Alfred Lin

Alfred Lin, a partner at Sequoia Capital with a notable background in leading Zappos, Airbnb, and DoorDash, shares his wisdom on startup growth and resilience. He discusses the importance of hiring for potential and navigating crises through first-principles thinking. Lin delves into innovative strategies for building strong company cultures and prioritizing customer experience. Discover how his experiences have shaped his investment mindset, emphasizing adaptability and long-lasting value creation amidst challenges.

Alfred Lin, a partner at Sequoia Capital and seasoned operator, shares his insights into the venture firm's founder-first investing philosophy. He delves into what makes an outlier founder, emphasizing the role of unique insights and tailored support. Alfred recounts how he assisted Kalshi in navigating regulatory challenges and contrasts DoorDash's efficiency strategies with Uber Eats. He discusses the significance of revenue quality over rapid growth, the impact of pivots, and the evolution of Zipline's medical drone delivery, all while highlighting the shifting landscape of AI and competition.

Alfred Lin, a leading investor at Sequoia Capital, has a track record of backing transformative companies like Airbnb and DoorDash. In this discussion, he explores the journey of Airbnb during the pandemic, emphasizing the crucial role of leadership in crises. He shares insights on founder-market fit and the importance of scaling for global impact. Alfred also analyzes the rapid evolution of AI, valuations, and the future of consumer experiences, predicting a reimagined marketplace shaped by innovation.

Alfred Lin, Partner at Sequoia Capital, shares insights from nearly five decades of the firm's investment strategies. He discusses the importance of a prepared mindset for evaluating markets, illustrated by case studies of Airbnb and DoorDash. Lin emphasizes the balance between structured thinking and creativity in identifying opportunities. He also highlights key traits Sequoia looks for in potential hires, underscoring the value of learning from success and failure in venture capital.

Join Steve Huffman, CEO and co-founder of Reddit, Chris Slowe, Reddit's CTO, and Alfred Lin from Sequoia Capital as they share Reddit's fascinating journey from a college project to a cultural juggernaut. They discuss the challenges of maintaining moderation while upholding free speech, and the pivotal moments like the Reddit Blackout when users demanded change. The trio also delves into the evolution of Reddit post-acquisition, highlighting its struggle to balance corporate pressures with community values as they navigated toward a successful IPO.

Alfred Lin, Partner at Sequoia Capital for over 13 years, talks about Sequoia's strategy and operations. They discuss why they don't track A-U-M, the launch of the Sequoia Capital Fund, and the decision-making behind creating Sequoia Arc. They also explore the importance of firm building, the business models of Y Combinator and Sequoia Capital, and the future of venture capital. Additionally, they touch on dedication, teamwork, learning in founder and investor success, incubation in venture firms, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Former Zappos Chairman & COO (and current Partner at Sequoia Capital) Alfred Lin joins our heroes to kick off Season 2 with a classic: Amazon’s 2009 acquisition of the internet’s quirkiest online retailer for $1.2B in stock. How did three Harvard undergrads go from delivering pizza to their dorm to delivering happiness to the world — and become in the process one of the few companies ever to compete successfully head-to-head against Amazon in commerce? Tune in to find out! Note: Unfortunately the quality of David and Alfred’s audio tracks in this episode were significantly impacted by a processor issue on David’s computer, which we didn’t discover until after recording. We’ve worked hard to fix in post-production, but it’s still far from perfect. Still, the content from Alfred is so good, we felt we had to put this episode out there even though the audio quality isn’t up to par. We hope you’ll give it a listen regardless, and we’re working on getting a transcript made ASAP as well. -Ben & DavidSponsors:Anthropic: https://bit.ly/acquiredclaude25ServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acquiredsnVanta: http://vanta.com/acquiredStatsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig25More Acquired!Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLCCarve Outs:Ben:  Andrew Mason on Recode Decode David: Justin O’Beirne on Google Maps’ MoatAlfred: Walter Isaacson’s biographies of  Albert Einstein and  Benjamin Franklin

In this discussion, Keith Rabois, a tech executive and investor, examines how ChatGPT threatens Google's search revenue by shifting consumer behavior towards AI prompts. Alfred Lin from Sequoia Capital emphasizes early-stage investments and the balance of work-life integration for entrepreneurs. Psychiatrist Keith Sakata explores the potential benefits and risks of AI in mental health. Talia Goldberg highlights the rapid growth of AI companies and their evolving relationship with browsers, while Dave Girouard reveals how Upstart uses AI to transform consumer lending.

Tony Xu, the Founder and CEO of DoorDash, shares fascinating insights into how he built a delivery giant despite immense skepticism. Alongside Sequoia Capital's Alfred Lin and DoorDash's Keith Yandell, they discuss the pivotal decisions that propelled DoorDash, especially their focus on suburbia and local businesses. They explore the challenges of fundraising, navigating financial strains, and cultivating resilience during tough times. The conversation delves into how the pandemic became an unexpected opportunity for growth and innovation.

Alfred Lin, a Sequoia Capital Partner known for his early investments in groundbreaking tech firms, shares insights from the HumanX conference. He discusses the megatrend of AI, emphasizing investment dynamics in both the US and China. Lin highlights how visionary founders are shaping the landscape and the critical role of developers in future innovations. He explores AI’s transformative potential in HR and cross-cultural communication, addressing challenges in today’s turbulent market while maintaining a focus on technological advancements.