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Roelof Botha
South African actuary, venture capitalist and company director
Roelof Botha is a prominent South African actuary and venture capitalist, currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors at mmhmm, a startup focused on video communication tools. He is also a partner at Sequoia Capital, where he has been instrumental in several high-profile investments in technology companies.
Education and Early Career
Botha earned a B.Sc. in Actuarial Science, Economics, and Statistics from the University of Cape Town in 1996. He began his career as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company before moving to the United States, where he completed his MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 2000, he joined PayPal as the Director of Corporate Development, eventually becoming the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2001, leading the company through its IPO and subsequent acquisition by eBay in 2002.134
Venture Capital Career
After leaving PayPal, Botha joined Sequoia Capital in 2003. Over the years, he has led investments in several successful companies, including YouTube, Instagram, MongoDB, Square, and Unity Technologies. He became a significant figure in the venture capital space, recognized for his ability to identify and nurture promising startups. In 2022, he was appointed as the Senior Steward of Sequoia's global operations, overseeing its U.S. and European business.135
Board Memberships
In addition to his role at mmhmm, Botha serves on the boards of various companies, including MongoDB, 23andMe, Natera, and Unity Technologies. His extensive experience in the tech industry and his strategic insight have made him a sought-after board member in the venture capital community.245
Personal Life
Roelof Botha is married and has a daughter. He is known for his contributions to the venture capital field and has been recognized multiple times on the Forbes Midas List, which ranks top venture capitalists based on their investment success.35
Highlights
"Nobody is an authority on your potential but you.”
Thank you @KailashSundaram and @stanfordgsb for having me on View from the Top. https://t.co/KjL6SBbzYx
US government spending has increased a whopping 44% since the beginning of 2020. Many companies tightened belts after 2022 (and are performing better as a result!), yet government spending continues unabated. We now have a deficit level is the US that exceeds all historic norms, including during WWII.
