Kanyi Maqubela
InvestorManaging Partner at Kindred Ventures
San Francisco, California
Writes $250K – $2M checks · typically $1M
About
South African refugee Kanyi Maqubela links his family's anti-apartheid activism to advocating for underestimated founders, uses a formation-first approach to product and culture, and writes philosophical essays revealing investment reasoning.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechConsumerCrypto & Web3Fintech
Experience
- Kindred VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco, CA
- UCSF Foundation Investment CompanyBoard Membercurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Heartbeat HealthCo-Founder, Board Observercurrent2024 — present
- Heartbeat HealthCo-Founder, Board Member2017 — 2024New York, NY
- TalaBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- InversionBoard Observercurrent2024 — presentLos Angeles, California, United States
- SophontBoard Observercurrent2025 — present
- CorgiBoard Observercurrent2024 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Basis TheoryBoard Observercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- FrameBoard Membercurrent2025 — presentLos Angeles, California, United States
- Stable SeaBoard Observercurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- FaircraftBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- New York UniversityAdjunct Professor2016 — 2018New York, NY
- Collaborative FundPartner2011 — 2017New York, NY
- VirganceField Director of One Block Off the Grid2009 — 2010San Francisco, CA
- Obama for AmericaRegional Field Organizer2008Las Vegas, NV
- DoostangContent, Community, etc.2006 — 2008Palo Alto, CA
Education
- Stanford UniversityPhilosophy
- Stanford UniversityDrop Out, Philosophy
Skills & more
Strategy52Management30Mobile Applications5Online Advertising6Community Organizing5Online Marketing36Product Marketing23Venture Capital26Fundraising8Consumer Insight9New Business Development16Analytics12
+9 more
Strategic CommunicationsPoliticsStrategic PartnershipsNew MediaBusiness DevelopmentDigital StrategyDigital MarketingCorporate DevelopmentStart-upsLanguages Spanish · Xhosa · Zulu
From Kanyi's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University1,726
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,720 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Heartbeat Health5
Also worked at Corgi8
Alexander WortmannPartner at TCVJenny XiaoPartner at Leonis CapitalChris JamesManaging Partner at Quadri VenturesAndrew DryliePrincipal at Quadri VenturesAlex BangashManaging Director and General Partner at Transpose Platform ManagementAlex RenFounding Partner at Fellows
+ 2 more
Also worked at Frame2
Also worked at Doostang1
Colleagues at Kindred Ventures
Adriana Martinez
Chief Financial Officer at Kindred Ventures
Alexandria Sten
Media Producer & Editor at Kindred Ventures
Ali Youngblood
Community & Events Manager at Kindred Ventures
Elisa Mac
Executive Assistant at Kindred Ventures
Evan Chen
Investor at Kindred Ventures
Holyn Kanake
Associate at Kindred Ventures
Jessica Chin
Operations Coordinator at Kindred Ventures
Kat Collins
Office Manager at Kindred Ventures
Network3
Andrea FunstenScout
Managing Partner at Basecamp Fund
Christian EdlerScout
Venture Partner at Bitkraft Esports Ventures
Clara BrennerScout
Managing Partner at Urban Innovation
Investors connected to Kanyi in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.