Bilal Mahmood
{{Short description|American entrepreneur and politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bilal Mahmood
| image = Bilal Mahmood, 2025.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2025
| office = Member of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
from the 5th district
| term_start = January 8, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Dean Preston
| successor =
| birth_place = Palo Alto, CA
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Stanford University (BS)
University of Cambridge (MPhil)
| occupation = Climate Non-Profit Director
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|37|2024|9|4}}
}}
Bilal Mahmood, born {{Birth based on age as of date|37|2024|9|5|noage=1}}){{Cite web |last=Balakrishnan |first=Eleni |date=2024-09-05 |title=Meet the District 5 candidates: What's going on at 300 Octavia? |url=https://missionlocal.org/2024/09/meet-district-5-candidates-week29-300-octavia/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Mission Local |language=en-US}} is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and elected official, currently serving as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 5. Mahmood was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2024, defeating incumbent supervisor Dean Preston.
Prior to elected office, Mahmood was a policy analyst in the Obama administration,{{cite news |title=Ex-Assembly candidate Bilal Mahmood running to unseat S.F. Supervisor Dean Preston
|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/supervisor-preston-mahmood-18397563.php |access-date=10 January 2025 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 1, 2023}} as well as co-founder of the Foundation 13 Fund and the software company ClearBrain, where he also served as CEO.{{cite news |title=ClearBrain launches analytics tools focused on connecting cause and effect |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/16/clearbrain-launches-analytics-tools-focused-connecting-cause-and-effect/ |accessdate=13 December 2021 |work= TechCrunch |date=16 August 2018 |language=en}} Amplitude acquired ClearBrain in March 2020.{{Cite web| title=Amplitude Acquires Predictive Analytics Pioneer ClearBrain| date=March 10, 2020| url=https://amplitude.com/press/amplitude-acquires-clearbrain}}
Early life
Mahmood was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. Mahmood's parents and grandparents immigrated from Pakistan.{{cite news|date=November 7, 2021|title=That rejected 495-unit complex in San Francisco is now a dividing line in Assembly race|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/That-rejected-495-unit-complex-in-San-Francisco-16596721.php|access-date=28 December 2021}}
Mahmood finished high school in Lahore, Pakistan, where his family moved after 9/11.{{cite news |title=Who will replace Assembly Member David Chiu? City attorney pick heats up progressive race |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/Who-will-replace-Assemblymember-David-Chiu-City-16496647.php |website=SF Chronicle | date=29 September 2021 |accessdate=13 December 2021}} He graduated Stanford University in 2009 with a degree in biology and a minor in business. At Stanford, he interned at the Stanford Pediatric Surgery Lab and co-founded a microloan non-profit that has distributed more than $13,000. He was named a Gates Cambridge Scholar in 2009 and attended the University of Cambridge, where he earned a master's degree in bioscience enterprise.{{cite news |title=Students, alumna awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarships |url=https://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/march4/gates-cambridge-scholarships-030409.html |accessdate=13 December 2021 |work= Stanford News |date=4 March 2009 |language=en}} Mahmood has described himself as a "neuroscientist" in his public communications.{{Cite tweet |user=bilalmahmood |number=1747290156246479349 |title=Our first campaign ad - "Results, Not Excuses" | author=Bilal Mahmood}} However, this claim was challenged by neuroscientists and later removed from Mahmood's website and social media profiles.
Career
Mahmood was a policy analyst during the Obama administration in the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the United States Department of Commerce in 2011.{{cite web|date=June 2011|title=Report to Secretary Locke - Improving Access to Capital for High-Growth Companies|url=https://eda.gov/files/oie/nacie/NACIE-Report-Access-to-Capital.pdf|work=Department of Commerce|accessdate=27 Dec 2021}}
After working in the Obama administration and several technology companies,{{cite news |title=Q&A With Bilal Mahmood of Science Exchange |url=https://www.medgadget.com/2013/04/qa-with-bilal-mahmood-of-science-exchange.html |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=Medgadget |date=April 29, 2013}} Mahmood founded ClearBrain, a predictive analytics software company{{cite news |title=ClearBrain uses AI to help advertisers target the right users |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/07/clearbrain-launch/ |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=TechCrunch |date=February 7, 2018}} which Mahmood describes as technology for mission-minded organizations and small businesses, helping them compete with Amazon.{{cite web |title=Bilal for Assembly - About |url=https://www.bilalforassembly.com/about |access-date=28 December 2021}} Mahmood served as ClearBrain's CEO until March 2020, when analytics firm Amplitude announced it had acquired ClearBrain for an undisclosed sum.{{cite news |title=Sequoia Capital-backed Amplitude makes its first acquisition with this startup |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2020/03/10/sequoia-capital-backed-amplitude-makes-its-first.html |accessdate=27 Dec 2021 |work= San Francisco Business Times |date=10 March 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Amplitude's CEO Says Buying Another Startup Is a Risky but Smart Move |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/amplitudes-ceo-buying-clearbrain-risky-smart-move-2020-3 |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=Business Insider |date=March 9, 2020}}
Mahmood started the Foundation 13 Fund in 2020, investing in nonprofits local to San Francisco on issues including small business relief, anti-Asian violence, and local journalism. Its first grant raised $100,000 to support restaurant workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
= 2022 California State Assembly candidacy =
Mahmood announced he was running as a Democrat for California's 17th State Assembly district in a 2022 special election on September 30, 2021.{{cite web|title=Bilal Mahmood 馬百樂 for Assembly 2022 on Twitter | url=https://twitter.com/bilalmahmood/status/1443591764724514820 | date=30 September 2021 | accessdate=27 Dec 2021 | work=Twitter }} He received public support from Saikat Chakrabarti.{{cite news |title=AOC's former chief of staff weighs in on San Francisco politics |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/aocs-former-chief-of-staff-weighs-in-on-san-francisco-politics/ |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Examiner |date=November 11, 2021}} Together, Mahmood and Chakrabarti planned an environmental framework similar to the Green New Deal for California, including a carbon tax to fund zero-interest loans for green retrofits.{{cite news |title=David Chiu's Seat in California Assembly Already Has Candidates Lining Up for Special Election |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11890455/david-chius-seat-in-california-assembly-already-has-candidates-lining-up-for-special-election |access-date=28 December 2021 |publisher=KQED |date=September 30, 2021}}
Mahmood based his platform on a number of issues including supporting a San Francisco Board of Education recall, a program to end homelessness in over 80 cities and counties, a guaranteed income program for Californians, expanding the California Earned Income Tax Credit ceiling to $75,000, and a combination of carbon and wealth taxes.{{cite news|date=November 18, 2021|title=Bilal Mahmood, Entrepreneur and Scientist, On Why He's Running|publisher=The San Francisco Standard|url=https://sfstandard.com/bilal-mahmood-entrepreneur-and-scientist-on-why-hes-running/|access-date=28 December 2021}}
Mahmood finished third, subsequently endorsing Matt Haney.{{cite news|date=March 3, 2022| publisher=The San Francisco Chronicle| title=S.F. Assembly race: YIMBY-backed Bilal Mahmood endorses Matt Haney over David Campos in runoff| url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-Assembly-race-Bilal-Mahmood-endorses-Matt-16974522.php}} Haney ultimately defeated David Campos in the runoff election and was sworn in on May 3, 2022.{{Cite web |title=April 19, 2022 Election Results - Summary Department of Elections |url=https://sfelections.sfgov.org/april-19-2022-election-results-summary |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=sfelections.sfgov.org}}
= San Francisco political advocacy =
Mahmood has continued to advocate for reforms in the permitting and approvals process for new construction in San Francisco, identifying excessive bureaucracy as a driver of homelessness and inequality in the city.{{Cite web| title=87 permits, 1,000 days of meetings and $500,000 in fees: How bureaucracy fuels S.F.'s housing crisis| publisher=The San Francisco Chronicle|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/sf-housing-development-red-tape-17815725.php}} Soon after Mahmood delineated these issues in the San Francisco Chronicle in March 2023, city Supervisor Ahsha Safai and San Francisco Mayor London Breed put forward separate bills to streamline the city's complex and time-consuming housing approval process.{{cite news|date=March 15, 2023| publisher=The Real Deal| title=Safai, Breed launch separate bills to speed up SF project approvals| url=https://therealdeal.com/sanfrancisco/2023/03/15/safai-breed-launch-separate-bills-to-speed-up-sf-project-approvals/}}
Mahmood collaborated with Assemblyman Matt Haney on legislation which would compel California's Energy Commission to create an emission reduction strategy for buildings and homes with clearly outlined requirements and milestones.{{Cite web |title=AB-593 Carbon emission reduction strategy: building sector.|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB593 |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov}} The proposed legislation was praised for its potential to bolster investment in local businesses and create jobs in the state.{{cite news|date=June 5, 2023| publisher=The San Francisco Chronicle| title=Two S.F. political rivals are doing something crazy: working together| url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/matt-haney-bilal-mahmood-18132063.php#photo-23897729}}
= San Francisco Board of Supervisors =
Mahmood announced his candidacy for the District 5 seat of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in January 2024, running as a moderate against the incumbent Dean Preston.{{cite news |last1=Cortez |first1=Mario |title=Race to unseat S.F. Supervisor Dean Preston is heating up with this competitor |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/mahmood-preston-district-5-18630659.php |access-date=1 February 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=28 January 2024 |language=en}} Mahmood defeated Preston in ranked-choice voting in the November election.{{cite web |last=Toledo| first=Aldo |date=November 11, 2024|title=Supervisor Dean Preston loses to Bilal Mahmood in S.F.'s District 5 supervisor race
|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/election/article/sf-supervisor-district-5-dean-preston-19857793.php |access-date=November 13, 2024 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}} On November 11, 2024, incumbent Supervisor Dean Preston conceded the District 5 race to Mahmood.DeBenedetti, K. & Pelit, A., [https://www.kqed.org/news/12013950/dean-preston-concedes-sf-district-5-race-to-bilal-mahmood-blasts-right-wing-pressure-groups "Dean Preston Concedes SF District 5 Race to Bilal Mahmood, Blasts 'Right-Wing Pressure Groups'"], KQED (November 11, 2024).
Personal life
Mahmood is diagnosed with a mild form of autism.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Han |date=2025-04-08 |title=San Francisco supervisor opens up about autism diagnosis |url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/08/bilal-mahmood-autism-san-francisco/?itm_source=parsely-api |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}}
References
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Category:Date of birth missing (living people)
Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United States
Category:Expatriate academics in the United States
Category:Pakistani expatriate academics
Category:Politicians from San Francisco
Category:American technology businesspeople
Category:Businesspeople from San Francisco
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)