"If you have these 2 qualities, I'll invest in YOU" (tech investor Sequoia's strategy)

BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY

What is discussed

AskMonty AI editorial noteSource consulted: 2026-10-07

Montemagno attributes to Sequoia’s Don Valentine a provocative way of assessing founders: combining ability with how easy someone is to get along with. In his account, exceptional talent can come with a difficult temperament. He closes by jokingly identifying with that profile, rather than establishing a verified current Sequoia investment rule.

Key points

• The framework separates personal talent from how easy someone is to work with.
• The provocation is to consider exceptional talent even when its holder is not easy-going.