Don Valentine's Inspiring Life and Career

Don Valentine's life and career are truly inspiring. He was one of the most successful venture capitalists of his time, with a net worth of over $1 billion.

Don Valentine's success story began with his early days at National Semiconductor, where he worked for over 15 years and rose to the position of president and CEO.

He then went on to found Sequoia Capital, one of the most prestigious venture capital firms in the world. Valentine's leadership and investment skills helped Sequoia Capital achieve a remarkable track record of success, with many of its portfolio companies becoming household names.

Some of the notable companies that Valentine invested in include Apple, Cisco Systems, and Oracle, among others.

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Don Valentine grew up in the Bronx, New York, and came from a family with a Danish background. He attended Mount Saint Michael Academy and later graduated with a B.A. from Fordham University.

After college, Valentine began his career as a sales engineer at Raytheon, but he didn't stay long before moving on to Fairchild Semiconductor, where he spent seven years building up the sales force. He then joined National Semiconductor as a senior sales and marketing executive.

Valentine's most notable career move was founding the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital in 1972, which went on to make early investments in companies like Atari, Apple, and Google.

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Don Valentine's early life and education laid the foundation for his future success. He was born in 1935 in the United States.

Growing up in a middle-class family, Valentine developed a strong work ethic and a passion for business from a young age. His parents encouraged his entrepreneurial spirit.

Valentine attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Don Valentine's career was marked by a series of innovative and successful ventures. He began his career as a sales engineer at Raytheon, but his tenure was short-lived, lasting less than a year.

Valentine then joined Fairchild Semiconductor, where he spent seven years building up the sales force. He eventually left to join National Semiconductor, taking on a senior sales and marketing executive role.

In 1972, Valentine founded Sequoia Capital, a venture capital firm that would become a major player in the tech industry. Sequoia's first investment was in Atari in 1975, and the company went on to make early investments in Apple Computer, LSI Logic, Oracle Corporation, and many others.

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Some of the notable companies that Sequoia invested in include Atari, Apple Inc., LSI Logic, Oracle Corporation, Cisco, Electronic Arts, Google, and YouTube. Valentine's connections in the industry, including his meeting with Steve Jobs at Atari, played a significant role in Sequoia's early success.

Valentine's leadership roles extended beyond Sequoia Capital. He served as a chairman of NetApp and Traiana, and he sat on the boards of numerous other technology companies, including Apple, Atari, C-Cube, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts, Linear Technology, LSI Logic, Microchip Technology, NetApp, Oracle, and PMC-Sierra.

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Don Valentine was an incredible pioneer in so many ways. He was a true visionary who left a lasting impact on the tech industry.

Don Valentine's legacy is a testament to his innovative approach to investing and his ability to spot emerging trends. He once said, "assume that the past is wrong, and to do something that's not part of the past, to do something entirely differently." This mindset served him well throughout his career.

One of his earliest investments was in Atari, a pioneering arcade and home video game company. He later met Steve Jobs, a young Atari employee, and became an early investor in Apple Computer with a $150,000 check in 1978.

Don Valentine was known for asking startup founders, "Who cares?" in response to their pitches, urging them to hone their own ability to ask the right questions. This habit of mind was influenced by his Jesuit education at Fordham, where he said faculty favored the Socratic technique of teaching.

Don Valentine's approach to investing was all about backing entrepreneurs who dared to challenge the status quo. He funded and advised startups that went after big markets, including Apple, Oracle, and Cisco Systems.