“It’s more of a character trait than an ideological position.” “I would describe Reid as left of center, with a very strong sense of empathy for those who are less fortunate,” Mr. Hoffman since both attended Stanford University in the 1980s. Hoffman is motivated by a sense that people are morally obliged to participate in civic society, said Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley investor and a founder of the digital payments company PayPal.

The moves put him at the vanguard of a political awakening of technology leaders, who are emerging as a potential West Coast power center that could help invigorate Mr. A Democrat with a net worth of more than $3 billion, he has spread his cash this year by financing groups that want to restore dialogue and inclusion to politics. Hoffman has emerged as Silicon Valley’s prime behind-the-scenes political influencer. “My approach to political investing is the Silicon Valley approach,” Mr. And he invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into, which has a goal of getting all eligible Americans to vote Higher Ground Labs, a start-up for progressive politicians and the Center on Rural Innovation, which is working for economic improvements in rural areas. He also invested $1 million in Cortico, a start-up that encourages online discourse between people with opposing political views.

The venture-style investments include starting a new group, Win the Future, whose self-described goal is to make the Democratic Party relevant again. SAN FRANCISCO - Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn and a billionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalist, has made a half-dozen or so investments in recent months with a specific aim: to counteract the influence of President Trump.

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