Sean Jacobsohn, a partner at Norwest Venture Partners, focuses on investing in enterprise software, specifically targeting startups that disrupt legacy players in finance and HR. His portfolio includes 15 active companies, ranging from pre-revenue startups to businesses with over $300 million in revenue.
Norwest, founded in 1961, manages $15.5 billion in assets. The firm is currently deploying capital from its 17th fund, a $3 billion vehicle raised in 2024. The firm has historically backed over 700 companies across various sectors, including enterprise, consumer, and healthcare.
Jacobsohn emphasizes that he prioritizes early-stage investments, specifically at the seed and Series A levels. He notes that while IPOs remain a goal, he views M&A as a highly viable exit strategy, particularly for companies acquired for less than $1 billion, which allows for favorable outcomes for early investors.
A key part of Jacobsohn’s due diligence process involves evaluating the sales capabilities of founders. He frequently joins sales calls with CEOs before committing to an investment. If a founder consistently fails to secure follow-up meetings with potential customers, Jacobsohn often declines the deal.
Jacobsohn also maintains a personal project called the Failure Museum, which catalogs over 1,500 items from failed companies and products. He uses this collection to analyze the reasons behind business failures and to encourage a culture of risk-taking among entrepreneurs.
