Sequoia Capital Managing Partner Roelof Botha argues that excessive venture capital deployment prevents the industry as a whole from delivering adequate net returns.
“So in my opinion, investing in venture is a return free risk.”
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More from Roelof Botha
AssertionContradicted
Botha: Only ~20 companies per decade reach real $1B+ exits
“If you look at every single decade, there are only about 20 companies that end up Getting exit values north of a billion dollars. Actual IPOs or M&As north of a billion. Not the paper write-ups. Only 20 companies.”
Roelof BothaOct 9, 2025▶ 5:11Sequoia’s Roelof Botha: Why Venture Capital is Broken & How Great Companies Are Built
Insight
LPs wrongly assume a VC firm's single-hit success is repeatable
“You get a firm that has one success in their fund, And then they attract more capital because people think it's repeatable, and it's not.”
Roelof BothaOct 9, 2025▶ 6:09Sequoia’s Roelof Botha: Why Venture Capital is Broken & How Great Companies Are Built
PredictionNot checkable as stated
Fund managers will continue hiding behind the J-curve to excuse poor returns
“I think people will still hide behind the J curve effect. And they'll say, yeah, my fund is only at 1.5 X right now, but it's only four years in and you know, the winners are going to emerge. And so I think this hope springs eternal dynamic and such a long tim…”
Roelof BothaOct 9, 2025▶ 6:53Sequoia’s Roelof Botha: Why Venture Capital is Broken & How Great Companies Are Built
Disclosure
Botha: Sequoia requires unanimous consensus among partners for investment decisions
“So when we make investment decisions at Sequoia, it's a consensus decision.”
Roelof BothaOct 9, 2025▶ 13:47Sequoia’s Roelof Botha: Why Venture Capital is Broken & How Great Companies Are Built
AssertionSupported
Botha: Sequoia-backed companies account for over 30% of NASDAQ value
“The companies in which we were private investors when they were little companies today account for over 30% of the total value of the Nasdaq.”
Roelof BothaOct 9, 2025▶ 16:07Sequoia’s Roelof Botha: Why Venture Capital is Broken & How Great Companies Are Built
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Sequoia Capital Fund gained $6.7B by holding post-IPO stock
“Now, to give you a sense, since we launched this three and a half years ago, we've accumulated another 6.7 billion in gains by doing nothing except being patient.”
Roelof BothaOct 9, 2025▶ 17:25Sequoia’s Roelof Botha: Why Venture Capital is Broken & How Great Companies Are Built
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