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Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, known for his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” has been selected by Donald Trump as his vice-presidential candidate.
Vance’s venture capital experience, which began just before his book’s release when he joined Mithril Capital — a firm backed by Peter Thiel in San Francisco — has been a topic of controversy. Colleagues from his time in the venture capital sector have questioned his effectiveness, with some claiming he spent more time promoting his book than engaging in his role at the firm.
Business Insider reported that Vance did not close any deals while with Mithril and his contributions were minimal.
Vance later moved to Revolution’s Rise of the Rest fund, where he had more success, particularly with investments in the tech sector. Despite this, some investors remained skeptical about his contributions. Vance eventually founded his own VC firm, Narya Capital, in 2019 which has made a few investments, though its impact is still under scrutiny.
As Vance transitions fully into his political career, his venture capital pursuits are being viewed with skepticism by some industry experts who question his ability to excel in both fields. His run for the Senate and now his candidacy as vice president mark a significant shift from his business pursuits to more focused political ambitions.
Requests for comment from Vance’s senatorial and campaign teams about his business background have not been returned. Trump’s campaign has also not commented on the characterizations of Vance’s venture capital work.