Silicon Valley Deepens Ties with Trump: Indian American VC
Silicon Valley is now deeply entwined with former President Donald Trump’s initiatives, according to Indian American venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani. Highlighting the region’s role in shaping the next wave of innovation-friendly policies, Motwani expressed excitement about collaborating with fellow investors and entrepreneurs such as David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, and Sriram Krishnan.
“Silicon Valley is now deeply enmeshed in all things Trump. I am excited to work with my peers to bring back an innovation-friendly regulatory system”, Motwani told.
Motwani, an early Google investor, has supported more than 100 startups and is a staunch advocate for India’s growing startup ecosystem. Her late husband, Professor Rajeev Motwani of Stanford University, played a pivotal role in developing Google’s foundational algorithms and mentoring its founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Former President Trump has tapped several Silicon Valley leaders for key roles. David Sacks has been named White House AI and Crypto Czar, while Indian American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan will serve as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence.
Motwani criticized current regulatory approaches, saying, “The tech industry has been harassed and hounded by ideologues like Lina Khan for too long. It would be a breath of fresh air if she was replaced by someone who understands the strategic importance of American technology leadership in a hostile world”.
A long-time Trump supporter, Motwani is also a strong proponent of India’s entrepreneurial landscape. Through the Motwani Jadeja Foundation, she has worked to elevate India’s presence on global platforms, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The Foundation will host the India Pavilion at CES 2025, scheduled for January 7–11 in Las Vegas. Featuring 10 promising Indian startups, the Pavilion aims to spotlight India’s innovation and entrepreneurial prowess. “CES provides a unique opportunity, and we are proud to support the Indian startup community in taking center stage”, Motwani shared in a post on X.
This initiative underscores her ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening ties between Silicon Valley and India’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.
