- Don Valentine
-
Don Valentine in 2009. Photograph by Steve Jurvetson
Donald T. "Don" Valentine is an influential venture capitalist who concentrates mainly on technology companies in the United States. He has been called the "grandfather of Silicon Valley venture capital".[1] The Computer History Museum credited him as playing "a key role in the formation of a number of industries such as semiconductors, personal computers, personal computer software, digital entertainment and networking."[2]
Contents
Career
After graduating with a B.A. from Fordham University, he began his technology career in the 1950s and was a founder of National Semiconductor, as well as being a senior sales and marketing executive for Fairchild Semiconductor.
In 1972, he founded venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, and in that role was one of the original investors of Apple Computer, Atari, LSI Logic, Oracle Corporation, Cisco, Electronic Arts, Google, YouTube and many other companies.[3]
Valentine is a former Chairman of NetApp and Traiana. He has, over decades, served on the boards of many other technology companies. Valentine was featured in the documentary film Something Ventured which premiered in 2011.
Personal life
Don Valentine has three children and seven grandchildren, all of whom live in the Bay Area.
References
- ^ Gilbert, Alorie (November 27, 2004). "Legendary venture capitalist looks ahead". CNET News. http://news.cnet.com/Legendary-venture-capitalist-looks-ahead/2008-1082_3-5466478.html.
- ^ "Donald T. Valentine". Computer History Museum. http://www.computerhistory.org/events/lectures/vc_09302002/valentine/index.shtml.
- ^ "Donald Valentine: Executive Profile & Biography". BusinessWeek. http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=75139&ticker=NTAP:US.
External links
- Sequoia Capital U.S.
- Sequoia website profile
- Stanford Business School presents Don Valentine, Sequoia Capital: "Target Big Markets"
Private equity and venture capital investors Investment strategy 
History History of private equity and venture capital · Early history of private equity · Private equity in the 1980s · Private equity in the 1990s · Private equity in the 2000sInvestor types Private equity investors · Venture capitalists · Corporate raidersCategories:- American business biography stubs
- Venture capitalists
- Living people
- Fordham University alumni
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
