# Don Valentine: founder, Sequoia Capital

Canonical ID: `aa518422-d1bb-41a1-837f-c1c3c357af60`

Founder of Sequoia Capital (1972). One of the generation of leaders who forged Silicon Valley. Born in New York in 1932, studied chemistry at Fordham University, then joined Raytheon as a sales engineer. Moved to Fairchild Semiconductor, then became founding VP of Sales and Marketing at National Semiconductor. Founded Sequoia Capital in 1972, making seminal early investments in Atari, Apple Computer, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts, and Oracle. Served as Chairman of Cisco for three decades. Died on October 26, 2019, at his home in Woodside, California, aged 87.

- **Verification posture:** verified

## Foundings (1)

- [Sequoia Capital](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/sequoia-capital.md) (sole) _no longer at company_

See all founders: [/founders](https://registry.deploy.report/founders.md)

## Former / Previously (1)

- [Sequoia Capital](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/sequoia-capital.md) Founder (IR-verified)

## Sources (1)

1. https://sequoiacap.com/article/remembering-don-valentine · 2026-08-21


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