• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechVenture Capital

Sequoia Capital’s Michael Goguen Named in Sexual Abuse Complaint

By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 12, 2016, 11:41 AM ET

TechCrunch reports that Michael Goguen, a now-former managing partner at Sequoia Capital, is the target of a breach of contract complaint that includes allegations of sexual abuse over the course of 13 years. Goguen’s attorneys told TechCrunch that they will file a countersuit alleging extortion, while Sequoia Capital says Goguen has left the firm.

The complaint, filed March 8th, claims that Goguen’s accuser, Amber Laurel Baptiste, “has been a victim of human trafficking from the age of 15,”enduring violence, isolation, and starvation. It says that in the early 2000s, Baptiste met Goguen at a strip club in Texas, where she was a dancer. Goguen repeatedly asked her to dinner, and promised to help her escape her traffickers. But, in the suit’s words, “Goguen was a worse predator than the human traffickers who were keeping her in bondage.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

According to the complaint, Goguen went on to pay Baptiste’s living expenses in exchange for maintaining their sexual relationship, while also marrying and divorcing two other women. The complaint alleges that the relationship included nonconsensual sex and “demeaning rituals,” and contains other extremely graphic and disturbing descriptions of alleged abuse.

Eventually, the lawsuit claims, Baptiste threatened to sue Goguen, but he talked her into a confidentiality agreement in exchange for $40 million. The current suit stems from Goguen allegedly reneging on that agreement. After making one $10 million payment in 2014, the complaint states that Goguen ceased payments, claiming the initial agreement was invalid because it was “procured under extortion.”

For more on gender and sex in tech, watch our video:

Sequoia Capital has been investing in technology since 1972, and their portfolio includes companies from Apple (APPL) and Cisco (CSCO) to DoorDash and Evernote.

According to TechCrunch, Goguen’s countersuit will be filed on Monday.

Updated to add: Goguen has responded to the allegations in a post on LinkedIn. Read more about that here.

About the Author
By David Z. Morris
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Big TechStreaming
Trump warns Netflix-Warner deal may pose antitrust ‘problem’
By Hadriana Lowenkron, Se Young Lee and BloombergDecember 7, 2025
5 hours ago
Big TechOpenAI
OpenAI goes from stock market savior to burden as AI risks mount
By Ryan Vlastelica and BloombergDecember 7, 2025
5 hours ago
AIData centers
HP’s chief commercial officer predicts the future will include AI-powered PCs that don’t share data in the cloud
By Nicholas GordonDecember 7, 2025
7 hours ago
Future of WorkJamie Dimon
Jamie Dimon says even though AI will eliminate some jobs ‘maybe one day we’ll be working less hard but having wonderful lives’
By Jason MaDecember 7, 2025
11 hours ago
CryptoCryptocurrency
So much of crypto is not even real—but that’s starting to change
By Pete Najarian and Joe BruzzesiDecember 7, 2025
16 hours ago
Elon Musk
Big TechSpaceX
SpaceX to offer insider shares at record-setting $800 billion valuation
By Edward Ludlow, Loren Grush, Lizette Chapman, Eric Johnson and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Real Estate
The 'Great Housing Reset' is coming: Income growth will outpace home-price growth in 2026, Redfin forecasts
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China 'they can build a hospital in a weekend'
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The most likely solution to the U.S. debt crisis is severe austerity triggered by a fiscal calamity, former White House economic adviser says
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Big Tech
Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook for the metaverse. Four years and $70 billion in losses later, he’s moving on
By Eva RoytburgDecember 5, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says Europe has a 'real problem’
By Katherine Chiglinsky and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Uncategorized
Transforming customer support through intelligent AI operations
By Lauren ChomiukNovember 26, 2025
11 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.