About
Sequoia Capital, founded in 1972 in Menlo Park, California by Don Valentine, represents venture capital's most consistently successful institution and one of the most influential investment firms globally. The firm manages a massive portfolio of 1,244 investments across 22 investment funds with 251 exits, generating over $3.3 trillion in aggregate public market value as of 2019. Sequoia's investment thesis centers on a simple question: "Is the future for this market, company, or investment brighter than today?" When answered affirmatively, the firm commits significant capital and strategic support. Sequoia's early-stage exits include category-defining businesses: Apple (backing Steve Jobs and Wozniak in 1976, generating enormous returns on minimal early capital), Google (fundamental infrastructure company), YouTube (acquired by Google for $1.65 billion), Instagram (acquired by Facebook for $1 billion), and Airbnb (sharing economy pioneer). Recent exits include Dropbox (cloud storage, $10 billion+ valuation), Stripe (fintech infrastructure, $95 billion+ valuation), DoorDash (food delivery, $40+ billion), and WhatsApp (messaging, $19 billion Facebook acquisition). Sequoia maintains a distinctive geographic and stage-agnostic approach, managing separate funds for US early-stage, global growth, China operations, and emerging markets. The firm's historical approach emphasized founder-centric selection, deep strategic guidance, and patient capital through market cycles. Modern Sequoia continues this tradition while expanding into adjacent areas like crypto/digital assets (now reduced focus following 2023 crypto downturn) and emerging technologies. Typical Sequoia early-stage checks span $500,000 to $10,000,000+ with flexibility based on opportunity conviction. The firm's unparalleled track record, geographic reach, and founder relationships position Sequoia as arguably the most influential venture capital institution globally.