Sir Michael Moritz on ‘Auslander,’ Identity and Life as an Outsider
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Who is Sir Michael Moritz and what is his legacy in Silicon Valley?
You British types are smart. Anyway
Well, some of them are.
Yeah, some of them are. That's true. Fair point. Even the dumb ones are smarter than we are.
Hi everyone from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network. This is on with Kara Swisher, and I'm Kara Swisher. My guest today is the investor, Sir Michael Moritz. For almost two decades, he led the Silicon Valley venture firm, it was legendary, Sequoia, and turned it into one of the tech industry's leading kingmakers. He was an early investor in companies all of us know today, like Google, YouTube, PayPal, and LinkedIn. I covered all of it, including all of his investments. His keen eye for opportunity made him a legend in the valley and a billionaire a few times over. But Moritz has a rather unconventional background in the world of Venture Capital. He was born in Cardiff, Wales. He's also the son of German Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi rule as children.
And before his time in Venture Capital, Moritz was, wait for it, a journalist for Time magazine, and he was a good one, and he's authored a handful of very Terrific books, I have to say. That journalism background informs Moritz's latest book, Auslander, One Family's Story of Escape and Exile. It tells the stories of his own family, those who survived the Holocaust in exile, as well as those who did not. Auslander means outsider in German, and the book becomes a searing reflection on the ways grief and trauma are passed down through generations. It's a bit of a surprising book, and yet at the same time not. Michael, compared to a lot of people in Silicon Valley, is incredibly erudite. He's a student of history.
Obviously, he's a beautiful writer, and you will find this a pleasure to read this book, even though it's a very difficult topic. But one of the things I've always found interesting about him is he's willing to stand up. He's one of the few venture capitalists who stand up to Trump and continue to do so. At the same time, he can be more conservative. He's a complex guy.
How did Michael transition from journalism to becoming a partner at Sequoia?
And so I think it's interesting to talk to him. All right, let's get into my interview with Michael. Our expert question comes from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurry. Don't go anywhere.
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Michael, thank you for coming on on. I really appreciate it.
Uh it's very kind of you to have me. I'm flattered.
So let me just say at the start, I texted you this last night and I was finishing up your book. You were one a very good journalist when you were one, as I was reminded. And this is a beautifully written book. You have not lost any of your skills as a journalist.
That is too kind, but thank you.
I'm not sure you want to be known as a journalist.
Oh, I'm very happy. I oh, I'd fly the flag as an ink stained wretch every day.
Yes. Yeah. Well, it's beautifully written and really you should keep it up. Anyway, for people who don't know, besides you being a reporter, you basically helped fund the construction of the modern internet. Let's talk about that just a minute so we can talk about where you're coming from here and uh your time at Sequoia.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Who is Sir Michael Moritz and what is his legacy in Silicon Valley?
0:00–2:02
2
How did Michael transition from journalism to becoming a partner at Sequoia?
2:02–5:26
3
What inspired Michael to write ‘Auslander’ and what is the book about?
5:26–10:41
4
Which family documents sparked the deep dive into his parents’ Holocaust history?
10:41–16:50
5
Why does Michael feel like an outsider despite being called an insider?
16:50–23:36
6
How does Michael draw parallels between today’s authoritarian leaders and the rise of Nazism?
23:36–34:16
7
What are Michael’s thoughts on the current state of venture capital and tech innovation?
34:16–52:07
8
What does Michael hope to leave behind through his philanthropy and community work?
52:07–1:06:38
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from On with Kara Swisher
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