For years, Masha Bucher (formerly Drokova) has been celebrated as one of Silicon Valley’s sharpest rising stars, transitioning from a PR professional to the founder of Day One Ventures with a portfolio that boasts names like Sam Altman’s World (formerly Worldcoin) and Elon Musk’s xAI. However, the release of Department of Justice files in February 2026 has shattered the carefully curated narrative of her ascent.
According to the newly released documents, Bucher’s name appears 1,622 times in the Epstein files. The records portray her not merely as an acquaintance, but as a “fixer” and publicist engaged starting in 2017 specifically to help rehabilitate the image of the convicted sex offender. The sheer volume of these records has prompted Bucher to issue a public defense, claiming she was “naive” and seeking protection from the Russian government. Yet, the specific details within the files—including direct communications crediting Epstein for her firm’s existence—paint a picture of a much deeper, transactional alliance.
What do the newly released DOJ files reveal about the relationship?
The DOJ release contradicts previous attempts to minimize the relationship between the venture capitalist and the disgraced financier. While Bucher has recently apologized, stating she regrets not doing initial research, the files indicate she was working for Epstein nearly a decade after his initial 2008 conviction. The documents characterize her role as instrumental in attempting to scrub Epstein’s reputation in the years leading up to his arrest.
Perhaps most damaging to her current standing as a fund manager is a text message sent from Bucher to Epstein in 2019, which reads: “I would never create my fund without the ideas and knowledge you shared with me.” This direct attribution of Day One Ventures’ genesis to Epstein’s mentorship complicates the narrative that their relationship was superficial.
Furthermore, the files detail financial exchanges that go beyond advice. Records show Bucher received gifts, including a Prada handbag and a $7,000 check. She has denied visiting Epstein’s private island or being paid for specific introductions, but the documented exchange of value and the specific “fixer” label applied in the files suggests a professional engagement designed to leverage her media savvy for Epstein’s benefit.
How has Masha Bucher explained her connection to Epstein?
In response to the mounting scrutiny, Bucher took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer an explanation. Her defense centers on geopolitical fear rather than opportunism. She stated that she viewed Epstein as “someone with power and connections who could shield me” from the Russian regime, describing herself as a young woman who felt unsafe.
“He made me feel I could be safe from the regime,” she wrote, referencing her past high-profile status in Russia. She also issued a direct apology to her limited partners and portfolio founders: “To my founders, team, and investors: I’m truly sorry. This has caused pain I never intended.” She explicitly denounced Epstein in her post, writing “F—k Epstein,” and attributed her involvement to a lack of due diligence and naivety regarding his criminal history.
What is the connection between Bucher’s past and recent geopolitical concerns?
Bucher’s defense regarding Russian protection draws attention back to her origins, which have long been a subject of intrigue in tech circles. Before rebranding in Silicon Valley, she was a teenage leader of Nashi, a pro-Putin youth group, a role documented in the film Putin’s Kiss. While she later disavowed those political ties, the new files have reignited skepticism.
The timing is critical. In late 2025, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence banned software from Acronis—founded by Bucher’s former associate Serg Bell (Serguei Beloussov)—from intelligence contracts due to security concerns. Additionally, the Polish government has reopened an inquiry into potential links between Epstein and Russian intelligence following the file release. These developments place Bucher’s relationship with Epstein in a much more volatile geopolitical context than typical VC scandals.
Why is Day One Ventures under scrutiny now?
The revelations have triggered intense scrutiny regarding Day One Ventures’ limited partners (LPs) and its investments. The firm has poured capital into some of the most sensitive and high-profile companies in the industry, including Valar Atomics, World, and xAI. The concern for these founders is not just reputational but operational—questions are now being raised about the source of the capital that helped launch the fund, given Bucher’s own admission in 2019 about Epstein’s influence on its creation.
The Bigger Picture
The revelations surrounding Masha Bucher expose a systemic failure in Silicon Valley’s due diligence processes. For a “fixer” of a known sex offender to pivot so seamlessly into managing capital for the world’s most prominent tech leaders suggests that access and hype often supersede background checks in the venture ecosystem. While Bucher pleads naivety, the industry that embraced her—despite her well-documented political past and the open secret of her connections—bears responsibility for failing to vet the sources of influence shaping its future. This incident will likely force a hard reset on how founders and LPs audit the origins of emerging fund managers.
