Uncapped with Jack Altman Uncapped #28 | Roelof Botha from Sequoia
225 snips
Oct 15, 2025 
Roelof Botha, Managing Partner at Sequoia Capital, shares insights from his impressive career, including his role in early investments in YouTube and Instagram. He discusses the 'healthy paranoia' essential for venture success and the cultural traits that drive joy in leadership. Roelof examines the evolving venture landscape, asserting that venture isn’t a typical asset class, and highlights the next trillion-dollar markets, particularly in robotics and AI. He also stresses the importance of a relentless cost focus in Silicon Valley startups.
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Generational Stewardship Shapes Sequoia
- Sequoia treats leadership as stewardship: each generation must leave the firm stronger for the next.
- Continuity, mentorship, and consulting past leaders shape decisions and reduce abrupt change.
Build Institutional Paranoia Daily
- Put reminders in the environment to sustain urgency and avoid resting on laurels.
- Inspect missed investments and competitor coverage to learn and keep the team paranoid productively.
Celebrate Team Contributions Publicly
- Celebrate wins broadly and publicly to reinforce team contribution and culture.
- Recognize everyone who helped an exit, not only the board member or deal lead.
