Sequoia Capital Undoes 20 Years of Expansion and Closes London Office

Sequoia Capital has announced major changes in a memo shared on social media, reversing roughly twenty years of expansion. The venture capital firm stated it has raised about ten billion dollars in new funds, but it is also dismantling several programs built over the past two decades to refocus its efforts.

Among the biggest changes, the firm is shutting down its Arc accelerator program, which gave large upfront checks to early-stage startups, and ending its Scouts program, which relied on well-connected founders to spot promising new companies. Sequoia is also closing its London office, which it opened in recent years, stating it no longer sees the need for a physical presence in Europe to find exceptional founders. Additionally, the firm is merging its early-stage and growth investment teams into a single group, flattening its leadership structure, and ending its traditional Monday partner meetings.

These moves mark a return to a smaller, more focused approach centered heavily on Silicon Valley. Several employees will leave the firm as a result of the restructuring, while other partners have shifted roles or departed entirely.