Editor’s Note: Semil Shahis a contributor to TechCrunch. You can follow him on Twitter at @semil. "In The Studio" this week hosts a special guest who doesn’t typically go on camera that often. As a result, I decided to make this particular episode of the show longer to capture my entire discussion with Greylock’s David Sze. For anyone who follows the ins and outs of venture capital, Sze’s name looms large. By now, most everyone knows of Greylock’s impressive run over the last decade, a firm which originated decades ago in the Boston area and has, thanks in large part to Sze, successfully transformed to one of the premiere Silicon Valley shops. Over the last decade, he has helped lead the firm to write early checks into consumer-focused companies such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pandora, as well as startups attacking the enterprise, such as Workday and Palo Alto Networks. More recently, he made his largest investment ever (in terms of dollar size) in NextDoor, a company which fits into larger societal trends he’s observed. What’s not often discussed, with respect to Sze, are the careful moves he’s made to position the firm where it is today. This is the focus of our video conversation, and while it’s a bit longer than most, I would encourage anyone interested in venture capital, Silicon Valley history, and those embarking on a career in technology startups to spend the time to watch this. In this video, Sze and I discuss the following topics: The early stages of his career, when he graduated from college and went into consulting; His move out to the west coast, going to business school, and jumping into the technology world; His first operational role at a real startup; How he paired up with former classmate Aneel Bhusri to join him at Greylock; How he began investing in enterprise and was, admittedly, not that good at it; How he went back to his consumer roots and began investing in consumer companies, such as Pandora; How he met Reid Hoffman, invested in LinkedIn, and eventually recruited a team of operators; and advice he would give young folks who are interested in venture capital and/or who coming to the Valley. Topics David Sze, greylock, investing, Opinion, Venture, venture capital, Video Semil Shah Founding Partner at Haystack & Venture Partner at Lightspeed. Haystack is an early investor in Instacart, DoorDash, Hashicorp, Hired, Narvar, Giphy, eShares, OpenDoor, Chariot, Navdy, Managed By Q, and many other companies View Bio Most Popular SEC sues Elon Musk for allegedly failing to disclose Twitter acquisition on time Maxwell Zeff TikTok users’ attempted migration to Chinese app RedNote isn’t going too well Sarah Perez ChatGPT spins off its corporate venture arm, Intel Capital, into a standalone fund Kyle Wiggers Fintech Why some former Bench customers are not happy Mary Ann Azevedo Startups A comprehensive list of 2024 and 2025 tech layoffs Cody Corrall Alyssa Stringer
The Early Stages of His Career
Semil Shah’s journey into venture capital began during his time as a founding partner at Haystack, a venture capital firm rooted in the Boston area. Semil Shah is no stranger to the fast-paced and often-risky world of venture capital. His career path has been marked by ambition, innovation, and a deep understanding of technology’s transformative potential. Before diving into venture capital, Semil Shah had an impressive background in consulting and entrepreneurship.
His journey into consulting began after graduating from Harvard University with a degree in business administration. With his analytical mind and strategic thinking, he quickly rose through the ranks at a top consulting firm. It was during this time that Semil Shah developed a passion for understanding how businesses operate and evolve. This foundation would later prove invaluable as he sought to identify undervalued companies and guide them toward growth.
After leaving consulting, Semil Shah pursued an MBA at Stanford GSB, where he further honed his business acumen. His studies were complemented by internships at leading tech firms such as Apple and Google, giving him firsthand insights into the inner workings of Silicon Valley’s most dynamic organizations. This experience solidified his belief in the power of innovation to create value.
Greylock’s Rise to Prestige
Greylock Partners, Semil Shah’s venture capital firm, has achieved remarkable success since its inception. The firm was founded in 1984 by Semil Shah and David Sze, two visionary leaders who shared a common vision: to build a world-class venture capital firm focused on identifying and investing in innovative technologies that would shape the future.
Over the years, Greylock has attracted a stellar roster of early-stage companies. Many of these startups have gone on to achieve significant success, with some even becoming household names today. Semil Shah’s leadership at Greylock has been instrumental in driving this remarkable growth. His ability to recognize talent, navigate complex deal structures, and execute deals with precision has set Greylock apart from other firms in the industry.
David Sze’s role at Greylock has been particularly significant. As one of the firm’s cofounders, David Sze brought his own unique perspective and expertise to the table. His deep understanding of technology and business operations allowed him to identify opportunities that others might have overlooked. Under Semil Shah’s guidance, David Sze has played a pivotal role in shaping Greylock’s strategy and achieving its success.
greylock’s portfolio companies span a wide range of industries, from consumer-facing technologies to enterprise software solutions. Many of these firms have gone on to become leaders in their respective markets, with some even being acquired by larger corporations. Semil Shah’s strategic vision and foresight have been critical in driving this trajectory.
The information provided is for educational purposes only, and we encourage you to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.
