Venture Lab

Mini Game

Can You Beat Sequoia?

Eight real pitches from venture history. You only know what an early investor knew at the time. Invest, or pass.

Deal 1 of 82009 · Seed

Score: 0

Airbnb

Two founders renting air mattresses in their apartment, now building a marketplace for strangers to stay in each other's homes.

$2.4M valuation

Why This Matters

Even top-tier venture firms pass on future giants (Sequoia famously passed on early rounds of several breakouts) and fund confident-sounding failures. This game recreates that fog of uncertainty.

Common Misconception

People assume great investors can reliably spot winners in advance. In reality, the best VCs are simply in enough deals that their winners' magnitude compensates for a high miss rate.

Key Takeaway

Being 'right' about venture isn't about picking winners every time — it's about staying in the game long enough, and sized enough, to catch the ones that matter.