Sequoia ends pioneering scout programme in wider strategic overhaul

Sequoia is ending its scout programme as part of a wider overhaul focused on concentrating effort among fewer people and initiatives. The decision matters because Sequoia helped pioneer the model 17 years ago, and its closure may signal a shift in how venture capital firms source early-stage investments.

Scouts are founders and operators who invest on a firm’s behalf, often gaining investment experience and relationships in return. Former Sequoia scout Roxanne Varza says such programmes helped develop Europe’s early-stage investment scene, while critics question scouts’ commitment and effectiveness. Some firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, are instead reducing the number of scouts while giving selected participants more resources and responsibilities.