VC Masha Bucher, Epstein Associate, Addresses Controversy

Bucher, founder of Day One Ventures, responds to reports of her close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Masha Bucher, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and founder of Day One Ventures, has addressed her close business and personal relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a post on X, Bucher acknowledged her naivety in trusting Epstein and apologized to her founders, team, and investors for the pain this situation has caused.

Why it matters

Bucher's association with Epstein raises concerns about the vetting processes and ethical standards within the venture capital industry, particularly when it comes to high-profile investors with controversial pasts. This episode highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the VC community.

The details

Bucher's name appeared over 1,600 times in the latest dump of Epstein files, indicating a deep connection between the two. Bucher claims she believed Epstein's story about his earlier conviction and trusted validations from other investors and scientists. The files also show that Epstein supported and encouraged Bucher in the early days of Day One Ventures, which has since grown substantially.

  • In 2017, Bucher agreed to become Epstein's publicist, helping to rehabilitate his reputation after his 2008 sex trafficking conviction.
  • Bucher was engaged in friendly correspondence with Epstein until just 11 days before his arrest in July 2019.
  • Epstein died in jail roughly one month after his arrest in July 2019.

The players

Masha Bucher

A Silicon Valley venture capitalist and founder of Day One Ventures, who had a close business and personal relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who had a close relationship with Masha Bucher and supported the early days of her venture capital firm, Day One Ventures.

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What they’re saying

“He made me feel I could be safe from the regime, someone with power and connections who could shield me" from threats she associated with her home country Russia, which she said she feared after she obtained her U.S. green card.”

— Masha Bucher (X)

“I was naive; I didn't dig deep enough early on. I believed his story that his earlier conviction was about sleeping with a girl who lied about her age and trusted validations from multiple investors and scientists.”

— Masha Bucher (X)

The takeaway

This episode highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within the venture capital industry, particularly when it comes to vetting high-profile investors with controversial pasts. It raises questions about the ethical standards and decision-making processes of VCs, and the potential impact on their portfolio companies and the broader tech ecosystem.