Sequoia Capital’s High-Stakes Gamble With Its Limited Partners

Sequoia Capital’s High-Stakes Gamble With Its Limited Partners

Sequoia’s controversy over Shaun Maguire’s remarks leaves Managing Partner Roelof Botha balancing free speech, firm culture, and investor trust.

Roelof Botha explains why Sequoia supports Shaun Maguire after COO quit

Sequoia's managing partner Roelof Botha defended his colleague's controversial comments that sparked an online backlash, arguing that the VC firm needs "spiky" people.

How “Neutrality” And “Free Speech” Become Excuses For Driving Out The People You Claim To Value

Mike Brock's piece on Sequoia Capital last week laid out a pretty damning case study: a well-respected COO complains about a partner's Islamophobic posts, senior leadership invokes "institutional neutrality" and declines to act, she resigns, he stays because he made them billions on SpaceX. Brock correctly calls this out as a choice, not neutrality—a calculation…