Shaun Maguire
InvestorPartner at Sequoia Capital · Board director at Reflect Orbital · Board director at Vise Technologies · Board director at AMP Robotics
Los Angeles, CA
Writes $1M – $10M checks · typically $5M
About
Shaun Maguire is a partner at Sequoia Capital, where he has led or co-led the firm's investments in SpaceX, xAI, The Boring Company and stablecoin platform Bridge, acquired by Stripe in 2025. A Caltech physics PhD who previously worked at DARPA-backed ventures and GV, he jumped to number 22 on the 2026 Forbes Midas List and is one of the most outspoken investors on X.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Deep TechDefense TechSpace Tech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Maguire co-founded Escape Dynamics in 2010, a space technology company pursuing beam-powered propulsion for small satellite launch vehicles; it ceased operations around 2015. Maguire co-founded Qadium (later Expanse) in 2012, a cybersecurity firm acquired by Palo Alto Networks in December 2020 for over $1 billion. Maguire has said he started five companies, describing one as a failure, three as successful, and one as too early to call.
- Education
- Studied at University of Southern California (BS, Mathematics) Studied at Stanford University (MS, Statistics) Studied at California Institute of Technology (MS, Control and Dynamical Systems) Studied at California Institute of Technology (PhD, Physics, 2018)
- Communities
- Maguire became a Trump supporter, announcing a $300,000 donation to the Trump campaign in May 2024 and later advising the presidential transition team on intelligence community leadership selections.
- Hobbies
- Maguire is a marathoner and lists first-person shooters, quantum gravity, and being a Dolphin Club alum among his personal interests. Maguire has traveled to 95 countries.
- More
- Maguire grew up in Orange County, California, and left secondary school early by passing the California High School Proficiency Exam after becoming disengaged, reporting a 1.8 GPA and an F in Algebra 2. Maguire's PhD research was conducted at Caltech's Institute for Quantum Information and Matter under John Preskill, with a dissertation titled 'The Spectral Theory of Multiboundary Wormholes'. Maguire was recruited to DARPA by Regina Dugan and served roughly a year and a half, including a deployment to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor.
From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Reflect Orbital
Intro paths
In turn, Shaun can intro founders to Reflect Orbital's investors below.
Reflect Orbital's investors · 5
Co-founders at Reflect Orbital
Board director at Vise Technologies
Intro paths
In turn, Shaun can intro founders to Vise Technologies's investors below.
Vise Technologies's investors · 4
Co-founders at Vise Technologies
Board director at AMP Robotics
Intro paths
In turn, Shaun can intro founders to AMP Robotics's investors below.
AMP Robotics's investors · 8
Co-founders at AMP Robotics
Experience
- Sequoia CapitalPartnercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Expanse (formerly Qadium)Co-Founder and Chairman2012 — 2020
- GVPartner2016 — 2019
Skills & more
+7 more
Software DevelopmentData AnalysisProgrammingAlgorithmsMathematical ModelingStatisticsSecurityFrom Shaun's professional profile.
Deals · 4
AMP RoboticsBoard seat
via Sequoia Capital · filed Jun 2026 · $75M raise
Reflect OrbitalBoard seat
via Sequoia Capital · filed May 2025 · $28.7M raise
Vise TechnologiesBoard seat
via Sequoia Capital · filed May 2020 · $16.3M raise
Dandelion EnergyBoard seat
via Sequoia Capital · filed Feb 2019 · $16.1M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Automating software developmentBridgeDecartEonIonQLightmatterNerosOpendoorSpaceXSpinLaunchStripeThe Boring CompanyViseXxAI
Sources: curated public sources · SEC Form D filings · the firm's website.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Shaun MaguireSequoia Capital Partner Shaun Maguire Live on TBPN
TBPN
Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital Story - My Thoughts + PFV
John D. Villarreal Digital Ventures
Watch CNBC's full interview with Sequoia Capital's Shaun Maguire
cnbc.com
Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital on Why the Golden Age is Imminent | 2025 Upfront Summit
Upfront Ventures
An Inside Look at Sequoia Capital | Shaun Maguire x Nader Al-Naji
DeSo: The Decentralized Social Media Blockchain
Would you invest in Crypto? | Shaun Maguire (Sequoia Capital) shares his favorite use-cases
The Logan Bartlett Show
Colleagues at Sequoia Capital
Network6
Investors connected to Shaun in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Shaun Maguire?
- Shaun Maguire is a partner at Sequoia Capital, where he has led or co-led the firm's investments in SpaceX, xAI, The Boring Company and stablecoin platform Bridge, acquired by Stripe in 2025. A Caltech physics PhD who previously worked at DARPA-backed ventures and GV, he jumped to number 22 on the 2026 Forbes Midas List and is one of the most outspoken investors on X.
- Where does Shaun Maguire work?
- Shaun Maguire is Partner at Sequoia Capital and Board director at Reflect Orbital and Board director at Vise Technologies and Board director at AMP Robotics.
- What does Shaun Maguire invest in?
- Shaun Maguire invests in AI & Machine Learning, Crypto & Web3, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Space Tech.
- What check size does Shaun Maguire write?
- Shaun Maguire typically writes checks of $1M – $10M.
- What boards does Shaun Maguire sit on?
- Shaun Maguire holds tracked board seats at AMP Robotics, Dandelion Energy, Reflect Orbital, Vise Technologies.
- What companies has Shaun Maguire invested in?
- Investments tracked here include AMP Robotics, Automating software development, Bridge, Decart, Eon, IonQ, Lightmatter, Neros, Opendoor, SpaceX, SpinLaunch, Stripe, and 25 more.
- Where did Shaun Maguire go to school?
- Shaun Maguire studied at Caltech (Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Physics); Caltech (Master of Science - MS, Control and Dynamical Systems (CDS)); Stanford University (Master of Science - MS, Statistics).
- What podcasts and interviews feature Shaun Maguire?
- Tracked appearances include "Sequoia Capital Partner Shaun Maguire Live on TBPN", "Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital Story - My Thoughts + PFV", "Watch CNBC's full interview with Sequoia Capital's Shaun Maguire", and 5 more.
- Does Shaun Maguire lead rounds?
- Yes — Shaun Maguire has led 16 tracked investments.
Paths to reach Shaun
People who overlapped with Shaun at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at Expanse (formerly Qadium)Shaun: Co-Founder and Chairman
Together at Stanford UniversityShaun: Master of Science - MS
Same school
Also attended Caltech144
+ 138 more
Also attended Stanford University2,000
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of Southern California490
+ 484 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Expanse (formerly Qadium)4
Also worked at GV57
+ 51 more