The Social Radars Ron Conway, Founder, SV Angel: Silicon Valley Bank Crisis
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Apr 28, 2026 
Ron Conway, legendary Silicon Valley angel investor and founder of SV Angel, recounts his frantic role in averting a banking calamity. He describes the bank’s collapse mechanics, frantic withdrawals at a founder summit, and rapid calls that mobilized lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders. Tense negotiations, legal precedents, and a last-minute guarantee of deposits dominate the story.
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Founders Racing To Withdraw After The $1.8B Loss
- Ron Conway witnessed founders frantically withdrawing funds during the March 9th SV Angel summit when word spread about SVB's $1.8B securities loss.
- In eight hours between March 9–10, depositors withdrew $42B (25% of SVB deposits), creating immediate payroll and contagion risk.
Interest Rate Moves Turned SVB's Treasuries Into A Liquidity Crisis
- SVB's problem began when it bought long-duration treasuries and MBS during low rates and failed to hedge as the Fed hiked in 2022–23, producing large unrealized losses.
- When rates rose, those securities’ market values plunged and forced SVB to sell at $1.8B realized loss to raise liquidity.
Cultivate Real Relationships With Lawmakers
- Build and maintain deep, personal relationships with policymakers so they pick up the phone in crises.
- Ron advises founders to know lawmakers beyond transactions — dinners, spouses, and repeated contact create real access.