Sequoia Made a Fortune Investing in the U.S. and China. Then It Had to Pick One.

Wall Street Journal Header

Scrutiny from Washington aggravated tensions within the venture-capital firm, fueling its decision to break up

Sequoia Capital became the most consistent moneymaking venture-capital firm in history, placing huge winning bets in the U.S. and in China. In the end, the Silicon Valley firm found it had to choose just one.

Scrutiny of Sequoiaโ€™s China ventures had been rising in Washington for months, with officials and members of Congress hammering the firm for bankrolling Chinese technology competitors and potentially boosting Chinaโ€™s military. Then, last summer, Sequoiaโ€™s China arm tapped American investors to raise a record $8.5 billion to pour into promising Chinese companies, and the pressure notched higher. 

The Biden administrationโ€™s senior Asia policy official, Kurt Campbell, confronted Sequoiaโ€™s top executive in Washington, Don Vieira. Campbell asked why Sequoia would fund Chinese companies that might threaten U.S. national security and do so when Washington wants that financing to stop, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Vieira explained that Sequoia China doesnโ€™t invest in defense technology, but given the firmโ€™s structure, Sequoia in the U.S. has no control over the China unitโ€™s investments, the people familiar with the matter said. 

It wasnโ€™t enough. Sequoia this month bowed to the fraught competition between the U.S. and China in announcing a plan to break up the firm. Its senior partners unanimously made the decision, Sequoia said. A public statement cited the rising complexity of running a decentralized, global investment firm. 

The bitter rivalry between the two major powers made Sequoia a political lightning rod in Washington and exacerbated tensions within the firm, feeding into the decision to break up. 

By Kate Oโ€™Keeffe, Berber Jin, Aruna Viswanatha

Read Full Article on WSJ.com

Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journalhttps://www.wsj.com/
The Wall Street Journal was founded in July 1889. Ever since, the Journal has led the way in chronicling the rise of industries in America and around the world.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

โ€˜This One Time, at Groomer Campโ€™

All Camp Brave Trails programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion.

News

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.

Bernard Kerik, NYPD Commissioner During 9/11 Attacks, Dies at 69

Bernard Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner who was hailed as a hero after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has died at 69, according NYPD.
spot_img

Related Articles