Neil Sequeira

I’m a co-founder and partner at defy. My passion is working with entrepreneurs as a confidante to help them bring their visions to reality – from acquiring their first customers, to growing their team, to successful capital raises and exits and hopefully changing the world. I’ve served on more than 40 company boards, developed a broad network from industry experience, backed repeat entrepreneurs multiple times and returned significant capital to investors. Prior to building defy, I was a managing director at General Catalyst Partners for 12 years. Before joining General Catalyst, I was a managing director at TimeWarner Investments and a founding member of AOLTW Ventures, where I led investments. I’m always game to connect with passionate souls and kindred spirits. Previously, Neil led Mergers and Acquisitions for CMGI, a diversified technology operating company and venture capital firm. Prior to that, he was with Goldman Sachs & Co. and was a senior consultant with Accenture, where he managed project teams on technology-focused strategic and process initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. In addition, Neil was an early employee at Goldenvoice Presents, a diversified media company that manages artists, is a major concert promoter and created Coachella which has since become one of the largest concert festivals in the world. As a Managing Director of General Catalyst Partners, Neil invests in both new and existing technology businesses. His areas of special interest include: Internet and new media; software; commerce; and network infrastructure. He is based in the firm’s Palo Alto office. Current Board Memberships: Cozy, DECA, Elemental Technologies, Flite, Highwinds Network Group, Listia, NatureBox, The Honest Company, This Technology and StyleSaint. Board Observer for RAMP and Visible Measures. Former Board Member on Boxee (acquired by Samsung in July 2013), Tremor Video (NYSE: TRMR), and Vitrue (acquired by Oracle in June 2012; Neil and GC co-founded the company). Former Board Observer for Hot Potato (acquired by Facebook in August 2010).