Neil Sequeira
InvestorFounder & Partner at Defy Partners · Board director at AmbyTech · Board director at Rivet Work · Board director at Searchable AI
Woodside, California
Writes $100K – $10M checks · typically $6.5M
About
Neil Sequeira is the founder and a partner at defy, with roughly 25 years in venture capital. Before founding defy he spent 12 years as a Managing Director at General Catalyst Partners (joined 2004), and earlier worked at Accenture, Goldman Sachs, CMGI, AOL Ventures and TimeWarner Investments. He holds a Business Economics degree from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from Harvard Business School, has served on more than 80 boards, and overseen over 30 exits.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningConsumerEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Board director at AmbyTech
Intro paths
In turn, Neil can intro founders to AmbyTech's investors below.
AmbyTech's investors · 1
Co-founders at AmbyTech
Board director at Rivet Work
Intro paths
In turn, Neil can intro founders to Rivet Work's investors below.
Board director at Searchable AI
Intro paths
In turn, Neil can intro founders to Searchable AI's investors below.
Searchable AI's investors · 1
Co-founders at Searchable AI
Experience
- defy.vcFounder and Managing Directorcurrent2016 — presentWoodside, California, United States
- General Catalyst PartnersManaging Director2004 — 2017Palo Alto, CA
- Time Warner Inc.Managing Director, Technology - TW Investments2003 — 2004New York, New York, United States
- AOLDirector, Ventures2000 — 2003Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- CMGIManager2000Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Goldman SachsPre-matriculation Associate1997Los Angeles / San Francisco
- AccentureSenior Manager1995 — 1997Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- Goldenvoice PresentsEarly Employee1993 — 1995Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
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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.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Neil Sequeira?
- Neil Sequeira is the founder and a partner at defy, with roughly 25 years in venture capital. Before founding defy he spent 12 years as a Managing Director at General Catalyst Partners (joined 2004), and earlier worked at Accenture, Goldman Sachs, CMGI, AOL Ventures and TimeWarner Investments. He holds a Business Economics degree from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from Harvard Business School, has served on more than 80 boards, and overseen over 30 exits.
- Where does Neil Sequeira work?
- Neil Sequeira is Founder & Partner at Defy Partners and Board director at AmbyTech and Board director at Rivet Work and Board director at Searchable AI.
- What does Neil Sequeira invest in?
- Neil Sequeira invests in AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Enterprise Software, Fintech, SaaS.
- What check size does Neil Sequeira write?
- Neil Sequeira typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- What boards does Neil Sequeira sit on?
- Neil Sequeira holds tracked board seats at AmbyTech, Cozy Services, Genemod, Giadzy, Rivet Work, Searchable AI.
- Where did Neil Sequeira go to school?
- Neil Sequeira studied at Harvard Business School (MBA); UC Santa Barbara (BA, Business / Economics).
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
+ 1,994 more
Also attended UC Santa Barbara235
+ 229 more
Shared employers
Also worked at defy.vc5
Also worked at Time Warner Inc.32
+ 26 more
Also worked at AOL105
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+ 99 more
Also worked at Goldman Sachs1,505
+ 1,499 more