A growing list of start-up founders are circulating an open letter to Sequoia Capital urging the prominent venture capital firm to take action against one of its partners, Shaun Maguire.
The letter, which had more than 520 digital signatories as of Monday afternoon, follows a July 4 post on X in which Mr Maguire referred to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as an “Islamist”.
Mr Maguire, an avid X poster best known for his investments in SpaceX and xAI, claimed in the disputed X post that Mr Mamdani “comes from a culture that lies about everything” and is willing to lie “if it advances his Islamist agenda”.
Bloomberg reported that the signatories, not all of which could be immediately verified, include start-up executives, employees and venture capitalists from around the world, as well as entrepreneurs who have raised from funds affiliated with Sequoia.
Among them are Hosam Arab, chief executive of Tabby, and Hisham Al Falih, chief executive of Lean Technologies – co-founders of Saudi FinTech start-ups that raised funding from Sequoia Capital India before it separated from Sequoia Capital in the US, they said.
Ahmed Sabbah, co-founder of Egyptian payments company Telda, which raised funding from Sequoia in 2021, also signed the letter.
Mr Al Falih said in an email to Bloomberg that he does not endorse Mr Mamdani but found Mr Maguire’s comments over the holiday weekend “appalling”.
“His tweet was not only a sweeping and harmful generalisation of Muslims, but part of a broader pattern of Islamophobic rhetoric that has no place in our industry,” Mr Al-Falih said.
After Mr Maguire’s comments went viral, he responded with a 30-minute video posted to X on Sunday in which he apologised several times for offending anyone. He said that Islamism is a political ideology, not a race or religion and clarified that his primary concerns are with Mr Mamdani’s father, Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor who Mr Maguire says practices “radical left-wing Islamism”.
Mr Maguire declined to comment beyond the video. A representative for Sequoia Capital declined to comment. A representative for Mr Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The open letter, a rare show of defiance against one of the most powerful and influential VC firms, calls for Sequoia to make a public apology for Mr Maguire’s actions. It also asks that Sequoia launch an investigation into his conduct, publish a zero‑tolerance policy on hate speech and create a hotline for founders to safely report discrimination or hate speech made by Sequoia employees. The letter asks for a formal response to these demands by July 14.
“As founders building the future of technology, we cannot accept leadership from a firm whose partners engage in hate speech and spread bigotry,” the letter states. “Maguire’s conduct not only tarnishes Sequoia’s reputation, it also undermines your ability to serve a global, diverse founder ecosystem.”
Other tech workers who signed the letter include Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and chief executive of the Uber-owned Middle Eastern ride-hailing company Careem; Omar Almajdouie, the founding partner of Saudi investment firm Raed Ventures; and Zaheer Mohiuddin, chief executive of Cupertino-based start-up Levels.fyi, the executives confirmed in emails to Bloomberg.
Eslam Hussein, co-founder and chief executive of Dubai-based start-up Invygo and another signatory, said he signed the letter because “[Mr] Maguire’s comments were Islamophobic and completely unacceptable, especially coming from someone in a leadership role at one of the most powerful firms in venture capital”.
Mr Maguire is known in VC and technology circles for his frequent X posts and controversial statements. In January, he posted a photo of himself at one of the presidential inaugural celebrations in Washington DC. Later that same month, he called diversity, equity and inclusion policies “structural racism”.
Last year, shortly after Donald Trump, at the time US presidential candidate, was convicted of falsifying business records, Mr Maguire wrote in a lengthy post on X that he had donated $300,000 to Mr Trump's campaign for the presidency. The post included a disclaimer clarifying that his views did not reflect those of his employer, and that he was “lucky to work at a place that tolerates spirited debate and independent thinking”.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Marital status: Single
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
Winner: Miqyaas, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Shanty Star, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Alkaamel, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Speedy Move, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Quartier Francois, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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Super Saturday race card
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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Starfield
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
