Sam Blond Departs Founders Fund After 18-Month VC Stint
Former Brex executive Sam Blond has announced his departure from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund just 18 months after joining the prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm. In a Monday tweet, Blond revealed he’s returning to operational roles, signaling a potential move back to startups.
Why Blond Is Leaving Venture Capital
Blond’s statement made his career pivot clear:
“Full time investing / being a VC isn’t the right fit for me and I’ve decided to go back to operating.”
While Blond declined to comment further to TechCrunch, industry observers speculate he may either:
- Join an existing tech company in a leadership role
- Launch his own startup venture
From Brex to VC: Blond’s Unconventional Path
Blond joined Founders Fund in September 2022 after serving as:
- Chief Revenue Officer at fintech unicorn Brex (valued at $12.3B at departure)
- VP of Sales at Zenefits (acquired by TriNet in 2022)
His transition to VC raised eyebrows given:
- Founders Fund backs Ramp, a direct Brex compe*****
- Blond left Brex during its peak valuation as a decacorn
Founders Fund’s Unique Approach to Venture Capital
The departure highlights Founders Fund’s distinctive operating philosophy:
- “Founder absolutists” who avoid board seats
- Only invest in founder-led companies
- Minimal operational interference with portfolio companies
As partner Trae Stephens explained at StrictlyVC LA:
“The more that a VC says, ‘I’m going to add value,’ the more you should hear them say, ‘I’m going to annoy the ever living crap out of you.’”
Recent High-Profile Departures at Founders Fund
Blond’s exit follows other notable departures:
- Keith Rabois returned to Khosla Ventures in January 2024
- The firm has multiple partners who simultaneously run startups
What This Means for VC Talent Trends
The move underscores broader patterns in venture capital:
- Operator-to-VC transitions often prove temporary
- VC firms increasingly recruit executives with operational experience
- Traditional “golden handcuffs” may weaken for non-traditional VCs
Founders Fund spokesperson Erin Gleason offered a positive sendoff:
“Sam is a fantastic operator and he’s been a great resource for our founders. We hope to work with him again.”
Industry watchers will be closely monitoring Blond’s next move in the tech ecosystem.
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