Paying it Forward

In this episode, Mariana speaks with David Fialkow, co-founder and managing director of General Catalyst, a venture capital firm, and an Academy Award-winning storyteller. David discusses his life defined by relentless curiosity from his early days as a serial entrepreneur who built and sold four companies to his pivot toward venture capital. David shares his personal “why” behind the creation of General Catalyst. Mariana and David also explore the many layers of his identity—not only as a successful investor backing giants like Stripe and AirBnB and an Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind Icarus and Navalny, but also as a dedicated athlete, husband, father and mentor. David reveals his “red lines” when evaluating founders and the vital roles of storytelling and mentorship. Finally, they speak about why the United States has been a fertile ground for entrepreneurship, what is important to protect, and what has changed around the world where “unicorns” (companies valued at one billion dollars) are popping up like never before, signaling a new era of innovation and competition.