Day One Ventures Founder Masha Bucher Addresses Controversial Ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Masha Bucher, founder and managing partner of Day One Ventures, has publicly addressed revelations regarding her extensive business and personal relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bucher's name—primarily listed under her maiden name, Masha Drokova—appeared over 1,600 times in recently released Epstein documents.

In a statement posted on X, Bucher explained her rationale for initially engaging with Epstein, citing concerns about potential threats from her native Russia following her acquisition of a U.S. green card. "He made me feel I could be safe from the regime, someone with power and connections who could shield me," she wrote, acknowledging her naivety in the matter.

Professional Relationship and Career Impact

According to disclosed documents, Bucher served as Epstein's publicist beginning in 2017, working to rehabilitate his public image following his 2008 sex trafficking conviction. Her responsibilities included facilitating meetings between Epstein and journalists, as well as managing his media relationships. The documents further reveal that Epstein provided strategic support during the early stages of Day One Ventures' formation.

Since its inception, Day One Ventures has experienced substantial growth, closing a $150 million third fund in 2024 and bringing total assets under management to $450 million. The firm's portfolio includes notable exits and investments such as:

• Superhuman
• Remote
• Worldcoin
• Truebill (acquired by Rocket Companies in 2021)
• Valar Atomics

Controversy and Background

The revelations present a significant reputational challenge for Bucher, whose value proposition to portfolio companies centers on public relations expertise and strategic communications guidance. This is not her first encounter with controversy—prior to her venture capital career, she was associated with Nashi, a pro-Putin youth organization in Russia, and was featured in the 2012 documentary "Putin's Kiss."

In her statement, Bucher issued apologies to her portfolio founders, team members, and limited partners, stating the situation has "caused pain I never intended." She also disclosed that she has since renounced her Russian passport, publicly condemned Putin, and engaged with some of Epstein's victims.

Industry Context

Bucher is not the only venture capital professional whose name appears in the Epstein files, reflecting the financier's extensive connections within the technology ecosystem. The available documents do not indicate any criminal conduct on Bucher's part, though correspondence between the two continued until 11 days before Epstein's arrest in July 2019. Epstein died in custody approximately one month later.

Sources:

The San Francisco Standard

Forbes

SFGate

CNN

CNBC