The GrowSF Team

GrowSF is a group of people who care about the future of San Francisco and want to see the city invest in growth so we can build for future generations.

Get to Know Us

The GrowSF Team

Sachin Agarwal

Sachin AgarwalFull-Time

Director, Board Member

Hi, my name is Sachin Agarwal. I spent nearly 20 years in tech as an engineer at Apple, a product manager at Twitter and Lyft, and the founder and CEO of the YC-backed company Posterous. A few years ago, I left tech to work full-time on making San Francisco the best city it can be, and co-founded GrowSF.

I've lived in San Francisco for 20 years, and I love it. That's why my wife and I decided we're going to raise our family here and put down roots in the Inner Sunset. She is a graphic designer at a museum, and we have two girls.

When I was three years old, my parents immigrated to Southern California, opened a small Indian restaurant, bought a modest house, and sent me to great public schools. That kind of story isn't possible in San Francisco today, and that makes me sad.

I want San Francisco to be a city that welcomes everyone: dreamers, builders, innovators, and the weirdos. A true melting pot, where you can come and be exactly who you want to be. To do that, we need the basics to work: more housing, public safety, good public schools...and getting there just takes winning a few elections.

What I love about SF
  • Botanical Garden

    Botanical Garden

  • Izakaya Sozai

    Izakaya Sozai

  • Outside Lands

    Outside Lands

Steven Buss Bacio

Steven Buss BacioFull-Time

Director

Hi, my name is Steven Buss Bacio. I was a software engineer for over ten years at Amazon, Counsyl, and Google. I've been involved in San Francisco politics for over eight years, and part of GrowSF since early 2021. I've run for office and served on two nonprofit Boards, and I'm particularly passionate about housing, public transit, and public schools.

I love San Francisco. I'm not from here, I didn't grow up in California, and I don't have any family on the West Coast — but San Francisco feels like home. I believe that anyone who wants to live here should be able to, and that means building more housing, keeping the city safe and clean, and creating the nation's best schools and transit system.

I joined GrowSF because our vision for San Francisco is vibrant, welcoming, prosperous, and growing. GrowSF rejects the politics of scarcity and fear. We will help make San Francisco into the truly open and welcoming city it is destined to be.

What I love about SF
  • Perfect weather

    Perfect weather

  • Innovation

    Innovation

  • Incredible food

    Incredible food

Leo van den Daele

Leo van den DaeleFull-Time

Research & Content

Hi, my name is Leo. I was born on California St. I grew up believing that if you shook America, all the loose nails would end up in San Francisco. My father grew up here in the fifties, and I came to love his stories about an old San Francisco that was creative, reckless, and free. At GrowSF, I do policy research and produce our in house ads.

I graduated from college in 2024, and always felt pulled to a vision of government that delivered unfailingly on the basics. I believe our city needs to deliver a good baseline for everyone: healthy food for all, clean water, safe streets, excellent schools. These should be uncontroversial goals we abide by. GrowSF is a part of that picture, but it's only together as a city that we can accomplish this vision.

We're a small team, hard at work, to bring quality information about what's actually happening in San Francisco to the public. We believe in getting back to basics and delivering on a city that works. People think we're a team of twenty, but it's just four of us.

What I love about SF
  • Cycling the Golden Gate Bridge

    Cycling the Golden Gate Bridge

  • Running Land's End

    Running Land's End

  • Sauna at the Dolphin Club

    Sauna at the Dolphin Club

McKenna Quint

McKenna QuintFull-Time

Head of Talent

Hi, I’m McKenna Quint. I grew up in a small town in upstate New York, but my Mom always called me a California girl. I thought that was pretty strange, until I visited San Francisco 11 years ago - I’ve been here ever since, and I won’t leave until I’m grayer than the fog that curls around our hills. San Francisco is home.

I’ve spent much of my career building Talent programs from scratch to scale. I’m obsessed with how to build structures and environments in which people can thrive - and finding and supporting leaders who can overcome any obstacle to get great outcomes.

I joined GrowSF because I believe San Franciscans agree on more than we disagree on, so we deserve leaders who are in public service for the right reasons, who eschew performative politics, and who unite us in our shared goal of making this city work for everyone.

What I love about SF
  • The Roxie

    The Roxie

  • SF Symphony movie nights

    SF Symphony movie nights

  • When 3eb plays a hometown show

    When 3eb plays a hometown show

Jan Chong

Jan Chong

Board Member

Hi, my name is Jan Chong. I've been working at various technology companies in the Bay Area as an engineer and engineering manager since 2007.

I moved to San Francisco in 2005, while I was still in school. Like so many people, I was drawn to SF's vibrant restaurants, nature and community, even as it came with roommates, extra jobs and a lot of moving to keep rent manageable. I'm now the proud parent of two girls that I'm raising here in San Francisco and I hope that they'll grow up loving their birth city as much as I've come to.

I joined GrowSF because I fervently believe that you shouldn't have to win the lottery to live and work in San Francisco. I'm pro-affordable housing and pro-public transportation (much to the chagrin of my children, who would much rather I drive them to school 😊) and I want to help make my beliefs a reality for our city.

What I love about SF
  • Walking my dog at Fort Funston

    Walking my dog at Fort Funston

  • Secret Breakfast

    Secret Breakfast

  • Ramen

    Ramen

Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown

Board Member

Hi, my name is Ryan Brown. I'm an SF native who loves everything about the Bay Area.

My parents immigrated from the Philippines to San Francisco in 1983 to create a better life for me and my two brothers. I studied at St. Ignatius College Preparatory and San Francisco State University.

I'm proud to serve on the board of GrowSF to promote improving the city from within the tech community. I've always wanted to support and get more involved with the city that I've grown up with and continue to fall in love with every day.

I've spent the last decade working in the tech industry as a marketer and creative lead.

What I love about SF
  • The food

    The food

  • The fog

    The fog

  • The culture

    The culture

Get to Know Us

Our Advisors

Tyler Law

Tyler Law

Senior Advisor

Hi, my name is Tyler Law. I've led communications and paid media strategy on campaigns across the country. I am currently a partner at Thematic Campaigns and the head of our west coast practice.

Most recently, I was the general consultant for Mayor Lurie's historic upset campaign, managed the paid media for Supervisor Bilal Mahmood and was a media consultant for Senator Adam Schiff. Over the past two years I have been inspired daily by San Franciscans who rejected cynicism and rallied behind a vision for a city that not only works but thrives.

I have witnessed GrowSF's positive impact from the outside and now I'm excited to partner with them to build an enduring movement for commonsense.

What I love about SF
  • Cocktails at Bar April Jean

    Cocktails at Bar April Jean

  • Flour & Water Pizzeria

    Flour & Water Pizzeria

  • City views from the Bay Bridge

    City views from the Bay Bridge

David Broockman

David Broockman

Advisor, Housing Policy

Hi, my name is David Broockman. I first visited San Francisco when I was 8 years old, and told my parents then that I wanted to move to San Francisco when I grew up. I was lucky enough to make that dream a reality and move here after college for graduate school. I have lived here ever since, and am currently a professor of political science at UC Berkeley*.

In San Francisco, I’ve been most involved with housing advocacy. In 2021, I launched a “NIMBY Report” chronicling Dean Preston’s Housing Graveyard, and subsequently helped advocate for crucial programs that made their way into San Francisco’s 2022 Housing Element.

GrowSF has been an incredibly effective force for political change in our city. It’s inspiring to see a team so laser-focused on achieving results for our city, and as a San Franciscan I’m grateful for all the tangible positive impacts they’ve had.

*For identification purposes only.

What I love about SF
  • View of the Golden Gate from Crissy Field

    View of the Golden Gate from Crissy Field

  • Taqueria Cancun

    Taqueria Cancun

  • Dolores Park

    Dolores Park

Cyn Wang

Cyn Wang

Advisor, Small Business

Hi, I’m Cyn Wang – a San Francisco native, small business owner, and Vice President of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission (for identification purposes only). I spent the last several decades at the intersection of law and policy, as an assistant city attorney for multiple Bay Area cities, a diplomat with the U.S. State Department, and managing public policy at Airbnb. I left tech to join my family business, Wang Insurance, which my parents founded in 1979 as immigrants. Today, we are privileged enough to insure many of California’s most dynamic organizations — from Michelin-starred restaurants and wine bars to tech startups, nonprofits, and boutique hotels.

I couldn’t leave behind my love for public policy and law, so I also serve as VP of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission, where I help regulate and promote nightlife and culture, which I believe are essential to San Francisco’s economic recovery and identity.

I was born in the Sunset District and I live there today with my wife and daughter. I believe San Francisco is the best city in the world, and that’s why I am determined to fight for its success. I am a longtime board member of civic and political groups including the Westside Family Democratic Club, United Democratic Club, and SF Parent Action. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, I’m a passionate advocate for excellent public schools and transit, reducing barriers for small business, and more housing.

What I love about SF
  • The inclusive culture

    The inclusive culture

  • World-class food & hospitality scene

    World-class food & hospitality scene

  • Stunning parks and views

    Stunning parks and views