By Roger Riffenburgh
East Bay entrepreneur and community leader Vinay Kruttiventi is running for Congress in Alameda County’s District 14. Kruttiventi is the CEO of the digital consulting company A5, and chairman of his own philanthropic foundation. He describes himself as “a fiscally conservative, country-first person who is trying to bring communities together for a positive change.”
In explaining why he is running, Kruttiventi says he is “not your typical politician. I’m not a career bureaucrat or a special interest mouthpiece. I’m a successful businessman, a family man, and a true patriot who’s fed up with the status quo. I’m running for Congress to bring common sense and a fresh perspective to Washington. I’m running to fight for the jobs, the economy, and the safety and security of all Americans. And I’m running to ensure that our government works for you, not vice versa.” He is endorsed by the Alameda County Republican Party, the California Republican Party, and the Pleasanton Police Officers Association.
Vin Kruttiventi founded the company A5, which guides other companies in improving their business processes and undergoing a digital transformation using platforms such as Salesforce or Oracle. Vin is also active in the community and has worked with many nonprofit groups, including Agape Villages, No Kid Hungry, Pleasanton Rotary, Fremont Hindu Temple, and Habitat for Humanity. He formed the Vinay Kruttiventi Foundation, which equips nonprofits and small businesses with the tools they need to succeed.
With regard to priority issues, Kruttiventi says his focus “lies in elevating the standards of education, fighting inflation, increasing national security and border security, extending support to our esteemed elders, and dismantling the bureaucratic obstacles that burden small businesses.”
Congressional District 14 is currently represented by Democrat Eric Swalwell. It runs from San Leandro south to northern Fremont and east to Livermore. It also includes Hayward, Union City, Pleasanton, and portions of other communities. (See the map.)
Vinay Kruttiventi grew up in Hyderabad, India. He developed a passion for serving the community, influenced by his grandfather, who was a freedom fighter with Ghandi, and his father, a journalist. He earned his engineering degree from Osmania University in Hyderabad.
Vin says he came to the United States “to create a better life for myself and to pursue the American Dream.” He worked for several systems integration companies, and rose from developer to program manager. During his career, he founded several successful startups, including A5, which he has been successfully growing for twenty years.
When he has a chance, Vin enjoys hiking East Bay trails, watching basketball and baseball with friends, and spending time with family. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Pleasanton. You can find out more about Vin Kruttiventi on his campaign website, vin4congress.com.