The Library of Minds Sequoia Capital Partner Roelof Botha on PayPal Panic, Building Enduring Companies & Sequoia’s Long-Term Strategy
36 snips
Oct 2, 2025 
Roelof Botha, Senior Steward at Sequoia Capital and former CFO of PayPal, shares insights from his impressive career in tech investing. He candidly recounts PayPal's near-collapse and how it shaped his resilience. Emphasizing the importance of a product-first strategy, Roelof discusses Square's early focus on solving core problems rather than chasing viral growth. He also highlights the significance of long-term thinking, embracing innovation, and adapting to change to build enduring companies amidst volatility.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trust and Tough Hiring At PayPal
- PayPal's early team trusted each other and executed rapid handoffs which let engineers keep shipping despite crises.
- They hired for cultural fit and swiftly removed misfits even during hypergrowth to preserve momentum.
Pick A Single North Star Early
- Use one clear North Star metric early; PayPal tracked total payment volume to measure platform economic activity.
- Add operational and financial metrics later as the business and revenue model mature.
False Dichotomies Mislead Strategy
- The best companies often avoid false trade-offs and both grow and perform simultaneously.
- Early-stage teams should prioritize product and usage; monetization can follow once scale proves the model.
