote for and fundraise for Harris.
Now, executives from Google, Netflix, and OpenAI are gathering to host a fundraising campaign for Harris in Washington, D.C., later this month. The reception on August 27 will feature special guests Josh Hsu, who served as Harris's chief legal advisor in the White House, and Rohini Kosoglu, who was the Vice President's domestic policy advisor, according to a fundraiser website viewed by Business Insider.
The cost of admission is a $500 donation, although tickets can go up to $6,600. The host committee, specializing in technology, includes executives from Google, Netflix, and OpenAI, who hold political roles, as well as senior staff from JPMorgan, McKinsey & Company, and Omidyar Network, an influential foundation and investment fund established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.
Representatives from Netflix and OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. A spokesperson for Google declined to comment. Harris's campaign published impressive fundraising numbers for July, partly driven by renewed enthusiasm among Gen Z and millennial donors. The Vice President raised $310 million in July and now has $377 million in her war chest, according to a press release from her campaign.
