Shaun Maguire

Shaun Maguire is a prominent venture capitalist and partner at Sequoia Capital, a leading venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley. He has been with Sequoia since July 2019 and has played a significant role in investing in various innovative companies, including AMP Robotics, Knowde, and SpaceX.15

Education and Early Career

Maguire holds a PhD in Physics from Caltech, where he specialized in quantum gravity. He also has master's degrees in Statistics from Stanford University and Control and Dynamical Systems from Caltech, along with a BA in Mathematics from the University of Southern California.14 Before joining Sequoia, he was a partner at Google Ventures, where he led investments in notable startups like IonQ and Dandelion Energy.34

Professional Achievements

At Sequoia, Maguire has focused on early-stage investments and has been involved in several successful ventures. He co-founded Expanse, a cybersecurity company acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $1 billion, and has served on the board of Luminar Technologies since 2021.15 His investment philosophy emphasizes finding highly motivated founders who are deeply passionate about their missions.5

Controversies

Recently, Maguire has been in the spotlight due to his outspoken support for Israel amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. His social media activity has drawn criticism, leading to calls from some tech executives for his removal from Sequoia Capital. Critics have accused him of promoting divisive narratives related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.26

Personal Interests

In addition to his professional pursuits, Maguire is known for his interests in space, video gaming, and marathon running. He has traveled to over 90 countries and has a background in competitive gaming, having played at a high level in "Counter-Strike" during his youth.45