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]

[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, Dropbox 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] Personal Life

Don Valentine has three children and 2 grandchildren, all of who live in the Bay Area.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Bio page at Sequoia's website

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