Sequoia Capital's Doug Leone on Luck & Taking Risks
Leone describes how Sequoia hires unconventional people, evaluates founder pitches and keeps a successful partnership from becoming complacent. He also discusses funding cycles, protecting early equity and delegating local investment decisions. This Stanford GSB View From The Top interview includes audience Q&A. The publisher description dates the talk November 4, 2014; the YouTube upload is November 7. Notes use auto-captions through the closing remarks and do not invent chapter times. Sequoia structure, portfolio, fundraising conditions, gender representation and market outlook are historical statements, not current company facts or investment advice. Business figures are speaker claims, not independently audited. The student interviewer's name is not verified.
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Leone describes how Sequoia hires unconventional people, evaluates founder pitches and keeps a successful partnership from becoming complacent. He also discusses funding cycles, protecting early equity and delegating local investment decisions. This Stanford GSB View From The Top interview includes audience Q&A. The publisher description dates the talk November 4, 2014; the YouTube upload is November 7. Notes use auto-captions through the closing remarks and do not invent chapter times. Sequoia structure, portfolio, fundraising conditions, gender representation and market outlook are historical statements, not current company facts or investment advice. Business figures are speaker claims, not independently audited. The student interviewer's name is not verified.
Key Takeaways
Recruit beyond the standard profile
He credits Don Valentine with hiring people whose backgrounds differed, including a journalist and a salesperson. The firm’s recruiting criteria left room for someone special who did not meet the usual specification.