Fundraising Fox

Neil Sequeira

Investor

Managing Director at Defy Partners

Palo Alto, California

Writes $100K – $10M checks · typically $6.5M

FoundedAmbyTechCozy ServicesGenemodGiadzyRivet WorkSearchable AI

About

Neil Sequeira is a co-founder of Defy Partners, a venture firm he built after 12 years as a Managing Director at General Catalyst Partners, which he joined in 2004. Earlier in his career he worked at Accenture, Goldman Sachs, CMGI, AOL Ventures, and TimeWarner Investments. He holds an undergraduate degree in Business Economics from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and states he has served on more than 80 boards with over 30 exits.

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningConsumerEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS

Experience

  1. defy.vcFounder and Managing Directorcurrent2016 — presentWoodside, California, United States
  2. General Catalyst PartnersManaging Director2004 — 2017Palo Alto, CA
  3. Time Warner Inc.Managing Director, Technology - TW Investments2003 — 2004New York, New York, United States
  4. AOLDirector, Ventures2000 — 2003Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  5. CMGIManager2000Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  6. Goldman SachsPre-matriculation Associate1997Los Angeles / San Francisco
  7. AccentureSenior Manager1995 — 1997Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  8. Goldenvoice PresentsEarly Employee1993 — 1995Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Education

  1. Harvard Business SchoolMBA1998 — 2000
  2. UC Santa BarbaraBA, Business / Economics1991 — 1995

Same school

Shared employers

Deals · 6

Rivet WorkBoard seat

via Defy Partners · filed Jun 2025 · $4.6M raise

AmbyTechBoard seat

via Defy Partners · filed Dec 2024 · $3.2M raise

GiadzyBoard seat

via Defy Partners · filed Mar 2023 · $3.7M raise

GenemodBoard seat

via Defy Partners · filed Aug 2020 · $1.5M raise

Searchable AIBoard seat

via Defy Partners · filed Apr 2020 · $3M raise

Cozy ServicesBoard seat

via Defy Partners · filed Aug 2015 · $3.6M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Colleagues at Defy Partners

Network1

Investors connected to Neil in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.