Fundraising Fox
Jim Goetz
InvestorPartner, Early & Growth at Sequoia Capital
Menlo Park, CA
Writes $1M – $200M checks · typically $10M
Midas 2011Midas 2012 · #28Midas 2013 · #7Midas 2014 · #1Midas 2015 · #1Midas 2016 · #1Midas 2017 · #1Midas 2018 · #3Midas 2019 · #4Midas 2020 · #65
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About
Jim Goetz is a partner at Sequoia Capital best known for leading the firm's investment in WhatsApp, where a roughly $60 million position returned $3.5 billion in Facebook's 2014 acquisition. He stepped back from Sequoia's leadership in 2017 but continues to invest and serve on boards, with a long enterprise track record spanning AdMob, GitHub and Palo Alto Networks.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AdTechAI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingCybersecurityData & Infrastructure
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Goetz co-founded the software company VitalSigns in 1996 with Rajiv Batra and Monty Kersten, later backed by Sequoia and Austin Ventures.
- Education
- Studied at University of Cincinnati (B.S., electrical and computer engineering) Studied at Stanford University (M.S., computer systems) Studied at Strongsville High School
- Charities
- Goetz created the Mantei/Mae scholarship program at the University of Cincinnati in 2010 for students in electrical and computer engineering and computer science. In 2021 Goetz donated $25 million to the University of Cincinnati, funding computer science faculty expansion, scholarships, an honors program, and the renaming of the engineering building to the Mantei Center. In 2021 the Goetz family donated a renovated movie theater in Los Gatos, California, to the city.
- Communities
- At Sequoia, Goetz has publicly supported immigration as a boon to entrepreneurship and backed initiatives for closer gender balance at startups and venture firms.
- Awards
- Goetz was named 'VC of the Year' at the 2015 Crunchies awards hosted by TechCrunch.
- Hobbies
- Goetz describes himself as a beginning biohacker and a slang enthusiast on his Sequoia bio.
- Family
- Goetz is married with three children. Goetz was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in the Midwestern United States.
From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.
Deals · 1
FliteBoard seat
via Sequoia Capital · filed Jul 2015 · $3M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Board seats
Investor
AdMobAlphyAppirioBarracudaBarracuda NetworksCarbonChartboostClariClearwell SystemsDash NavigationDashlaneDrawbridgeeMeterGitHubHubSpotJasperJasper TechnologiesJive SoftwareLimbixMerakiMetaswitch NetworksNeevaNimble StorageObservableOktaPalo Alto NetworksPeakStreamPocket GemsQuantenna CommunicationsQuantenna CommunicationsRhapsody NetworksRuckus NetworksRuckus Wireless, Inc.SemgrepSenchaSpringpathThousandEyesVersaVirtuousAIWhatsAppYik Yak
Sources: curated public sources · SEC Form D filings · the firm's website.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Jim GoetzSaaStr's Off the Record with Pat Grady of Sequoia Capital
SaaStr AI
Fireside Chat With Sequoia Capita's Jim Goetz
TechCrunch
Business Plans: Jim Goetz, Sequoia Capital
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Colleagues at Sequoia Capital
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jim Goetz?
- Jim Goetz is a partner at Sequoia Capital best known for leading the firm's investment in WhatsApp, where a roughly $60 million position returned $3.5 billion in Facebook's 2014 acquisition. He stepped back from Sequoia's leadership in 2017 but continues to invest and serve on boards, with a long enterprise track record spanning AdMob, GitHub and Palo Alto Networks.
- Where does Jim Goetz work?
- Jim Goetz is Partner, Early & Growth at Sequoia Capital.
- What does Jim Goetz invest in?
- Jim Goetz invests in AdTech, AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data & Infrastructure.
- What check size does Jim Goetz write?
- Jim Goetz typically writes checks of $1M – $200M.
- What boards does Jim Goetz sit on?
- Jim Goetz holds tracked board seats at Dashlane, Flite, GitHub, Intel, Palo Alto Networks, Versa.
- What companies has Jim Goetz invested in?
- Investments tracked here include WhatsApp, AdMob, Alphy, Appirio, Barracuda, Barracuda Networks, Carbon, Chartboost, Clari, Clearwell Systems, Dash Navigation, Dashlane, and 31 more.
- What awards has Jim Goetz received?
- Goetz was named 'VC of the Year' at the 2015 Crunchies awards hosted by TechCrunch.
- What podcasts and interviews feature Jim Goetz?
- Tracked appearances include "SaaStr's Off the Record with Pat Grady of Sequoia Capital", "Fireside Chat With Sequoia Capita's Jim Goetz", "Business Plans: Jim Goetz, Sequoia Capital".
- Does Jim Goetz lead rounds?
- Yes — Jim Goetz has led 1 tracked investment.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — Sequoia Capital's own website, regulatory filings, press coverage and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights