Sequoia Capital

Professional services

A privately held venture-capital firm that backs technology and other high-growth companies from formation through public markets and beyond.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Sequoia Capital is a United States venture-capital firm founded in 1972 by Don Valentine, the former head of capital equipment marketing at National Semiconductor. Based in Menlo Park, California, the firm became one of Silicon Valley’s most influential early-stage investors by concentrating on technically ambitious companies and maintaining close relationships with founders over long periods. Its investment history includes Apple, Atari, Cisco, Oracle, Electronic Arts, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Airbnb, WhatsApp, Stripe, Zoom, Snowflake, DoorDash, Nubank, and other companies that became important technology or consumer businesses. The firm’s work is not limited to supplying capital. Sequoia presents itself as a long-term partner to entrepreneurs, helping with company formation, recruiting, product and market strategy, governance, communications, financing, and preparation for an initial public offering. Its public materials emphasize supporting founders from an idea through an IPO and later stages. The firm has published guidance on subjects such as market sizing, company planning, crisis management, cash conservation, and organizational leadership, making its intellectual framework part of its brand. Sequoia has invested across software, internet services, enterprise technology, semiconductors, consumer businesses, financial technology, healthcare, climate-related technology, and other sectors. Its activity has included seed, early-stage, venture, and growth investments, with the exact stage and ownership target varying by fund and opportunity. The firm has also used founder and operator networks, including a scout-style sourcing model, to identify companies outside conventional venture-capital channels. For many years the Sequoia name was associated with a global network spanning the United States, China, India, and Southeast Asia. In 2023, the China, India, and Southeast Asia businesses separated from the United States and Europe business and adopted independent identities, including HongShan in China and Peak XV Partners in India and Southeast Asia. Those organizations retain their own teams and portfolios, while Sequoia Capital continues as an independent venture firm focused primarily on the United States, Europe, and Israel. Sequoia is a financial-services brand rather than a consumer product company. Its principal offerings are investment funds and the associated partnership and advisory services provided to portfolio companies. Because the firm is private, it does not have a public ticker and does not regularly disclose the kind of consolidated revenue or earnings figures expected from a listed corporation. Its reputation rests principally on investment selection, founder networks, realized and unrealized portfolio outcomes, and the perceived value of its operating support. For many years the Sequoia name was associated with a global network spanning the United States, China, India, and Southeast Asia. In 2023, the China, India, and Southeast Asia businesses separated from the United States and Europe business and adopted independent brands: the China business became HongShan, and the India and Southeast Asia business became Peak XV Partners. Sequoia Capital continues as an independent firm focused primarily on the United States, Europe, and Israel.

History

Sequoia Capital was established in 1972 by Don Valentine, who had developed experience in the semiconductor industry before turning to venture capital. Valentine built the firm around a concentrated approach: identify unusually strong founders and products, invest early, and remain engaged as companies developed. The model was suited to Silicon Valley’s emerging technology economy, where small companies could become large businesses through software, semiconductors, networking, and consumer adoption. One of the firm’s earliest notable investments was Atari, followed by investments in Apple and other companies associated with the personal-computer era. Sequoia’s portfolio expanded during the 1980s into enterprise computing and networking. Investments connected with Cisco and Oracle helped establish the firm’s reputation for recognizing infrastructure companies before their markets were fully mature. The partnership also developed a culture in which investors were expected to work closely with management on recruiting, financing, strategy, and board matters. During the 1990s and 2000s, Sequoia participated in the growth of internet and software businesses. Its portfolio included companies such as Electronic Arts, Google, YouTube, PayPal, LinkedIn, and later Airbnb, WhatsApp, and other consumer and enterprise platforms. The firm’s brand became associated with a relatively small number of high-conviction investments and with the idea that venture investors could be active company-building partners rather than merely sources of capital. Sequoia expanded internationally over time. It launched a China operation in 2005 under Neil Shen and developed investment activity in India and Southeast Asia. These regional businesses backed local technology companies, including ByteDance in China and businesses such as Nubank and Grab through the broader global network. International expansion increased the reach of the Sequoia name but also created distinct regulatory, geopolitical, and organizational requirements in different markets. The firm has periodically used public writing and presentations as a way to support founders and communicate its investment philosophy. Its business-plan framework, market-sizing guidance, and crisis presentations became widely circulated among entrepreneurs. The 2008 presentation known as “R.I.P. Good Times” warned portfolio companies about the effects of a severe downturn. In 2020, Sequoia again issued emergency operating guidance during the pandemic. In 2022, it published additional material on survival, cash flow, forecasting, and leadership as technology valuations and venture financing conditions deteriorated. Sequoia’s portfolio produced important public offerings and acquisitions across multiple decades. Examples highlighted in the firm’s own communications include the IPOs of Square, Nubank, and UiPath, as well as public-market milestones involving Snowflake, Unity, and other companies. These outcomes reinforced the firm’s standing among founders and institutional investors, although venture-capital returns and portfolio valuations can change substantially and are not equivalent to operating-company financial performance. In 2023, Sequoia announced the separation of its China, India, and Southeast Asia operations from the United States and Europe business. The Chinese organization became HongShan, while the India and Southeast Asia organization became Peak XV Partners. The restructuring reflected the increasing complexity of operating one branded investment network across regions with different regulatory environments and geopolitical relationships. Sequoia Capital remains active as an independent venture-capital firm, with its current public identity centered on investing in and supporting companies primarily in the United States, Europe, and Israel.

2023
Regional businesses become independent
[1]Sequoia Capital official websitesequoiacap.com
The China, India, and Southeast Asia operations separate from Sequoia Capital’s United States and Europe business.
2021
Nubank IPO
[7]Nubank IPOsequoiacap.com
Nubank completes its public listing after receiving early backing from Sequoia.
2020
Major portfolio IPO period
[3]Sequoia Capital and major portfolio IPOscnbc.com
Snowflake, Unity, and Sumo Logic reach public markets in the same week.
2015
Square IPO
[2]Sequoia Capital: The Fundsequoiacap.com
Square, an early Sequoia-backed company, completes its IPO.
2009
Scout sourcing model introduced
[6]Scout sourcing model introducedeverythingstartups.com
The firm develops a scout-style network to broaden access to early startup opportunities.
2005
China operation launched
[3]Sequoia Capital and major portfolio IPOscnbc.com
Sequoia establishes a China investment operation led by Neil Shen.
1978
Investment in Apple
[1]Sequoia Capital official websitesequoiacap.com
Sequoia invests in Apple during the early personal-computer era.
1975
Early investment in Atari
[5]Sequoia Capital history discussionacquired.fm
Sequoia makes an early investment in Atari, one of the firm’s formative technology investments.
1972
Firm founded
[1]Sequoia Capital official websitesequoiacap.com
Don Valentine establishes Sequoia Capital as a venture-capital firm in Silicon Valley.

Products and positioning

A globally recognized, founder-oriented venture-capital firm associated with early investment in category-defining technology companies and long-term company building.

Investment management · 1972
Venture capital funds
Sequoia raises and manages private funds that invest in startups and emerging companies. Depending on the mandate, investments can be made from seed and early stages through later venture and growth rounds. The firm’s approach emphasizes concentrated ownership, long-term engagement, and support for companies with potential to define or reshape large markets.
Professional services
Founder and portfolio support
Beyond financing, Sequoia provides practical support involving recruiting, product and market strategy, fundraising, communications, governance, and preparation for public-market milestones. Its essays, templates, presentations, and direct partner relationships are used to help founders make decisions as companies scale.
Startup sourcing · 2009
Scout network
Sequoia has used a network-based sourcing model in which entrepreneurs, operators, and other trusted individuals identify promising startups. The model extends the firm’s reach into communities that may not have direct access to traditional venture investors and can surface companies at very early stages.

Marketing campaigns

2022Startup survival guides
Global
Sequoia published a set of founder-oriented materials addressing cash preservation, forecasting, scenario planning, runway, and leadership during a difficult technology-financing environment.
Outcome. The materials reinforced Sequoia’s public identity as an operating partner and crisis adviser rather than only a source of investment capital.
Source
Founder education and company-building content
Global
Through its website and other publishing channels, Sequoia shares frameworks on market selection, pitch construction, company formation, branding, and scaling. This content functions as both portfolio support and reputation-building for the firm.
Outcome. The publishing program has made Sequoia’s investment framework widely visible to entrepreneurs and the broader startup ecosystem.
Source

Brand decisions

2023
Separate regional investment businessesStrategy
Background
Sequoia’s China, India, and Southeast Asia operations had developed distinct teams, portfolios, regulatory environments, and geopolitical exposure.
Action taken
The firm separated those businesses from the United States and Europe operation. The China business adopted the HongShan name, and the India and Southeast Asia business became Peak XV Partners.
Aftermath
Sequoia Capital continued as an independent firm focused primarily on the United States, Europe, and Israel, while the regional firms operated under their own brands and leadership.
Source

Recent events

2023
Sequoia separates its China, India, and Southeast Asia businesses[1]Sequoia Capital official websitesequoiacap.com
M&A
The regional operations became independent firms, with the China business adopting the HongShan name and the India and Southeast Asia business becoming Peak XV Partners.
2022
Sequoia releases startup survival guides[4]Sequoia publishes startup survival guidesfortune.com
Campaign
The firm published materials on extending runway, forecasting, scenario planning, and leading through uncertain market conditions.
2020
Sequoia publishes crisis guidance during the COVID-19 shock[3]Sequoia Capital and major portfolio IPOscnbc.com
Other
The firm circulated guidance urging portfolio companies to assess cash, demand, and operating risks as the pandemic disrupted markets.
2020
Sequoia portfolio companies reach several major public-market milestones[3]Sequoia Capital and major portfolio IPOscnbc.com
Product launch · Other
Snowflake, Unity, and Sumo Logic went public within a closely watched period, highlighting the value of Sequoia’s late-stage holdings.
2014
Sequoia Capital backs Percolate in Series B financing[8]Sequoia Capital backs Percolate in Series B financingfortune.com
Other
Sequoia led a reported Series B financing for Percolate, a marketing-technology and content-marketing software company.

Sources62 sources

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