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Rival Tech Letters Pressure Sequoia Over Partner’s ‘Islamist’ Remark on Mamdani

Founders and backers have circulated competing letters that urge Sequoia to either condemn or defend Shaun Maguire before its July 14 deadline.

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Overview

  • Shaun Maguire has remained defiant after his July 4 X post labeled Zohran Mamdani as promoting an “Islamist agenda” and criticized his culture as dishonest.
  • Nearly 600 founders signed an open letter by July 7 urging Sequoia Capital to condemn Maguire’s remarks, apologize to Mamdani and Muslim entrepreneurs, and investigate his conduct.
  • Maguire doubled down with a 28-minute video and follow-up tweets defending his use of “Islamist” as a political ideology and refusing to retract his comments.
  • On July 9, hundreds of supporters circulated a rival open letter backing Maguire, escalating pressure on Sequoia to either defend its partner or denounce his statements.
  • Sequoia Capital has declined to comment while both sides press the firm for a public response and the adoption of a zero-tolerance hate-speech policy by its July 14 deadline.