Sequoia Capital, one of the most eminent venture capital companies in Silicon Valley, dismissed its Washington-based political team, DC and closing its office there, as well as certain companies related to technology are trying to increase their visibility in the American capital after the re-election of President Trump.
The changes will take effect at the end of March and will affect three full -time employees as well as the scholarship holders who worked with the company. Sequoia has confirmed the layout while two sources familiar with the question that requested anonymity because the subject is sensitive, said the company would close its Washington office.
Sequoia says he had set up his small political team five years ago – during the first Trump administration – to advise his investment team and his portfolio companies on regulatory issues, deepen his knowledge of the political landscape and strengthens his links with world decision -makers, experts and reflections. Don Vieira, who had held national security positions greater than the permanent selective committee of information from the Ministry of Justice and the Chamber, opened the office, according to his LinkedIn. Vieria will leave the company as part of the changes. He did not respond to requests for comments.
“Thanks to [the policy group’s] Strategic guidance and efforts, Sequoia is now well positioned to advance these relations in the United States and Europe, “said a Sequoia spokesperson.” To this end, we flow the dedicated political function and the closure of our DC office at the end of March. We are grateful to the team for their contributions and their impact. »»
The changes to Sequoia contrast with technological companies that have increased their visibility in Washington, DC since the re -election of President Trump. Meta in January hired Joel Kaplan, former deputy chief of staff to former president George W. Bush, to lead his world policy team and CEO Mark Zuckerburg visited Trump at the White House and Mar-A-Lago.
Some other venture capital companies have strengthened their presence in Washington, DC to help portfolio companies operating in highly regulated or political industries such as defense, crypto or AI. The venture capital company Andreessen Horowitz, for example, which asked several of its partners to take official or advisory positions at the White House, recently hired Patrick Mchenry, the former member of the Congress of the North Carolina, and Matt Cronin, former chief investigation and deputy general councilor of the American selective committee of the United States, as Company. Last fall, before the elections, General Catalyst launched what he called “General Catalyst Institute” to influence AI, health care, defense and intelligence, manufacturing and energy policy.
The capital of Sequoia has always remained politically neutral as a business, even if many of its partners express political opinions individually or make major donations to the presidential candidates. The best partner Roelof Botha declared last summer that he was not registered with any of the political parties, but that he was “more focused on policies that will stimulate entrepreneurship, job creation and ensure that the United States will remain in advance”.
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
