Mill Valley, US · Partner
Semil Shah
Managing Directori at Haystack
Latest rounds
- SiloRound · $3MMay 2019 · led
- CarmeraSeries A · $6.4MJun 2017
- HiredRound · $30MSept 2016
BacksIT ServicesAIBig Data & AnalyticsInternet
The firm
HaystackVC firm · US25cheques in 12 months148all time0ledRounds they were named in
- Rounds
- 38
- Led
- 1
- Disclosed
- $222.9M
- Active
- 2012–19
- SiloRound$3MUSLed · +4 investors
CarmeraSeries A$6.4MUSJoined · +4 investors
HiredRound$30MJoined · +18 investors
HashiCorpSeries B$24MUSJoined · +5 investors- Q (Managed by Q)Round$25MJoined · +31 investors
One ConcernRoundUSJoined · +12 investors · historical
BluesmartSeries A$11.5MUSJoined · +11 investors · historical
Prayas AnalyticsSeed$1MUSJoined · +6 investors · historical
TrustedSeedUSJoined · +5 investors · historical- Managed by QSeries A$15MUSJoined · +13 investors · historical
CleanlySeed$2.3MUSJoined · +10 investors · historical
ChariotSeed$3MUSJoined · +14 investors · historical
The latest 12 of 38. Rounds where a report named this person rather than a firm, matched on name: read it as a strong hint, not proof, since people share names.
Where they are named on record
Filings
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundHMC NeedlesManaging Director of the General Partner of the Issuersince 2025
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundNeedle 2023-1Managing Director of the Manager of the Issuersince 2023
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundNeedle 2021-2Managing Director of the Manager of the Issuersince 2021
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundHMC NeedlesManager of the General Partneron 5 filings · since 2021
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundNeedle 2021-1Managing Director of the Manager of the Issuersince 2021
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundHayStack VenturesManaging Director of the General Partner of the Issueron 5 filings · since 2018
- SEC Form D · Venture Capital fundHayStack VenturesManaging Member of the General Partner of the Issuersince 2017
Each row is a document a firm filed with a regulator: somebody signed it, and it carries a date.
Hear them before you pitch them
Walk & Talk Episode: Semil Shah on AI Superteams, Meta’s Bold Moves, and Apple’s Missed Shots
WithSemil Shah
MentionsHaystack
About this episode
In this special episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano talks with Semil Shah, founder and partner of Haystack VC and partner at Lightspeed. Together, they have a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation on the state of AI, venture capital, and the future of media. They get into… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's page
Karri Saarinen, Sean Frank, Semil Shah, Dan Lorenc, Google's Earnings Power Holding Up Well, Intel Says Layoffs are in Store, The Relationship Between Netflix and The NFL, Elon's Friends Sell Access to Stakes in Private Companies
WithKarri SaarinenSean FrankSemil Shah
About this episode
Karri Saarinen is the co-founder and CEO of Linear, a popular issue tracking and project management tool. Previously, he was a design lead at Airbnb, focusing on design systems and product development. @karrisaarinen Sean Frank is the CEO of Ridge, best known for the Ridge Wallet and expanding the… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's pageGenerative Quarterly with Semil Shah: Seed Markets, Vibe Coding, and the Flappy Bird Effect
WithSemil Shah
MentionsY Combinator
About this episode
History may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes. Vibe coded games, like a flight simulator from @levelsio, are reminiscent of early iPhone app store games like Flappy Bird and Paper Toss. How else are consumer tech cycles evolving? Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano welcomes back investor… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's pageGenerative Quarterly with Semil Shah: AI Expectations vs Reality, Tech Trends, and 2025 Predictions
WithSemil Shah
About this episode
Did 2024 live up to the AI hype? Investor Semil Shah joins Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano for another installment of Generative Quarterly. They cover key tech trends from 2024, including Jensen Huang’s Rockstar CEO status and AI consumer devices. Looking ahead to 2025, the duo delves into… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's pagePART 2: Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah | ASI, AI Agents and The Future of Work
WithSemil Shah
MentionsHaystack
About this episode
This week, we are back with part two of Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah and Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano. Semil is a founding General Partner of Haystack and a Venture Partner at Lightspeed. Semil and Mike pick up their conversation on consumer AI technology, starting with… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's pagePART 1: Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah | Consumer AI Tech, Seed Investing, and Apple
WithSemil Shah
MentionsHaystack
About this episode
Semil Shah is back for another episode of Generative Quarterly with Michael Mignano, Lightspeed Partner and host of Generative Now. Semil is a founding General Partner of Haystack and a Venture Partner at Lightspeed. Semil and Mike discuss the seed investing landscape, challenges and opportunities… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's page
Mentioned in
Episodes that name Semil Shah in their description, which is not the same as being on them.
How Jobs Will Change as AI Gets Better
MentionsHaystackLightspeed Venture PartnersMarissa MayerSemil Shah
About this episode
What is the future of AI in the workplace? What kinds of jobs would you trust an AI to do? In this episode of Generative Now, host and Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano explores how AI is transforming the workforce, with insights from four sharp thinkers: Semil Shah, founding general partner at… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's page
Benchmark’s Eric Vishria on Going Zero to $100M ARR in 12 Months, Archetypes of Top AI Founders, Why Storytelling is a Superpower, How Benchmark Makes New Investments
WithEric Vishria
MentionsSajith WickramasekaraSemil ShahSpenser Skates
About this episode
Eric Vishria is a General Partner at Benchmark Capital. Our conversation goes inside the new class of startups going zero to $100 million ARR in 12 months, the ways AI is changing company building, and how Eric and Benchmark make new investments. We get into the risk rewards of Series As today,… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's pageMichael Kim @ Cendana | Lessons from the Top VCs, How Cendana Does Diligence, Portfolio Construction Best Practices, the 60x Rule, How Seed Funds Compete vs Multi-stage, Inside Cendana's Early Days
WithMichael Kim
MentionsCendana CapitalJack AltmanKevin HartzRoger EhrenbergJeff MorrisRick Zullo
About this episode
Michael Kim is the Founder of Cendana Capital, a fund of funds that makes anchor investments in very early stage VC funds. We talk characteristics of the best investors, how Cendana does diligence on fund managers, portfolio construction best practices, Michael’s “60x rule”, and why high ownership… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's page
20VC: Opensea Founder, Devin Finzer on Scaling GMV from $150M to $3BN in 18 Months, How Brands and Celebrities Will Harness NFTs To Change Their Business, The Impact of NFTs on Gaming & What is in Devin's Metamask Wallet?!
MentionsSemil Shah
About this episode
Devin Finzer is the Founder & CEO @ Opensea , the world's first and largest NFT marketplace allowing you to discover, collect, and sell extraordinary NFTs. To date, Devin has raised over $423M for the company with their last $300M round valuing Opensea at $13.3BN. Before changing the world of NFTs,… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's page20VC: Hopin, The Breakout Startup of 2020 on Scaling from 10 to 230 People and $174M in Funding in just 13 Months, The 3 Phases of Startup Scaling, How To Lead Remote Teams Effectively, The Future of Events Post-COVID and more
MentionsAccelCoatueNorthzoneSemil Shah
About this episode
Johnny Boufarhat is the Founder & CEO @ Hopin , one of the fastest-growing companies on the planet, providing an online events platform where you can create engaging virtual events that connect people around the globe. In the last 13 months, Johnny has raised over $174M for Hopin from the likes of… More on the show's page
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Apple PodcastsThe show's page
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