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Business Standard
20-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sequoia partner's social media post on Mamdani sets off chain reaction
Roelof Botha, managing partner at Sequoia Capital, attended the Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley last week amid a storm back home. Attendees repeatedly questioned him about colleague Shaun Maguire's July 4 post on X accusing Zohran Mamdani, a progressive Democrat and NYC mayoral candidate, of pushing an 'Islamist agenda' and being part of a 'culture that lies about everything.' Maguire's remarks were quickly condemned as Islamophobic. Over 1,000 technologists signed an open letter urging Sequoia to take action, while others defended his right to free speech. Botha remained neutral at Sun Valley, but the controversy has thrust Sequoia into a political firestorm it long tried to avoid. For years, Sequoia maintained institutional neutrality while rivals like Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund leaned into politics. But as Maguire's inflammatory views — including saying diversity, equity and inclusion 'kills people' — gained attention, that position has become harder to hold. Sequoia, which backed giants like Apple, Google, and Nvidia, has historically let its founders shine while partners stayed low-profile. But with Silicon Valley's evolution, political commentary by investors has become more common. Though Maguire's outspokenness is unusual at Sequoia, it reflects a broader trend seen in figures like Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel. Sequoia has remained silent on the issue. Internally, senior partner Doug Leone appeared to defend Maguire, distinguishing between 'Islamists' and 'Muslims' in emails. 'Sequoia is backed into a corner and only has bad options,' said Paul Biggar, founder of Tech for Palestine. In a recent video, Maguire reiterated his comments, calling Mamdani 'an Islamist' and 'a wolf in sheep's clothing,' while offering a limited apology to Muslims not aligned with Islamism. Mamdani's campaign didn't comment. Founded in 1972, Sequoia built its reputation on early bets in firms like Cisco, YouTube, and Zoom. But as new investors flooded Silicon Valley, standing out meant being more vocal — including on politics. In recent years, Sequoia partners have broken from tradition: Michael Moritz criticised Trump in 2016, while Leone donated to and later denounced him. Maguire helped secure Sequoia's investment in SpaceX and other Elon Musk ventures. He has over 275,000 followers on X. After Hamas' October 7 attack, Maguire, a self-described 'Jew and a Zionist,' defended Israel and warned of rising antisemitism. Maguire's post on Mamdani came after The New York Times reported that the mayoral hopeful had described himself as 'Asian and African American' on a college application. The backlash included an open letter accusing Maguire of promoting anti-Muslim stereotypes. A counterletter supporting him, signed by Bill Ackman and others, called him a 'principled thinker.' Sequoia partners have tread cautiously. On July 10, partner Pat Grady posted on X, expressing support for both the Muslim community and Maguire, calling Sequoia's culture of 'healthy conflict of ideas.' Now, activists are pressuring Sequoia's financial backers — including major universities — to hold the firm accountable. 'If we're serious about building an inclusive future, it starts with holding power accountable,' the letter said.
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Iconic ‘Murphy Brown' and ‘Sex and the City' Star, 79, Unrecognizable in Rare Public Outing
Every July, the world's most powerful people head to Sun Valley, Idaho, for what's famously called the "summer camp for billionaires." It's a place where major deals are made between sessions of hiking and tennis. And mingling right alongside the tech moguls and media barons this week? None other than the iconic Candice Bergen. The beloved Murphy Brown and Sex and the City star was spotted arriving at the exclusive Allen & Company conference on Wednesday. Zipping along in a golf cart, the 79-year-old actress rocked classic denim jeans with a simple black jacket and a pair of sneakers-the perfect choice for the relaxed, mountain setting. Topped off with shades and her legendary blonde hair, it was the kind of outfit that says you're confident and comfortable in any room, even one filled with billionaires. See the photos here. While some liken the conference to a billionaire's summer camp, it's where the biggest names in media and business- Disney CEO Bob Iger and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan-come to network. The conference has been a major industry event every summer since it started back in 1983, known for being the birthplace of huge corporate mergers. And for Candice Bergen, this is just another July. She is a familiar face at the Sun Valley gathering and was here last year too, proving she's just as much of an insider as any tech mogul. Her presence highlights what makes the conference so unique: it's that fascinating mix of Hollywood glamour and high-stakes finance. In a place filled with some of the most powerful people on the planet, Candice Bergen's cool, confident presence might just make her the most impressive one there. It's a quiet reminder that while business deals come and go, iconic style is forever. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I run a coffee shop in Sun Valley. An exclusive conference hosts big executives each year but it's been bad for my business.
I've lived in Sun Valley, Idaho, practically my entire life. My family has been pretty dug into the community for a long time — my mom owns a clothing store, my cousins have a restaurant, and my dad used to run a restaurant, too. About eight years ago, my wife and I opened our own business: Maude's Coffee and Clothes, a caf and vintage shop. Allen & Company's Sun Valley Conference has been around since I was a kid. When I was a teenager, I remember some of my friends getting hired as nannies or to develop photos, and I was jealous of their opportunity to make an easy chunk of money. Now, though, my perspective on the whole thing is a little different. We have an incredible local following at Maude's, but this whole area is a visitor's economy. Practically everyone in the retail and service industries relies on tourists. When the billionaires fly into the area every July, they go straight to the Sun Valley Lodge just outside the heart of Ketchum to have a catered experience. Most of their dollars don't flow back into town, unless they're booking out a restaurant. This is usually the busiest time of year for my business. But when the conference comes, guests rent out tons of rooms and book all the fishing guides, outdoor adventures, and restaurants. Other tourists can't really visit the area that week. The Sun Valley Lodge is big; that's hundreds of people who aren't there and aren't circulating their dollars in local stores. It's not a zero-sum game, but my number of sales drops at least a bit every year. The billionaires at the conference throw a weird wrench in the cog of the summer economy, stepping on the brakes for regular people during what should be a very, very, very busy time. That's not to say it's all bad. I'm sure the conference is great if you're directly involved, but many localsI know aren't. I've gotten to know some members of the billionaire entourage, like dancers and bodyguards, who come each year. They're great, and I actually always look forward to seeing them.
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I run a coffee shop in Sun Valley. An exclusive conference hosts big executives each year but it's been bad for my business.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jacob Frehling, the co-owner of Maude's Coffee and Clothes in Ketchum, Idaho, about a six-minute drive from the Sun Valley Lodge. It's been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has seen sales data from last year that indicate Maude's saw a drop in transactions during Sun Valley week compared to the week immediately after in July. Representatives for the Allen & Company Sun Valley conference did not respond to a request for comment from BI. I've lived in Sun Valley, Idaho, practically my entire life. My family has been pretty dug into the community for a long time — my mom owns a clothing store, my cousins have a restaurant, and my dad used to run a restaurant, too. About eight years ago, my wife and I opened our own business: Maude's Coffee and Clothes, a café and vintage shop. Allen & Company's Sun Valley Conference has been around since I was a kid. When I was a teenager, I remember some of my friends getting hired as nannies or to develop photos, and I was jealous of their opportunity to make an easy chunk of money. Now, though, my perspective on the whole thing is a little different. We have an incredible local following at Maude's, but this whole area is a visitor's economy. Practically everyone in the retail and service industries relies on tourists. When the billionaires fly into the area every July, they go straight to the Sun Valley Lodge just outside the heart of Ketchum to have a catered experience. Most of their dollars don't flow back into town, unless they're booking out a restaurant. This is usually the busiest time of year for my business. But when the conference comes, guests rent out tons of rooms and book all the fishing guides, outdoor adventures, and restaurants. Other tourists can't really visit the area that week. The Sun Valley Lodge is big; that's hundreds of people who aren't there and aren't circulating their dollars in local stores. It's not a zero-sum game, but my number of sales drops at least a bit every year. The billionaires at the conference throw a weird wrench in the cog of the summer economy, stepping on the brakes for regular people during what should be a very, very, very busy time. That's not to say it's all bad. I'm sure the conference is great if you're directly involved, but many locals I know aren't. I've gotten to know some members of the billionaire entourage, like dancers and bodyguards, who come each year. They're great, and I actually always look forward to seeing them. Overall, though, I wish I could leave town during Allen & Co. week, but someone has to run Maude's. I'm born and raised here, and I've never met a single person who is from this place that's happy when the jets touch down.
AU Financial Review
09-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
In Pictures: Sun Valley's ‘billionaire summer camp' of 2025
Allen & Company's Sun Valley Conference has been held annually in Idaho since 1983 and is known for attracting titans of the media, tech and business sectors.
