Tushar Atre was a successful tech entrepreneur who founded AtreNet, a digital marketing firm, in 1996. He also ventured into the cannabis industry and owned a licensed cannabis distributor company called Interstitial Systems. But his life was cut short in 2019, when he was kidnapped from his home in Santa Cruz, California, and later found dead in his girlfriend’s car. How much was Tushar Atre worth before his tragic death? And what was his story?
Early Life and Education
Tushar Atre was born on August 1, 1969, and was of Indian origin. He graduated from New York University in 1992 with a degree in literature. He moved from New York to California and started his career in marketing and website development.
AtreNet: A Digital Marketing Firm
AtreNet was founded by Tushar Atre in 1996, and specialized in web design, development, and strategy for B2B companies. Some of the clients that AtreNet worked with include Cisco, Hewlett Packard, Netflix, and Salesforce. According to the company’s website, AtreNet had a team of over 50 professionals and had offices in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and India.
Tushar Atre was the CEO and the driving force behind AtreNet. He was passionate about technology, innovation, and quality. He also enjoyed surfing, mushroom foraging, and traveling. He described himself as an entrepreneur, surfer, and mushroom forager on his Twitter profile.
However, not everyone had a positive experience working with Tushar Atre. Some former employees posted negative reviews on Glassdoor, a website where people can anonymously rate their employers. They accused him of being abusive, disrespectful, and manipulative. They also claimed that he did not value anyone but himself, and that he treated his employees like disposable objects.
Interstitial Systems: A Cannabis Business
Tushar Atre also had an interest in the cannabis industry, which was legalized in California in 2018. He founded Interstitial Systems, a cannabis manufacturing business, in June 2019. He obtained a license from the state to distribute cannabis products, and owned a property in the Santa Cruz Mountains where he planned to grow cannabis.
However, his involvement in the cannabis business may have also attracted some unwanted attention. According to some reports, he had received threats from people who wanted to steal his cannabis or extort money from him.
Kidnapping and Murder
On October 1, 2019, Tushar Atre was kidnapped from his oceanfront home in Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, around 3 a.m. He was taken away in his girlfriend’s BMW SUV, which was later found abandoned in the Santa Cruz Mountains, along with his body. He had been shot to death.
The motive behind the kidnapping and murder was believed to be robbery. The police suspected that the perpetrators were familiar with Tushar Atre and his lifestyle, and that they targeted him for his wealth and cannabis business.
In May 2020, the police arrested four suspects in connection with the case. They were identified as Joshua Camps, Kurtis Charters, Stephen Lindsay, and Kaleb Charters. Two of them, Kurtis and Kaleb, were former employees of AtreNet. They were charged with murder, kidnapping, robbery, and burglary.
Tushar Atre Net Worth
According to some sources, Tushar Atre’s net worth was estimated to be $16 million at the time of his death. He had accumulated his wealth from his successful tech and cannabis businesses, as well as his real estate investments. He owned a $2.4 million house in Santa Cruz, where he lived with his girlfriend, Rachael Edith Emery, who ran a cannabis company called Benevolent Bound.
Tushar Atre’s net worth was a reflection of his hard work, talent, and ambition. He was a visionary entrepreneur who created value for his clients and his industry. He was also a nature lover, an adventurer, and a free spirit. His death was a tragic loss for his family, friends, and community.