Sequoia Capital

Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 1972 and based in Silicon Valley. It partners with founders from the earliest stages - sometimes at the idea stage - and continues to support them through growth, an IPO and beyond. The firm began with a first fund of $3 million, used to back Apple and Atari, an approach of investing early and working alongside founders that has shaped its model since.

The firm's portfolio companies include Apple, Atari, Cisco, Google, Instagram, Airbnb and Stripe, spanning consumer electronics, video games, internet and software, and fintech. Its investment activity covers the full range of stages, from seed through growth and public markets. Sequoia invests primarily on behalf of nonprofit organisations and schools, and describes its work in terms of an enduring responsibility to those institutions.

Sequoia operates as a small team with diverse strengths, including backgrounds in the semiconductor industry and technology investing. Beyond its funds, the firm maintains a long-term partnership with founders and a network through which founders assist one another. The stated premise of the firm is backing ambitious people building important new companies.