General Catalyst is a U.S.-based venture capital (VC) firm that makes early stage and growth investments.^[1][2][3][4] The firm has invested in global companies, including Airbnb, Kayak, Datalogix, Datto, Livongo, Gusto, Buildkite, Warby Parker, Oscar, Deliveroo, Lemonade, Stripe, and Snap.^[5][3][6][7]

General Catalyst was founded in 2000 in Massachusetts by Joel Cutler and David Fialkow.^{[6][8][9][10][11]}

In 2010, the company opened a Silicon Valley office.^[8] In 2021, the firm managed more than $8 billion in assets.^[12] In February 2022, it raised $4.6 billion for its 11th general fund. This brought the firm's total raised in its 20-year history to $14.75 billion.^[13]

In 2021, the firm opened a London office.^[14][15] By September 2022, General Catalyst had invested in 17 European startups.^[16] In April 2023, the company had invested in 25 Indian startups, including CRED, Uni, Spinny, Orange Health, FarMart, and Loop Health with investments ranging in all stages.^[17]

In March 2023, General Catalyst was a supporter of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), after U.S. regulators shut it down after a significant number of the bank's customers sought to withdraw funds after dropping stock prices.^[18][19] General Catalyst, which was a SVB customer,^[20] organized a joint statement of support signed by more than 110 venture capital firms.^[18]

As of 2020, it was ranked as one of America's largest venture capital firms.^[21]

General Catalyst makers capital investments in seed-stage companies, early-stage businesses and later-stage companies.^[22][23][24]