How to Get a Sequoia Capital Referral
Sequoia Capital is one of the most prestigious VC firms in the world. Breaking in requires warm introductions - cold applications almost never work. Here is how to find the right connections.
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A plain LinkedIn search buries the people who would actually help you.
It ranks by prominence, so the most-followed, most-messaged names sit on top. FindWarmIntros surfaces the coworkers who share your school or a past employer - the people most likely to reply - and hands you a ready-to-send intro.
✍️ Ready-to-send intro“Hi - we both studied at [your school]. I’d love to hear about your path to Sequoia Capital before I apply…”
… plus everyone else in your network who can put in a good word.
See who can refer you in - pick your target company:
Quick answer
Yes, Sequoia Capital takes employee referrals: an employee puts your name in internally, usually before you apply, and about 50% of hires come through referrals. You do not need to already know someone there. You need an employee you share a school or a past employer with, and a short conversation.
- Find Sequoia Capital employees who share your school or a past employer (the free search above).
- Ask for a 15 minute chat about their team, not for a job.
- If it goes well, ask them to submit your referral before you apply.
Referral bonuses at large companies typically run $1,000 to $10,000, paid to the employee who refers you, never to the candidate. See reported referral bonus amounts by company.
By the Numbers
Sequoia Capital is one of the world's most prestigious venture capital firms, with investments spanning Apple, Google, Oracle, WhatsApp, Airbnb, and hundreds of other iconic companies. Investment roles at Sequoia are extremely rare and almost never filled through cold applications - they are filled through warm introductions and deep network connections.
Getting into Sequoia requires thinking differently about the "referral" model. It is less about a formal HR referral and more about building genuine relationships with Sequoia partners, principals, and operators who can vouch for you directly to the decision-makers.
Don't already know someone at Sequoia Capital? You don't have to.
The steps below all start the same way - finding an insider willing to refer you. FindWarmIntros does that part for you: it surfaces the Sequoia Capital employees who already share your school or a past employer (the people most likely to say yes) and drafts the intro. Free, no sign-up, ~10 seconds.
Show me who can refer me at Sequoia Capital →Or read the manual version first - it's right below.
How to Get a Referral: Step by Step
- Map the Sequoia ecosystem: Sequoia professionals come from top investment banks, consulting firms, and successful startups. Search for Sequoia employees and alumni who attended your school or worked at your previous employers.
- Target portfolio company operators first: Many Sequoia roles - especially on the platform and talent side - are filled with people who worked at Sequoia portfolio companies. Building relationships with senior operators at Sequoia-backed companies creates a path to Sequoia itself.
- Demonstrate investment thinking: Before reaching out to anyone at Sequoia, develop a point of view on a market or company. Share writing, investment memos, or analyses publicly. Sequoia professionals respond to candidates who show they can think like investors.
- Reach out to junior staff first: Sequoia's associates and venture partners are more accessible than senior partners and are often looking to build their own networks. Building a genuine relationship with a junior Sequoia professional is a realistic first step.
- Play the long game: VC hiring happens very slowly. The best Sequoia hires often spent years building relationships before a role opened. Start building connections now, well before you actively need a job.
Tips That Make the Difference
Sequoia's platform team is a realistic entry point
Sequoia has a growing platform team that helps portfolio companies with talent, marketing, and operations. These roles are less competitive than investment roles and are often filled by operators from portfolio companies rather than traditional finance backgrounds.
The Sequoia Scout program
Sequoia runs a Scout program where founders and operators invest Sequoia capital and source deals. Becoming a Scout is a way to build a direct relationship with Sequoia's investment team and demonstrate your value as a deal-sourcer and operator.
USC Marshall and other LA schools have strong VC connections
Los Angeles has a growing VC ecosystem and Sequoia has significant deal flow in LA. Alumni from USC Marshall, UCLA Anderson, and other LA schools who work in VC or at VC-backed startups are accessible network nodes for Sequoia connections.