Erik Buchanan
InvestorFounderPartner at C3 Ventures · Co-Founder & CTO at CloseFactor
Los Angeles, California
Writes $100K – $1M checks · typically $500K
FoundedCloseFactor
Find your path to Erik
645 people in our graph share verified history with Erik — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Nina AchadjianunlockedErik: together at Google (2012–2013)
×5Erik: together at Google
Erik: together at UC San Diego
×5Erik: together at LinkedIn
About
Erik Buchanan is Head of AI at Semgrep. He has experience in malware analysis, large-scale cloud infrastructure, recruiting technology, and leading AI teams at LinkedIn and Microsoft. His background spans product development, data systems, and AI-driven business initiatives.
Co-Founder & CTO at CloseFactor
Intro paths
→
In turn, Erik can intro founders to CloseFactor's investors below.
CloseFactor's investors · 5
Co-founders at CloseFactor
LJ
Leena JoshiCo-Founder & CEO
BC
Ben CheungCo-Founder & CPO
Experience
- SemgrepHead of AIcurrent2025 — presentCalifornia, United States
- C3 VenturesFounder and Partnercurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- CloseFactorCo-founder and CTO2020 — 2024California, United States
- LinkedInHead of Artificial Intelligence for Hiring Products, Chief AI Evangelist2017 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- LinkedInSenior Software Engineering Manager2016 — 2017San Francisco Bay Area
- Connectifier, Inc.VP Engineering2012 — 2020Newport Beach, CA
- GoogleSoftware Engineer2010 — 2013Irvine, CA
- WebsenseSecurity Researcher2008 — 2010San Diego County, California, United States
- UC San DiegoTeaching Assistant2005 — 2008
- MicrosoftSoftware Engineer: Windows Azure Storage2008Redmond, WA
- GoogleSoftware Engineer Intern2007Mountain View, CA
- IntuitSoftware Engineer: TurboTax Payment Systems2007
- NASA ISS EarthKAMJava/C++ Team Lead2004 — 2006San Diego County, California, United States
- MicrosoftSoftware Development Engineer in Test2006Redmond, WA
- LinspireSoftware Engineer Intern2005San Diego County, California, United States
Skills & more
Engineering LeadershipMachine Learning4Java14Management2Software Engineering12Software Development12Distributed Systems10Algorithms8Computer Science7Object Oriented Design4Software Design3Programming3
+12 more
OOPDesign PatternsDebuggingWeb ApplicationsGame DevelopmentArtificial IntelligenceComputer SecurityLinuxC++CSQLEclipseLanguages English · Spanish
From Erik's professional profile.
Colleagues at C3 Ventures
Network8
Ben DavenportScout
Venture Partner at Blockchain Capital
Igor RyabenkiyScout
Founder and Managing Partner at AltaIR Capital
Justin MateenScout
Founding Partner at Jam Fund
Wei GuoScout
Founding Partner at UpHonest Capital
Ben McCann
Advisor at C3 Ventures
David Marcus
Investor at FELIX CAPITAL
Edson Rigonatti
Co-founder & General Partner at Astella
Patrick Chung
General Partner at Xfund
Investors connected to Erik in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Erik Buchanan?
- Erik Buchanan is Head of AI at Semgrep. He has experience in malware analysis, large-scale cloud infrastructure, recruiting technology, and leading AI teams at LinkedIn and Microsoft. His background spans product development, data systems, and AI-driven business initiatives.
- Where does Erik Buchanan work?
- Erik Buchanan is Co-Founder & CTO of CloseFactor and Partner at C3 Ventures.
- What check size does Erik Buchanan write?
- Erik Buchanan typically writes checks of $100K – $1M.
- What companies did Erik Buchanan found?
- Erik Buchanan founded CloseFactor.
- Where did Erik Buchanan go to school?
- Erik Buchanan studied at UC San Diego (Bachelor's degree, Computer Science); UC San Diego (Graduate research, Security).
Founder mafias
UC San Diego mafia235
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilBAFounded Brain Co. +1Chester NgBSFounded DivXPhillip SamayoaPhDFounded Generation Bio +2Wendy JohanssonCognitive ScienceFounded Misaludhealth +2Elizabeth A. MullerBachelorsFounded Deep Isolation +2Sean AinsworthB.S.Founded RetroSense Therapeutics +1
+ 228 more
LinkedIn mafia113
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Reid HoffmanCo-founder & ChairmanFounded Manas AI +1Gordon WintrobEngineering ManagerFounded Newfrontinsurance +2Eric RowellSenior Frontend EngineerFounded Uiflow +2Rahul VohraLinkedIn IntroFounded Superhuman +1Joseph LauSoftware Engineer InternFounded Alchemy Insights, Inc. +1Richard MengStaff Software Engineer, Skills and KGFounded Roe AI +1
+ 106 more
Intuit® mafia82
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Val AgostinoDirector of ProductFounded Monarch +2Sriharsha KaramchatiSoftware EngineerFounded Questbook +2Paul EnglishVP of TechnologyFounded Moonbeam +2Adam JacksonSenior Product Development ManagerFounded Doctor on Demand +1Bryant ChouSenior Software EngineerFounded Ploy +1Nissim TapiroDirector of engineeringFounded Nextinsurance +1
+ 75 more
Same school
Also attended UC San Diego446
Elad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalMark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesChester NgGeneral Partner at AtomicBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorHouman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesFreya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at Medicxi
+ 440 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Semgrep5
Also worked at LinkedIn272
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesJeremy LevinePartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersDylan FieldCo-founder, CEO & Chair of FigmaRyan HrabakInvestor at LightbankBen CasnochaSilicon Valley-based entrepreneur, author, and investor
+ 266 more
Also worked at Connectifier, Inc.2
Also worked at Google2,000
Kai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalHunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at HomebrewAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at FelicisLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalG
+ 1,994 more