Keith Rabois

Keith Rabois is an American venture capitalist and technology executive, renowned as a key member of the so-called PayPal Mafia. He has held pivotal executive roles at several landmark Silicon Valley companies including PayPal, LinkedIn, and Square, before transitioning into a prominent investing career. Rabois is known for his direct, often controversial style and has been a significant figure in shaping the growth of startups like Yelp, Xoom, and Palantir Technologies.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, Rabois demonstrated an early aptitude for debate and law, which shaped his academic trajectory. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, where he was deeply involved in campus political organizations and developed an interest in technology and entrepreneurship. Following his graduation, Rabois attended Harvard Law School, earning his Juris Doctor degree and solidifying the analytical foundation he would later apply in the business world.

Career

Rabois's technology career began in earnest when he joined the online payments company Confinity, which later became PayPal. As an early executive, he worked closely with founders like Peter Thiel and Max Levchin during the company's rapid growth and its eventual acquisition by eBay. Following his tenure at PayPal, Rabois served as Vice President of Business Development at the professional networking platform LinkedIn, contributing to its early strategic partnerships. His most notable operating role was as Chief Operating Officer at Square, the financial services company founded by Jack Dorsey, where he helped scale the business into a major player in mobile payments before departing in 2013.

Investments and board memberships

Transitioning fully to investing, Rabois became a partner at the venture capital firm Khosla Ventures, where he focused on early-stage technology companies. He later joined Founders Fund, the firm established by his former PayPal colleague Peter Thiel, further cementing his influence within that investment network. Rabois is a prolific angel investor and board member, with notable early investments in and board service for companies such as Yelp, Xoom, and Palantir Technologies. In 2022, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at OpenStore, a startup aiming to acquire and operate businesses built on the Shopify platform.

Political involvement and views

Politically, Rabois is a vocal libertarian and a significant donor to Republican candidates and causes, aligning with many of his PayPal Mafia peers. He has been an active supporter of politicians like Senator Marco Rubio and has contributed to committees supporting the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and Donald Trump. Rabois is also known for his outspoken commentary on Twitter regarding government regulation, free speech on technology platforms, and economic policy, often sparking public debate.

Personal life

Rabois maintains a high profile in both San Francisco and Miami social and technology circles, having been part of a notable migration of tech investors to Florida in the early 2020s. He is an avid participant in and benefactor of intellectual debates, often engaging with forums like the Stanford University Hoover Institution. His personal interests include contemporary art collecting, and he has been involved in philanthropic efforts related to education and criminal justice reform, though he typically avoids the public spotlight for such activities.

Category:American venture capitalists Category:PayPal Mafia Category:1969 births Category:Stanford University alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni