Sequoia Arc
Sequoia Capital's twice-yearly open call for pre-seed and seed founders, with a four-day company-building Intensive for the companies it backs.
Founder ProgramApplication OnlyInvestment
Overview
Arc is Sequoia Capital's bi-annual open call for pre-seed and seed stage founders. Sequoia describes it as one of several ways it finds founders, alongside outreach, chance encounters and data signals: a direct pathway for founders to connect with the firm without a warm introduction.
Founders whose companies Sequoia backs at pre-seed or seed are invited to the Arc Intensive, a four-day company-building program built on Sequoia's frameworks. Cohorts are small, about 10 companies, so founders get 1:1 time with the Sequoia team.
Program details
Designed for Founders.
Who it is for
Pre-seed and seed stage founders. Sequoia's official page does not state geographic limits for the open call; check the current call before applying.
See if you are eligible
Admissions and application
Founders apply through the open call at sequoiacap.com/arc/apply while a call is running. Calls run twice a year. Companies Sequoia goes on to back at pre-seed or seed are invited to the Arc Intensive.
Benefits
- Arc Intensive: four days of workshops on founder and culture, customer, product, go-to-market, business model and product-market fit (Sequoia's Arc PMF Framework).
- Sequoia support: 1:1s with Sequoia partners and operators.
- Ampersand: Sequoia's digital hub for founders, with company-building resources, content and its network, including the Builder community.
- Partner perks: 200+ benefits for Sequoia founders, for example NVIDIA savings up to USD 500k and Microsoft Azure credits up to USD 350k.
Timeline
Arc runs as a bi-annual open call. The most recent dated call found closed on August 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm PT, per Sequoia's announcement on X on August 14, 2025. The official pages checked on September 29, 2026 show no current call dates.
How to approach this opportunity
- Understand the program
Review who can apply, how the process works, and whether applications are currently open.
- Build relevant evidence
Keep a visible record of the startups, markets, and founder communities you understand.
- Follow the application process
Use the official program destination and the cited source trail to confirm the current application process.
How compensation works
Arc leads to a Sequoia investment rather than a fixed accelerator deal. Sequoia says it has no dedicated terms for early-stage companies: every pre-seed or seed partnership is unique and terms are company specific.
Questions about this program
What is Sequoia Arc?
Sequoia Capital's bi-annual open call for pre-seed and seed stage founders, one of several ways Sequoia finds founders.
Who can apply?
Pre-seed and seed stage founders. The official page does not list geographic limits; check the current call.
What is the Arc Intensive?
A four-day company-building program for founders of companies Sequoia backs at pre-seed or seed, in cohorts of about 10 companies.
What are the investment terms?
There are no standard terms. Sequoia says each pre-seed or seed partnership is unique and terms are company specific.
What else do Sequoia founders get?
1:1s with partners and operators, the Ampersand founder hub and 200+ partner perks, such as NVIDIA savings up to USD 500k.
Is Arc open now?
No current call dates were shown on the official pages on September 29, 2026. The last dated call closed on August 17, 2025.
How do I apply?
Through the open call at sequoiacap.com/arc/apply while a call is running.
How is Arc different from the Sequoia Scout Program?
Arc is for founders seeking investment; the Scout Program is for people who invest on Sequoia's behalf.
About Sequoia Capital
Venture Capital
Empowering founders to build significant businesses.
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