Tesla board member leaves amid inquiry
A Tesla and SpaceX board member is taking a leave of absence as an investigation continues into claims of misconduct against him, according to a spokeswoman, and is also leaving the venture capital firm he co-founded.
Steve Jurvetson of Draper Fisher Jurvetson left the firm Monday after an independent investigation was opened this summer into what the firm characterized as “secondhand allegations” about him. Jurvetson, a high-profile investor in Silicon Valley, has served on the boards of Tesla and SpaceX for several years.
Carol Wentworth, a spokeswoman for Draper Fisher Jurvetson, said in a statement that Jurvetson and the firm parted ways by mutual agreement.
“DFJ’s culture has been, and will continue to be, built on the values of respect and integrity in all of our interactions,” the firm said. “We are focused on the success of our portfolio companies, as well as the longterm vision for the firm and will continue to operate with the highest professional standards.”
The venture capital firm
opened an investigation into claims of misconduct by Jurvetson after it became aware of them this summer. The investigation is ongoing.
According to sources cited by the technology website Recode, the investigation unearthed “unacceptable” behavior by Jurvetson regarding a “negative tone toward women entrepreneurs.”
In October, entrepreneur Keri Kukral wrote on Facebook that “women approached by founding partners of Draper Fisher Jurvetson should be careful.” At the firm, she contended, “predatory behavior is rampant.”
“Silencing behavior ranges from security (within) the firm creating files on women, to potential violations of revenge porn laws, to grotesque threats,” she wrote.
Heidi Roizen, a partner at the firm, wrote a blog post denying that the company had a “predatory” culture. Roizen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“In our entire history, DFJ has never received an official complaint alleging misconduct by anyone on our team,” she wrote. “That said, during the summer this year, we heard about allegations of misconduct by one (and only one) of our partners from a third party. We felt the responsible thing to do was to launch an independent investigation, and so we did. It is still ongoing.”