- Sequoia Capital founder Don Valentine died on Friday at age 87, the firm said.
- Valentine was widely considered one of the preeminent figures in Silicon Valley’s tech industry, and his firm is one of the most successful and most enduring venture firms today.
- Valentine was known for asking aspiring founders “Who cares?” in response to their pitches, a trait many other Silicon Valley leaders admired and emulated.
- Several leaders in Silicon Valley, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Andreessen Horowitz founder Marc Andreessen, shared memories and tributes to Valentine on Twitter Friday.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Tributes began pouring in for Don Valentine, founder of Sequoia Capital, after the firm announced his death on Friday. He was 87.
Valentine was widely considered one of the preeminent figures in Silicon Valley’s tech industry, and his firm is one of the most successful and most enduring venture firms today. His early bets include video game company Atari in 1975 and Apple in 1978, which solidified Sequoia’s reputation as one of the biggest and best venture firms in Silicon Valley.
Valentine was known for asking aspiring founders “Who cares?” in response to their pitches, a trait many other Silicon Valley leaders admired and emulated. He stepped aside from Sequoia in the mid-1990s, but was still involved with the firm until very recently.
Several leaders in Silicon Valley, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Andreessen Horowitz founder Marc Andreessen, shared memories and tributes to Valentine on Twitter Friday.
“Don’s impact on the beginnings of Silicon Valley and the entire tech industry will not be soon forgotten,” Pichai wrote on Twitter Friday. “Thoughts are with his family and the entire Sequoia team. May he rest in peace.”
Here are some of the other tributes and memories some of tech’s biggest names shared in tribute to Sequoia Capital founder Don Valentine.
Don’s impact on the beginnings of Silicon Valley and the entire tech industry will not be soon forgotten. Thoughts are with his family and the entire Sequoia team. May he rest in peace.https://t.co/umYzWnfUZX
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 25, 2019
Don Valentine, RIP, a guiding light who put silicon in Silicon Valley. I had the honor of spending time with Mr. Valentine and learned from him. Thank you for helping create this ecosystem that we call home now. https://t.co/5IgpMbRRf6
— OM (@om) October 25, 2019
“The world of technology thrives best when individuals are left alone to be different, creative, and disobedient.” –Don Valentine, founder of Sequoia, RIP
— Marc Andreessen (@pmarca) October 25, 2019
Don Valentine – an entrepreneur, pioneer, leader, and legend.
Eternally grateful. https://t.co/uXvgscHYph
— Andrew Reed (@andrew__reed) October 25, 2019
A tribute to a legend in our world. RIP Don Valentine. https://t.co/nqKaCSjoPX
— Mamoon Hamid (@mamoonha) October 25, 2019
Rest in peace, Don Valentine. You were a legend and an inspiration.https://t.co/t8AATWEEeD
— Roelof Botha (@roelofbotha) October 25, 2019
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