Sequoia Ends Scout Program in Broad Overhaul
The venture firm closed its London office and shut down its scout model, which it pioneered 17 years ago, as it narrows its focus.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Job Search
Sequoia announced a broad overhaul in a memo posted to X, shutting down its scout program and closing its London office. The firm framed the move as part of a broader need for more focus.
Why it matters
The scout model, in which select founders and operators write checks on a firm's behalf, was widely adopted by venture firms amid rising competition for deals. Sequoia's retreat signals a shift in how top venture investors allocate resources.
Sequoia's scout model ran for 17 years before the firm shut it down, while scout Roxanne Varza served from 2020 to 2025. The number of scouts affected and the financial scale of the program were not disclosed.
The players
Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm known for backing major technology companies and for pioneering the scout investment model.
Andreessen Horowitz
Andreessen Horowitz, commonly known as a16z, is a major venture capital firm that revamped its scout program to expand its global network.
The details
Sequoia's memo stated a goal of putting more energy behind fewer people and things. Andreessen Horowitz, by contrast, rolled out a global scout network targeting the U.S. and smaller European hubs, giving scouts more budget and expecting them to be more active.
Timeline
Sequoia pioneered its scout model 17 years ago, around 2009.
Roxanne Varza served as a Sequoia scout from 2020 to 2025.
Earlier this year, Andreessen Horowitz revamped its scout program.
Sequoia announced the overhaul in a memo posted on November 7, 2026.
Market Landscape
Many venture firms adopted the scout model as competition for deal flow intensified, making it a standard tool for sourcing early investments. Sequoia's decision to shutter its program while Andreessen Horowitz expands its own reveals divergent strategies in the race for top startups.
For founders and operators who hoped to earn scout roles, fewer opportunities at firms like Sequoia may narrow the paths into venture investing. Those seeking scout work should watch whether other firms follow Sequoia's lead or expand their programs as Andreessen Horowitz has.
The takeaway
Venture firms are making strategic choices about where to concentrate their people and capital, and scout programs are no longer assumed to be a permanent fixture. Watch how competitors respond to shape the next phase of early-stage investing.
Further reading
For more on how venture capital shapes hiring in the tech sector, explore Job Search.
