Sequoia shuts down the scout program it pioneered 17 years ago

Sequoia is shutting down its scout program, the model it pioneered 17 years ago in which selected founders and operators wrote small checks on the firm's behalf. TechCrunch reported on November 6 that the change was part of a broader overhaul Sequoia announced in a memo posted to X. The overhaul also closes the firm's London office.

The memo did not argue against scouts directly. It framed the decision as a need for more focus, describing a goal of "putting more energy behind fewer people and things." Scout programs spread across venture capital after Sequoia's start, as firms competed for early access to promising companies.

Reactions split along familiar lines. Investor Sheel Mohnot wrote on X that the program "never made sense to me!" and that he expects other firms to close theirs too. Roxanne Varza, who runs Station F and was a Sequoia scout from 2020 to 2025, wrote that she was sad to hear of the cut and hoped other funds would not follow. Andreessen Horowitz took a middle path earlier this year. Partner Gabriel Vasquez told TechCrunch the firm cut the number of scouts but gave the remaining ones more budget.

For founders seeking early funding, the change removes one route into Sequoia. TechCrunch argues the programs are more likely to be redesigned than to disappear, because experienced operators can earn more as independent angels and top founders now approach large firms directly. Sequoia's scout route is closing, even if other funds keep versions of it.