Daniel Penny Hired as Deal Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

Marine veteran Daniel Penny, two months after being acquitted of all charges in connection with the death of a homeless man on a New York City subway, has landed a job at Andreessen Horowitz, a Silicon Valley investment firm.

"He will learn the business of investing and he will work to support our portfolio companies," David Ulevitch, a general partner at the firm said in an internal statement seen by The Free Press.

Penny has been hired as a deal partner and will work in New York for the company's American Dynamism practice, which the company says "invests in founders and companies that support the national interest: aerospace, defense, public safety, education, housing, supply chain, industrials, and manufacturing."

Firm founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz were among high-profile Silicon Valley leaders supporting Trump during the election, according to The Free Press.

Penny was charged with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in 2023 after the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who witnesses said was threatening passengers on a subway. Penny placed Neely in a chokehold, and the homeless man died shortly after that.

A New York City jury acquitted him of all charges in December.

Ulevitch, while discussing the hire in the memo to all employees, said he believes Penny "acted with courage in a tough situation."

"He was acquitted of all charges," Ulevitch said. "Beyond that, it has always been our policy to evaluate the entire person and not judge them for the worst moment in their entire life … we believe in Daniel and are excited to have him as part of our team."

He said he believes Penny, as a Marine veteran, will strengthen the firm's relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense and the public safety sector.

Vice President J.D. Vance lauded the hire on social media Tuesday night, posting the report on X and saying it was "Incredible news."

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