A group of tech founders is urging Sequoia Capital to take a stand against remarks made by Shaun Maguire, a prominent venture capitalist known for his investments in major companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and X. As many of you know, Maguire recently posted some inflammatory comments on social media that led to a huge uproar. Others condemn these statements as encouraging hate speech and religious bigotry.
It only escalated when Maguire shared his video on X (formerly Twitter). In it, he attacked New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani with racist and inflammatory language. In the video, which had garnered over 5.3 million views as of Monday afternoon, he claimed that Mamdani “comes from a culture that lies about everything” and accused him of advancing an “Islamist agenda.” These comments are what sparked the righteous anger of so many in the tech community.
Maguire, a longtime tech investor, has backed artificial intelligence startup Safe Superintelligence. He’s even more famous for his unapologetic support of former President Donald Trump. He disclosed on X that he had “just donated $300k to President Trump” last year, further solidifying his political stance. In response to a request for comment on the breadth of that letter from T4America’s founders, Maguire declined to speak.
Though Maguire’s remarks are now drawing outrage. Almost immediately at least three founders of startups from YC signed on to a letter addressed to Sequoia Capital. In order to protect all whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers, the letter calls for an independent investigation of Maguire’s actions. It asks that the venture capital firm adopt a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech and religious bigotry. The founders call on Sequoia to publicly address these issues, including a detailed response by July 14th.
Shared by some of the biggest names on the planet, including Mudassir Sheikha, Amr Awadallah, Abubakar Abid, and Ahmed Sabbah. Through their collective action, they want to hold powerful people accountable and create a more inclusive climate in the technology sector.
Maguire reacted to the backlash in a post, stating, “You can try everything you want to silence me, but it will just embolden me.” This announcement has increased pressure for accountability from Sequoia. A growing group of other investors sharing the same narrow business interests are in the crosshairs as well.
Doug Leone, a partner at Sequoia, suggested that those who support Trump should feel empowered, stating, “To all Trump voters: you no longer have to hide in the shadows… you’re the majority!!” This noble sentiment has come under attack by many who promote a dangerous agenda of intolerance and exclusion.
Mike Moritz, another influential figure in the venture capital landscape, expressed concerns over Maguire’s remarks, stating, “I doubt whether any of them would want him as part of an investment syndicate that they organised.” This single comment sheds light on the deepening discomfort even at the highest levels of industry leaders about Maguire’s actions and how they may destroy their networks.