Sequoia Capital's Slogans & Taglines

Sequoia Capital traces its origins to 1972, when Don Valentine founded the firm in Silicon Valley with a $3 million fund, choosing the name "Sequoia"—a tree that lives thousands of years—to reflect humility and long-term commitment. The firm quickly established itself as a pioneer of venture capital, backing legendary companies from Apple and Atari to Cisco, Google, Instagram, Airbnb, and Stripe. Unlike traditional ten-year VC funds, Sequoia pioneered an evergreen "continuity" structure in 2021, creating a self-sustaining cycle through the Sequoia Fund and stage-specific sub-funds that hold investments indefinitely. Its brand ethos has evolved from early semiconductor-sector focus to a universal mission of "helping entrepreneurs build enduring companies," positioning itself as "the entrepreneur behind entrepreneurs." The firm invests primarily on behalf of nonprofits and schools, including the Ford Foundation and Boston Children's Hospital. Today, under global managing partner Roelof Botha, Sequoia manages a crossover portfolio spanning seed, growth, and public-market stages, remaining the gold standard for startup backing across technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors worldwide.