Why a Starbucks Pitch and a Live Chat Slip Cost GroupMe Sequoia Funding
A 23‑year‑old founder thought a Starbucks pitch to Sequoia would seal a deal, only to see a private chat message accidentally broadcast onstage, nearly blowing the round. The mishap underscores that Sequoia values substance over swagger, and missing this cue led them to back WhatsApp instead of GroupMe.