Venture capital behemoth Sequoia Capital is currently facing significant pressure from the tech industry following controversial statements made by one of its partners, Shaun Maguire, targeting New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. This report comes from The New York Times.
In a July 4 post on X (formerly Twitter), Maguire accused Mamdani of promoting an “Islamist agenda” and belonging to a “culture that lies about everything.”
These comments, widely condemned as Islamophobic, swiftly triggered a widespread backlash across the tech ecosystem. According to the publication, over 1,100 technologists and startup founders have signed an open letter urging Sequoia to investigate and take disciplinary action against Maguire. The letter described his statements as a “deliberate, inflammatory attack” that perpetuates anti-Muslim stereotypes. Notably, at least one company that signed the letter is backed by Sequoia itself.
Maguire later posted a video reaffirming his position, referring to Mamdani as “an Islamist” and “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” He attempted to differentiate between Islamists and Muslims and issued a partial apology “to any Muslim that is not an Islamist.”
Sequoia has yet to issue a formal public statement. However, internal emails reviewed by The New York Times reveal that senior partner Doug Leone defended Maguire’s remarks, asserting they did not condemn Muslims as a whole. Another partner, Pat Grady, acknowledged the controversy, stating that Sequoia values “aggressive truth-seeking” and “healthy conflict of ideas.”
The controversy has followed Sequoia’s managing partner Roelof Botha to high-profile events, including the recent Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, where he faced repeated questions regarding the issue.
Founded in 1972, Sequoia Capital stands as one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture firms, boasting investments in giants like Google, Apple, Nvidia, and SpaceX. Historically known for maintaining political neutrality, the firm now finds itself embroiled in escalating cultural and political divisions.
While calls for accountability have been prominent, others have vocalized support for Maguire. A counter-letter backing him has garnered more than 1,000 signatures, including high-profile investors such as Bill Ackman. Supporters have described Maguire as a “principled thinker” who has made meaningful contributions to the startup ecosystem.
Amidst rising tensions, activist groups have urged Sequoia’s institutional backers—including the University of Michigan and Duke University—to take notice of the situation and pressure the firm for accountability.
