Sam Blond is parting ways with Founders Fund, after just 18 months of being a venture capitalist at the esteemed Silicon Valley firm.
In a recent tweet, Blond expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work at Peter Thiel’s VC firm. He shared, “Full time investing / being a VC isn’t the right fit for me and I’ve decided to go back to operating.” This indicates that he may be joining or starting a new role at a startup or tech company. When contacted for a statement, Blond declined to provide any additional information outside of his tweet.
Before joining Founders Fund, Blond served as the former chief revenue officer at Brex. Notably, Brex is not a portfolio company of Founders Fund, but rather a competitor of Ramp, in which Founders Fund has invested. Blond’s decision to transition to the VC firm raised eyebrows given Brex’s success at the time. He had previously held roles at Zenefits, which was acquired by TriNet in 2022.
The departure from Founders Fund is amicable, with the firm expressing appreciation for Blond’s contributions. There is speculation that the firm may consider backing Blond’s future endeavors. This departure comes on the heels of another partner, Keith Rabois, leaving for Khosla Ventures.
While it is uncommon for senior partners to switch firms, especially those with successful track records like Rabois, Blond’s background in startup operations and personal investments may account for his brief stint in venture capital. Founders Fund’s distinct approach to founder-led companies may have influenced Blond’s decision as well.
Despite his public statement, the true reasons for Blond’s departure remain unknown. The VC landscape values partners who contribute value to portfolio companies, a practice not extensively followed at Founders Fund.
If you have insights into the VC industry and Founders Fund, feel free to contact Mary Ann Azevedo on Signal at 408.204.3036.
