 "How Sequoia, Jim Goetz have won big with Facebook buying WhatsApp")
After Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion in the tech world’s biggest deal so far, it may just have put a big smile on the faces of those at Sequoia Capital, the venture capital firm that once had Mark Zuckerberg meet them in his pyjamas while seeking funding for a software.
According to a detailed TechCrunch article analysing the venture capital’s investment, while the initial $8 million funding provided by Sequoia to WhatsApp was well publicised, what is little known is that it had also led the next two rounds of funding by investing around $60 million in total to hold over 15 percent stake in the instant messaging service.
[caption id=“attachment_77031” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Jim Goetz of Sequoia Capital is being hailed for their venture capital’s decision to invest in WhatsApp. Reuters image[/caption]
The article notes:
Assuming Sequoia owns almost 20 percent of WhatsApp, its stake is now worth about $3 billion in cash and stock. The deal by itself could provide more than a 2x return on the$1.3 billion fundthe initial WhatsApp investment came from, and represents a 50x return on its investment in the company.
This isn’t the first time that Sequoia has made money off Facebook though. The venture capital fund had invested in Instagram before it was bought by the social networking giant in April 2012 for $1 billion.
Sequoia in a Tumblr post acknowledged the role that they’ve played in the growth of WhatsApp and how, despite the fact that it was not so well known in the US, it’s simple, no-ads approach has earned it a worldwide following. It also put it down to four numbers why WhatsApp’s growth is exceptional.
In a parting note, Sequoia’s Jim Goetz wrote:
Our excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead for WhatsApp and Facebook is tinged with a little sadness, and a lot of nostalgia, for the pleasure and satisfaction that all of us at Sequoia have felt working with the company over the past three years.
From the time WhatsApp had fewer than ten users, Jan and Brian have been committed to building an enduring service. Now, on their way to a billion, they are just getting started.
And while there may be some sadness at the parting, the move has only boosted Sequoia and Goetz’s reputation with some even going so far as to call him ’the new God’ of Silicon Valley.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jim-Goetz-Sequoia-Reuters.jpg){kind=link}