Leslie Feinzaig, a Seattle venture capitalist, has spearheaded a new initiative called VCsforKamala to garner support for presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The pledge has attracted signatures from prominent venture capitalists like Mark Cuban, Reid Hoffman, and Vinod Khosla, along with over 100 others. This initiative was born out of frustration with recent support for Donald Trump from top entrepreneurs, leading to intense political debate within the tech industry. The VCsforKamala group aims to promote democracy, technological progress, and entrepreneurship, encouraging others to join them in supporting Harris with votes and financial resources.
The group has seen rapid growth since its inception, with multiple venture capitalists signing the pledge. Prominent leaders from various venture firms have shown their support, representing a significant amount of assets. Several Seattle-area investors have also joined the pledge, despite some fund policies preventing others from signing. The VCsforKamala group is advocating for democracy and the values they hold, urging the tech industry to support a stable and peaceful democracy through their actions in the upcoming election.
Leslie Feinzaig shared her personal story as an immigrant and her journey in the tech industry during the GeekWire Summit in 2017. This upcoming election will be the second U.S. election she participates in, and she expressed concerns about the existential issues at stake in this particular election. Feinzaig’s experience working at Microsoft, Big Fish, and Julep before venturing into startups and launching the Female Founders Alliance and Graham & Walker, a venture firm that raised a $10 million fund in 2021, speaks to her commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs and startups.
Feinzaig and a small team of volunteers have reached out to hundreds of investors in the tech industry to join the VCsforKamala pledge, with a particular focus on encouraging donations to Harris’ campaign. The group’s stance as pro-business, pro-American dream, and pro-entrepreneurship reflects their shared values in supporting a stable democracy. The timing of this initiative has sparked conversations within the tech industry about the role of venture capitalists in shaping political discourse and using their influence to support candidates aligned with their values.
Despite facing challenges, such as fund policies preventing some investors from signing the pledge, the momentum of the VCsforKamala initiative continues to grow. Feinzaig’s frustration with the dominant voices in the tech industry not aligning with her beliefs has led her to take a more openly political stance in supporting Kamala Harris. Through this initiative, Feinzaig and her supporters hope to showcase that not all venture capitalists are aligned with MAGA ideology and that there is a significant group within the industry that values democracy, progress, and entrepreneurship.
The VCsforKamala pledge has seen widespread support among venture capitalists and tech industry leaders who share a belief in the importance of a stable and peaceful democracy. This initiative highlights the growing political engagement within the tech industry and the impact that venture capitalists can have on shaping political discourse. By rallying support for Kamala Harris, Feinzaig and her team are advocating for a more inclusive and democratic society that supports entrepreneurship, technological progress, and the American dream.
