Neil Sequeira
InvestorManaging 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
- 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
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolMBA1998 — 2000
- UC Santa BarbaraBA, Business / Economics1991 — 1995
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School1,818
+ 1,812 more
Also attended UC Santa Barbara179
+ 173 more
Shared employers
Also worked at defy.vc4
Also worked at Time Warner Inc.26
+ 20 more
Also worked at AOL94
+ 88 more
Also worked at Goldman Sachs1,237
+ 1,231 more
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.




















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