Don Valentine

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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]

[edit] Career

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.

Valentine is currently the Chairman of NetApp and a board member of Traiana. He has, over decades, served on the boards of many other technology companies.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Legendary venture capitalist looks ahead," Alorie Gilbert, News.com, November 27, 2004
  2. ^ Computer History Museum "What's Happening: Pioneers of Venture Capital Series"

[edit] External links

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