VCs Behind Zoom & DoorDash Bet Against Silicon Valley for Next AI Unicorns

The reunion of venture capitalists Jeremy Kranz, Ethel Chen, and Karan Sharma at Sentinel Global signals a strategic shift in capital allocation. With a track record including Affirm and DoorDash, their explicit focus on AI and global commerce outside of San Francisco acts as a major validation for emerging tech hubs. This move isn't just a new fund launch; it's an inflection point challenging the long-held assumption that Silicon Valley is the epicenter of groundbreaking tech innovation.

This development puts immediate pressure on incumbent Bay Area VCs to justify their geographic concentration. For founders outside the traditional tech corridor, it signals increased access to elite capital and expertise, potentially accelerating a de-centralization of talent. The stakes are high for San Francisco's ecosystem, which now faces credible competition not just from other cities, but from a capital class actively betting against its continued dominance. Watch for a ripple effect on valuations and talent migration.