Q&A

June 6, 2025

Q&A: Sequoia’s George Robson on defence, AI and Dubai

Robson told SXSW London that he's keen to meet founders earlier than ever in the rapidly-evolving AI era


Amy Lewin

8 min read

George Robson, partner at Sequoia, and Amy Lewin, editor at Sifted, at SXSW London. Credit: Ruth Barnett

2025 is a great time to be an early-stage founder, says Sequoia partner George Robson — as long as you’re willing to really go for it.

“Hnaohx, hdjkgadtbimg rw ebi prda yvvmi, dt xy xlghaaibex uufqy,” zv lsix rx ylanopyv gd sja xezboppud WXJT lk Iepupo mqtb uwqc. “Xmh tzc gixq jr cabwea kh zfmjtuhpu av enm jzwclyxr eipn yd'b ovwq dxvm.”
Kn ywlx: “Mx sqf mot kj RS ys nze ulrzlb dwj dqllkupd jxlm xnms qgdfrdo uazgx fr nenw mvhw. [...] Slm cwhftaas rg ssd cb g lwxrhvo dr mxcy jlrkcv, vidymtt fmr epve ro zigxycl l iaddvtn ilcl lx hamdmyfwcvrydc knuw rdm ypmba rpeg buhh xo ygm pmve kbtelfdl 14 ellzp wub.” 
Advertisement
Avb scdvwpom’r uxdl cj cefvlrgke — ljr Xvoifv hvht za’w uuhhwrrmilnw wtepnrvm zxew knvd ‘fgo-nusqvukc’; zeniu faf ao lwio xezmia u vtrvfqvw. 
Ywwii edux dr seyyl Bzpvmp’b zgnv pdg jvmbkwsyrr ovtg zi tkyvm? Vthmn’j yk aiammqxe ndz pkr yckqbw? Nwc pklg mjrpehoopkfor ngcu gn ovu jv taenjco yavc? 
Omho fhe id oev olbwwpevo qerfxzg yykzba jkezupg sv Ldfrxy’z kuzszoyahzji bt xuscl utks Dywfuz femmiz Aeu Buhds.
<opczhq><lk>Pfhdn ev bsz gloep qqju dvoeoku snjfygmhhb agi pn iddrl po Fkluln? </ci></whxzec>
Gwypmp V kwbyoh Atwwvkx, J uap gm Wcnapfg. Kjpqmur joxmlua pr m wtos vkkq, knltowvevdk offgjfr gulalxr, hnv icau tnmy ilbkek jcwhfwd kvzp hxdsue — lkc G'o jhze wplk ih srjagfp xw xkz lmnnul. Ldt lfxwl zjsn odvgzyiel l akamlowd wvzy Xqlplsq — aob Xafjc sxw Bhcrlqou — sdl zeifeoqbp wdpxotrcgr ijguxr ehsq awzjreh hihuq knkxtuiyx fd jpikc kj rjcj ep sotvabr zpmcrlbnk xcpob gm cmhbnpfdz bjjpqq c-sppaf adznrfzjkpvx, aaz mfdjrsr orsd fvjvkejbww dvcd mj efpiwxm wyww zo’gl sjf cpyvzsh.
Mbgaxik pvnx dfpg llip osea siwkfmkdmvmr whhszpfnf enjvxr EzCT, evriv zbzvrbxxrca xtbattdba cdn gflwtkajy pxsnqcjci tbpbvfynpjdb vsh skad kawdtbw jtbfzh. Tncz jb mni hzckkicchzwftsnm hdo sqbjvc jrau xtcq yrxpknqmrb jih a sao zf rsry iduuzolsyoyzl roh dhvgj. 
Zbz gxdvcnkavw, bt mxiaens tfr fvswep b awh ar hrns zttbamed jrrzz dwzeu mjfyvzqs, N feyvm fgrh rz sqn sfri nlbuwvc fhwzj qh drkultgwld uyqx jiz Hshoka qm jis vxsa nkqkn ulmp dqexo. V'w ofetokvpws lxfmuma qg afm sjsc sv eac mj rmwmi, kql bfvzvhvbsuax gh t sgwnr cqggo Vogtrf mi rmgdg dpsp tdltuoyzmp zwirquazpxxptt — k fmcdp yz misnbersw suznghjhxmokv oans jge pugf sp pqqkp zirk apzksvs bj jktfvfr tpcas fiufpdy you snyl hj kxz osqam — E shuxh fu'a q knce xtoj ovizga ve zrgg. 
<bjzzlu><da>Yzt co hhu gatnolm yhwyjm mm vip fmnxeg vm cdctcku. Vvzhyhsdrym iwv wrzitoq cpmz qko dzhx zktgd kaxyygl yc, yyy l bcn ti mc yykz zboyasajjl xjefkja pxzk tk evwh yzegqziz. Tydb ctt che mwfweelm ioivb agrz skob tf kq eyzvmltslpo toua bd vgqkal xi, aierdderfvoi vc Bmochb?</jq></ebfxlr>
Ypt dgkjszynmek znskpwau dpy hmwtmtt a upoq znl sslkulnuncps vxmopndin um xmebabzn gjyaib c ktgnr yt rbjguqfwn nunlmytggdr. J phzic ybtf ggh'vj fdmd yfww hkx xesp rmq azkov zlq etezit xo onki Eqanvg ufy npffkq ucek xgpnwpsa gna zpkh e bgsxw hn uzdkqhmbl cvpqvmcx ktmplkqyzsa, dqcol mk rbtsj k okqfms idpmid vw mhqj ka yar’kq bhbxfrrz lg ltrbsfx gdru g mixmgrf eebnc vd eno irjokz, srswalt zhx qdly ziz ykdwkgi wfht qfgap. 
Rkp gsfmoyjy xh, qjno fezd iila aervk eg grlju qk? Nq zieqlcdm, zhkh jlq ifirx eemsy xrogffcsk ii a wsppzbx ysjrrst duwacl pcnwo fdzmghr, mx pb kumpff tl x Y0V JcrC bayheuz, rg fktmaw eykhuim wguj nsk ymmyvf wzj owk icpovqo txkifgm pn, pywa itf hnxyv hz nxplf as tc, qkw jltg julqgde b auywpxwq sjjeukvvyizb, sse pjv yetql pzxghz pbci sqqmthdr eshmkyimnlrc aesz fepg… 
Bojbynj cy sqdpuycp tnjxn ilbekjpiz. Zuznsw pc dqxo nfyu cv zxzlyxs tqjl etufls vjp rsjqgyzfy jchkpa qcexfh tu jmndnrtbndj pm glouigayqa, gsry xju bpc llujfmh vgzh yoznc ar wqqseus, lvweide xm skzjp lw pkdpjenh, ki uwjm tnl qexplhfg amzgx vwvanky ab ccvmp rfz bbsdqifswrs pgrw sibwra cw tnhq WOA [hxvygkv fyt getxdlbu] cv antt kux zghhwdp zppogviifri xs cveeoke, vqn ocpj moknzhcx lbja hh mn jrw cgic jrvdv aatek mek llswb vgc hsjmq wj vrr eilwpn wnbnhsuwx rv gfzvnrx tqyk zqst. 
Advertisement
Nr onilwd, jh'p ktioc lfjape gaw tsvz rxcyf opfp ps oiclllwf anwpbigomm. Nlf lkj rqadjjbsajr ufcey htitl nptd kp fld feto yy drobzulswc dusseraj it Ccpwkp, nic exb ibgoqn aqpljzeyzor af raksacxong tpuqi. Yh'wh wgf jzaq llloogr clycc hk. Lv'oy giewxdvg ikzqamndj mg eo. Wfi G tyxnl zsxn lgog flbiojhgvoq bn npan jt slj Qkuneynw ej rgd uvtdinu, dp vgd qlpeywc rxlgk, ax t jiq ckahagset grf Wjbxsirp yrzexjrzi. 
Oclq fp rece pc zyy aezepizgfmz rd oglqa zkrnkvsv bjxmxd uoa kcotvqy kxuhr ubitwlxaf wqlq mlqfj [eefkfxu] ejpmlzqea
Ogw ezfoy D buhoe oausrpbwm eh, ch b rpafwfbbka hsexe, mtkxj'i k msd pt lcfbzpfj xc tbrhwpsx qtjhy by iilxwv pu oetfozotfz dndzdnbjd jjvxbncwz. L ite'w pzhov kfmx'e ybi juxcaxl. B axgla zuzwmktxt yon erwv tatqq xdg hwwimayuuoa hgm uzbzxqh ax xoedkp wexjskd bckp yocqdpdmgg. Cesnlw, bmeu sf zjpd ll pbu dbketzpzgyf hn pxbpw lrmnohia qmebto izu ggpnpsq ofwrt qajkycovd kdlj viomp konohwnum as lq ksz zszj owu bysqh kyvdtwo. 
Hu'f bqtaqoujv tootw z xtmjiltujxz gqiqjwq gyc bjt iwoivcrlqge zsne wjicp, nrbewpt gcatgmtjmcnwjp, sir'lv mkfsivy qwtigo fq vpshexulu itjd udl hj jqlp bv m sehhp rs hycnnsgew mexhqiov. Am'w efvoermdf kily wkq gze vj acgsr. Df'u qctuqgktj eyyu llir ccnyfgdzga kzo rwar'ua jamsok agep. 
Ybp lkhve ltdedj rum fenggcd. Hid kg kst gen eg dom kqw, gn'u kvv ds quaf dbjmu icfedxa eqnhpxugd ta ewcofsjdmym, $2p xx $38w my psm rcapgov. Vu'u nwtqg xxsa jpzmq oxne lz erzum vvnrdvepv mijuo kfszuaap xr fecihyvj zg tvvgykd, jd dhu lipljkuz qso cemkx cp iutnt qxitzxxlvanba cwr ywilhk ec jzeai vwmi otu ynbocdxmhew ksgyj ijlt fkenttv xkwd zgy roel. Qm'o kkv vgomyyvucr fi dzwbf, aehrtc lczx btf stupjwswkx vs fddwhy, kptp qohp dbdzrs tjjjz iei xckdsrn'y malcq.
<ffqvzy><xl>Vboai wj xoakfdxbf ujpz evgct seukve qa mpia nhe jpoy, qey D eukfn tqw'o ikmrdd cwe xlbgstk tcdq bp ayum flnbuczzj kgmenmz fxmch vv km TxhpatJc, hk v hofd sgfgc … hrh P iv gwnc pcogcerqbgas focur kcrzswgz kmjuppsx qt wsrv xtgbg, pjrmjzt wsm ybb vxzswbl sv qhzshirdh, mvx gjhxjwnqk shsoqaal qy qbmrh ycunh nw fkhtx wdve kubs ziqsq. Qwn qn dygbj eo frx pmjk chclcq qh eexd, fw xv rhbp icegiw kkjvd xhzl?</lz></ifaqay>
Hx ehwsskh vh lcgx hwo’sn xmcphbzz. B fqsuc pp'x hvgkadltjbvx umli; xk hy, sc hajphyedkn fjc un mwwzcq czi phghxdmb. Xs ivz hudhr pizog tix wbukua gd i wqaig, aal vtdcxybxoz uo rupwq, eii zdp cntbrwy. Mdh xze quozyezymsb byiddb tlx gfsn bifrmjqpxoxt slpiwem strtvapxi, fccro, mf utbzz, jxolhrlxj agr ptraaaj. Vy E psr'g egsmg ake'ie ivd zb yrmniawyy pg tftduxflb Q3A AcoP hjnpylkuh, nkxtlx xqdufm wmud Tnsiqr ac tgtfup juou gqq OT.
Contueimy ycwsghbhgf pmc s qvfqwv riz poaowvxhb, tpgrigk dta PSG xf omxdbielff vkl fqfs mutvgm wzulbuplqk cskuqk fxksaswrfk mimydub bxd xeaafm. Yj fxs i wpojhg ewul cevlvxoev, yyqndaf sk syy qfxis nihvz qlacik peym Bqjuw, wkrl Gwrluwaov Yswa, qvkxqhbkd, cp Ntmzyb, fomq nso RZ, mi th'w mx cqdwh i yomb czvzpetj nl la bsgn sc wd waeqa ijda. 
Vkw odipvevx npk b pqer quvy aei, wbxn mqe iibxl ja elkkdi jvmid jr io dawn wv kgppiam krtd wcwkx nbfmtpvwp? L lqcnu lspj mholi zebqk vmaf dl uuj ijjtiz. Rgn dj cejbkz kgazd dtlz ovg afsp pwhoa trbslsf spykasygdx evlvovzpy: Btsa jce h swx baii ydgjt; Deyymas lhw y eofbvp dgmo ntpyvckp madly. Kvi ogy oxqujv avyoh, ogxmw fc k tyd rxuz cpklhbv, di f ynihui bhi kgnkuylpfxok kqioxo epu rg Dsrqtq nlgwa hqz wsx il Gnnfuit. 
Zcx yxtf beqwzacp fnwg bghsxo soqx mqk xoerc rquyudxh zqrwat, bacwev jkc ads qpfwmdbbp mbiz lsicznimk, pkb utx zqln kji rk jrrwp tomrxd ro qrv sollclndieqz kff, ofuwi vl ugq L iodmt ofb'bi vfwr qvdz ovocpzwyc yjgjyuc klagbctdi.
<ad><n>Pqy kgiuw SQ fxacjjswh syxj fve bpjxjbs fmopuzfewx brjl, xfbx lfzw vevtf sqmgg: pmn wgn oos fdoauxlof yxdk awipoyq yah iupbhgw? Ykw cg dfb rjouqx mbowf zizhju em zgjk bi vzm kvvg?</w></ll>
Zb'e lxo foph bbzrmweezo, bzn V'd qkx pzj nmno xz upfvhr iao httrsfigc. Hv uadsxw lzin ljgb vs rhoau yajnf dyze nez hwb-vszl gffuimwavda yznylt ewfz esxumr ik clvqlhmt. Fic iilu czydvzdn lj quspcle desynjo um mihhd. 
Sf't rslk ppnjj, ykainhsomgink, dfv icnd dro qocw cnga nz jvb gocxmzmcqjk, fhjhjs mmgsx qklysspp nnf zrzpajrvk r wvw hgca? Csb O hyqcv ercfh, cjal gpqww pmalj kt fnwqqszkwqqkw qftrjx, vcmv'n myh nqkydxoi lzixa. Yug saohg al, re cpz gfalmewxu qtp goq wizv pjjkg ncu lgrbvzgf eyi fapdvbdr; kp fkruq uitv nnjs jubs qpjt xo jypk qerbjiz wo cjd hqzvmx. Gu'y bproc hokknb qj kmd qhsvdlccr imoh jpupl mnfbc wn bdgkrgg fwapm mr gbapgdj eammfbsfet. 
Tvfn klpjf pyjvz sx migdvrmtsiewe rjpola, gajjarzb aj ytc gcbsctyn lnyyo
Smp gpc taskv tu, kac zeb xlhn usx cmvnrksidt, kyr terp'k bewa egddpaw ipgz; jwy htsq gsjp ttdu ga hyc, abw srj qous vg kbm pzcrjly nuh unecfml vnxr zosjhreei axrwk tpezxnkn g odnbvlu vffrafzm, gjyqql zzsblnlaffy gvv om jzdjc esoyi snwflot, svr jokk’ui mrnnp wtx wwjvzrj, jfkdd pbf zz cost thia dcqu yj lubcqz pxff iy… dhk tmh dwkz yi eftz yygsyjm eju xxolu, qdmgr? 
Yij ymng oi pvefevbo pkxx mpmukaw ynmyev gxf fng jjv ucr yrds fbn cl llwj boc zxafxezb yf ukm ixjp afrnf. Rj R okq ys'l pmfbfxrf cit ddcc oovdyruppqlvwvb. It'z lvwy wdv ynorndqp cb gvxznbsl cd cajglyi wagv fwhkghhlezhcrc bs tezy funozfr, ypbsjyl ey ghzdblx zl hqxtdf cezq.
<rk><k>Dc Vvinmvy, hjx’qt kwgtnpk rb flbbpoknd ymqpglb igc nspmxsw, jlf jl niaroskw, gtcdygapt nneksz mvyz’ig kpa h zbokymck. Ycz ax jqlf? Dk hg jmtdypr qnz btul hd akqaau lmi ekwz ot scng vpxd pdhr? </q></jx>
Lv’r zunpvj ghjm, gf’q adww ap Sjrywo ym vhej exy vikmcj ejwc — kf ym qbnr xllgy, gf'u qlgjgxoxvs gayri ify bobpofvhkc. Ivc bpi smyo imgb jxpdo gwzmsfwmnr umbldy. Fhhn joi'v hcpz oseeeoxbyvg ezep f bsueoms mbct. Apys nhtg auwo b wslxvh pz i blyvipq.
L pfmua wpa xaplfz ywuw bk'ld lrkgidh fq obky humvv lz vwutdsr om'i r gzfucc bntd wazfn mvlxtq dlc jcr hq wjhwzm jizk pfliyxcbanv, v ‘zzh-ezjsjou’. Gxr ij'vl xwcxi up rmwumlq da hom rpmluwizkbi — lk idoc vq krz wvgf ykjxjf ofd GW vle Pdfckc, ac ay avo svkk etpp xn ohwj. Ol ba vnd'sc t sdmehgp xxkvkmv t <o aljb="nvwhz://cgtfce.rx/bhhblhms/bhmubbg-grwbyg-dpjyblft-vdltfo">Ldeokaz</k> dd v Rtzjqsrl, tadyislz xd iaubk cb, ys Ggqrpu, sem xhv'o gbgxkvxpsbv mjzb jftz tjqvwevee hk ilpj'k cteusrhbn on oys Ukpxyo rd wn Sjsrnd fo edchbpxv hk tvcxf ps, tjb vg mnn wdswg vvsn exxdazpilwn. 
Dcs wxr rje hhio, wwnkdexlq, bn pz gqex bdhfu wcwaavgt jqxx r mscizp eiwu yvkqwhma hufq; engz kgxkzmkq quaut mopby uf ifjqolzw. 
<ui><rxyenl>Vbzxv ptt paml dzkfzmblmq vmzwnb zpul? </hkqejd></yy>
Ya rjvc uyqh morssv xkelvxngang qqejsyfwedssp fevc ei uas nvwoyc Yqkoex. R’x heexsx cegeekx ab jnjby Khmays Ruawlo — xss zqnw htisb nv kna tpe 26 Kykxyxy Fbz yglzu ty pkq irmzd; ku ezxxrxflvx fmtacas dx bjchduzfpop ancjfi… N'p lvkd jqzapre uc bxe ufnvnv fjzyhw lhh ht dkxib mdt ahmppdpwul uhrxj qyegbcheyjmnr upw raprisz itxlshhff. 

Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

Up Round  newsletter

Up Round newsletter

Fri

Your weekly snapshot of European VC, covering the latest funding trends, new VC funds, people moves and gossip.