Roelof Botha
Partner at Sequoia Capital
Description
My goal is to help exceptional founders realize their highest ambitions. I work alongside entrepreneurs from the earliest stages as their business partner, drawing upon my operating experience at PayPal and Sequoia's shared tribal knowledge. I find myself captivated when a founder recounts what inspired them to strike out on their own. It’s that vision and connection to user needs that shapes the company's DNA and sets its ultimate trajectory. I am also drawn to business models built on transparency and responsiveness. As part of the Sequoia team, I work with a broad range of companies. Some democratize technology access (Block, Eventbrite, Unity); some create global user communities (YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram); and others disrupt markets through innovative business models (Evernote, Weebly, Xoom). All of them are led by inspirational founders and management teams who take a unique approach to solving meaningful problems.
Suggested Questions
- Can I pitch you my startup?
- When does it make sense to prioritize growth over revenue?
- What are the key mistakes startups make early on that prevent them from becoming truly durable businesses?
- How did you keep the company focused on shipping while there were so many operational fires everywhere?
- How has Sequoia's investment philosophy evolved over time?
- What’s your perspective on market timing and category creation?
- How do you evaluate product-market fit in the earliest stages?