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Sequoia Capital, founded in 1972 by Don Valentine in Menlo Park, California, is one of the most iconic venture capital firms in history. With approximately $56 billion in assets under management, Sequoia has backed companies that collectively represent over 25% of NASDAQ's total value, including industry giants like Apple, Google, and Cisco. In 2024, the firm underwent a significant restructuring, splitting into three independent entities: Sequoia (US & Europe), HongShan (China), and Peak XV Partners (India & Southeast Asia), while the US/Europe entity retained the Sequoia name. As of November 2025, Sequoia is led by joint managing partners Alfred Lin and Pat Grady, who succeeded Roelof Botha. The firm operates an evergreen fund structure, which allows for long-term support across various stages of investment. In October 2025, Sequoia launched $950 million in new funds, including a $750 million Series A fund and a $200 million seed fund. With a team of around 140 members across offices in Menlo Park, San Francisco, New York, and London, Sequoia is recognized for its deep commitment to fostering innovation and supporting founders throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.
Sequoia Capital focuses on partnering with outlier founders who aspire to build generational, category-defining businesses. The firm employs a 'market-first' investing philosophy, emphasizing the importance of large addressable markets in addition to evaluating teams. Sequoia invests across a wide range of technology sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, enterprise software, consumer internet, healthcare, cybersecurity, and hardware. The firm has been particularly active in the AI and generative AI spaces, reflecting the growing importance of these technologies in the modern economy. Sequoia's investment strategy is deliberately stage-agnostic, allowing them to invest from pre-seed through growth equity, with a strong emphasis on early-stage investments. Their check sizes range from $500,000 to $100 million, enabling them to support startups at various stages of development. Geographically, Sequoia focuses on the United States, Europe, and Israel, leveraging its extensive network and resources to identify and nurture promising startups in these regions.
Sequoia Capital's portfolio is a testament to its influential role in Silicon Valley and beyond. The firm has a history of backing some of the most successful technology companies, with notable exits including Apple, Google, Cisco, Oracle, and YouTube. Currently, Sequoia's major holdings include OpenAI, Stripe, Airbnb, SpaceX, Nubank, Figma, Vanta, Robinhood, DoorDash, and Zoom. The firm boasts 132 unicorns in its portfolio, highlighting its ability to identify and support high-potential startups. Recent investments in 2024-2025 include companies like Harvey, valued at $5 billion, Sierra at $10 billion, and Clay at $3.1 billion. Sequoia's strategic investments in emerging companies such as Reflect Orbital and Waymo demonstrate its commitment to innovation and its willingness to break traditional norms by investing in direct competitors within the AI space. With an average of 80 new investments annually over the last decade, Sequoia continues to be a dominant force in the venture capital landscape.
Alfred Lin - Joint Managing Partner, co-led early-stage investing since 2017, known for investments in Airbnb and DoorDash.
Pat Grady - Joint Managing Partner, co-led growth-stage investing since 2015, recognized for investments in HubSpot and Zoom.
Roelof Botha - Former steward from 2017-2025, known for creating the scout program and overseeing the 2024 restructuring.
Jess Lee - First female investing partner in the US, hired in 2016.
Luciana Lixandru - First European-based partner, joined in 2020.
Bogomil Balkansky, Shaun Maguire, and Andrew Reed are also notable partners contributing to the firm's success.
To pitch Sequoia Capital, founders can submit their proposals through the open application process on their website. While cold pitches are accepted, the firm prefers warm introductions. It is essential to include a clear business model, market opportunity, and team background in the pitch to capture their interest.
Sequoia Capital operates several structured founder support programs, including Arc, an accelerator for early-stage companies, and Company Design, which assists founders in achieving product-market fit and developing go-to-market strategies. These programs provide valuable resources and mentorship to help startups succeed in their respective markets.
Sequoia Capital has been extremely active in the venture capital space, making 122 investments in 2025 alone. Their latest investment was in Kalshi on February 20, 2026. Recent notable exits include Ethos, which went public on NASDAQ in January 2026, and the acquisition of Pyramid Analytics by ServiceNow in February 2026. The firm continues to demonstrate its commitment to identifying and supporting high-potential startups across various sectors.
Sequoia Capital invests across multiple stages, including pre-seed, seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, and growth equity. The firm has been particularly focused on early-stage investments, aiming to secure a foothold in the pre-seed space while also providing follow-on funding as companies grow.
Founders can pitch Sequoia Capital through their open application process available on their website. While cold pitches are accepted, the firm prefers warm introductions. It is advisable to include a clear business model, market opportunity, and team background in the pitch.
Sequoia Capital has a broad investment focus across various technology sectors, including AI, fintech, enterprise software, consumer internet, healthcare, cybersecurity, and hardware. The firm seeks to invest in companies that target large addressable markets and have the potential to become category-defining.
Sequoia Capital's check sizes range from $500,000 to $100 million, depending on the stage of investment. The firm is flexible in its approach, allowing for significant investments at various stages of a startup's development.
Sequoia Capital primarily invests in the United States, Europe, and Israel. The firm has established offices in Menlo Park, San Francisco, New York, and London, enabling it to tap into diverse startup ecosystems.
Sequoia Capital offers extensive support to its portfolio companies, including operational guidance, hiring assistance, customer introductions, and access to a network of industry experts. The firm also runs structured founder programs like Arc and Company Design to help startups achieve product-market fit and develop go-to-market strategies.
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