description Don Valentine Overview
Don Valentine was an American venture capitalist who founded Sequoia Capital in 1972 after working in the semiconductor industry, including at Fairchild Semiconductor and National Semiconductor. He became known for investing in technology companies during Silicon Valley's formative decades, with early Sequoia investments including Apple, Atari, Oracle, and Cisco. His career helped establish venture capital as a central source of financing for emerging technology businesses.
insights Ranking position
Don Valentine ranks #14 of 170 in the Entrepreneur ranking, behind J.P. Morgan, ahead of Pony Ma (Ma Huateng).
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Which major companies did Don Valentine help fund?
Through Sequoia Capital, Valentine backed formative technology companies including Apple, Atari, Cisco Systems, and Electronic Arts. His investments helped establish Sequoia as one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture-capital firms.
What did Don Valentine do before founding Sequoia Capital?
Valentine worked in sales and marketing in the semiconductor industry, including positions at Fairchild Semiconductor and National Semiconductor. That experience gave him direct access to the engineers and emerging markets that shaped early Silicon Valley.
What was Don Valentine's role in Cisco's early growth?
Valentine invested in Cisco and became its chairman during the networking company's formative period. He also helped recruit professional management as Cisco expanded beyond the project created by Stanford-associated founders Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner.
Why did Don Valentine focus heavily on markets rather than founders' backgrounds?
Valentine was known for asking whether a product addressed a large, defensible market and could be sold effectively. That approach reflected his semiconductor sales career and influenced Sequoia's investment culture after he founded the firm in 1972.
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