Sequoia Capital is accepting applications for Arc Spring ‘25, a five-week program designed to help pre-seed and seed-stage founders build enduring companies. The program provides hands-on mentorship, structured workshops, and access to Sequoia’s network of experts, advisors, and founders.
Startups based in the Americas and Europe are eligible to apply. The application deadline is February 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT.
What is Arc?
Arc is Sequoia’s early-stage founder program, created to accelerate a startup’s path to product-market fit (PMF). Over five weeks, founders refine their vision, validate their market, and develop strategies for building a scalable business.
The program follows a hybrid format:
- In-person weeks in New York City and the Bay Area (first and last weeks)
- Remote sessions for the remaining weeks
Each cohort is kept small (~10 companies) to allow for deep engagement and 1:1 support.
Who Should Apply?
Arc is designed for ambitious founders at the pre-seed and seed stage, whether you are:
- A first-time founder with just an idea
- A startup with an early MVP and initial customer traction
- A seasoned entrepreneur looking to refine and scale
There are no strict requirements on traction or revenue – Sequoia is looking for exceptional founders with bold ambitions.
Program Structure & Key Workshops
Each session focuses on a critical aspect of company-building:
- Founder Story (April 21–23, in-person) – Understanding the mindset of successful founders and defining long-term vision.
- Customer Story (April 30, remote) – Identifying the target customer and clearly articulating the problem being solved.
- Product Story (May 7, remote) – Setting a strong product mission, defining key metrics, and building with speed.
- GTM Story (May 14, remote) – Learning the fundamentals of brand, sales, and marketing for competitive positioning.
- Business Story (May 19–21, in-person) – Aligning all strategic elements to build a scalable, sustainable business.
- Product-Market Fit Sessions (ongoing) – A structured framework for PMF validation, including weekly check-ins.
Why Join Arc?
- Access to Sequoia’s network – Direct mentorship from Sequoia partners, operators, and a community of founders
- 1:1 support – Personalized guidance from experts with experience in building category-defining companies
- Exclusive perks and resources – Over 200+ startup benefits, including:
- $500K in NVIDIA savings
- $350K in Microsoft Azure credits
- $250K in Cloudflare credits
- $100K in Datadog credits
- $25K in Anthropic credits
- Additional benefits from AWS, OpenAI, Google Cloud, ElevenLabs, and more
Experts & Speakers
Arc Spring ‘25 offers access to Sequoia partners and industry leaders who have guided and scaled top companies. The program has featured speakers such as Jess Lee (Sequoia), Keller Rinaudo Cliffon (Zipline), Sebastian Siemiatkowski (Klarna), Ivan Zhao (Notion), Mike Krieger (Anthropic, Instagram), Miki Kuusi (Wolt, DoorDash International), and Brian Halligan (HubSpot). In addition, technical leaders from GitHub, Notion, and DeepMind, along with alumni from OpenAI, Stripe, Ramp, Revolut, and Zipline, have shared insights and provided mentorship.
How to Apply
- Application deadline: February 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT
- Eligibility: Startups based in the Americas and Europe
- Format: Hybrid (in-person in New York City & the Bay Area + remote sessions)
Apply here: Sequoia Arc