The VC Firm That Backed Apple Before Its IPO In 1980 Is Focusing On AI — Here's How You Can Do The Same With $1,000

If you’ve googled something, used an iPhone or had a meal delivered via DoorDash, you've helped Sequoia Capital make money. 

With 455 companies in its portfolio and $85 billion in assets under management, Sequoia is among the most influential venture capital firms in the world. Until recently, this would've hardly been more than a fun fact to regular investors, but now, they can implement Sequoia Capital's strategy with as little as $1,000.

What's the strategy? Sequoia doesn't invest in startups per se. It invests in burgeoning markets early on. That's how it acquires sizeable stakes in large tech companies that dominate their industries. Because Sequoia is a venture capital firm, it invests in startups before their initial public offerings (IPOs) when their shares are often worth a fraction of what investors must fork over a few years down the line. Although many of its investments fail, when Sequoia Capital wins, it wins so big that the losses don't seem to matter in the grand scheme of things.

Don’t Miss: Get equity and front row seats to the startups and small businesses you love —⁠ for as little as $100.

For example, you'd have about $400 for every $1 invested in Google at its IPO. That's the power of investing in startups, and Sequoia Capital is looking to capitalize on the rise of AI. 

In 2022, about 16% of Seqouia's new investments were in the AI space. In 2023, AI startups make 60% of its new investments. More than 70 AI companies are in the firm's portfolio, and that number will likely grow.

If you want to dive into the high-risk, high-reward world of startup investing, AI startups are a great place to begin your journey. Because investing in pre-IPO AI companies takes as little as $100, you can hedge your bets by investing in multiple startups instead of going all-in on one.

Here are some AI startups whose shares you can add to your portfolio today: 

• Jurny: Jurny is the industry's leading vertically integrated, AI-powered property management solution for streamlining every aspect of short-term rental operations. Backed by renowned VC firms Mucker Capital, Okapi Venture Capital, VITALIZE Venture Capital, Singularity Capital and SaaS Venture Capital, Jurny has raised over $13 million to fuel and transform the rapidly growing vacation rental industry.
• Kliken: Kliken uses GPT AI-powered marketing technology to provide small businesses with the service and outcomes of an outsourced digital marketing agency at a fraction of the cost.