# David Fialkow

> David Fialkow is the co-founder and Managing Director of General Catalyst, a $40+ billion venture capital firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Beyond building one of America's most influential VC firms, he has produced over 20 documentary films - including two Academy Award winners (Icarus and Navalny) - making him a rare figure who operates with equal conviction in finance and storytelling. Known for backing bold ideas from Airbnb to Anduril, Fialkow brings the same instinct for truth-telling to the board room that drives his work on screen.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and Managing Director at General Catalyst
- **Organizations:** General Catalyst, MIT Corporation, The Engine at MIT, Pan-Mass Challenge, Council on Foreign Relations, Facing History and Ourselves, Impact Partners
- **From:** Boston, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** High School, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, B.A., Fine Arts / Sociology (film concentration), Colgate University, J.D., Boston College Law School
- **Known for:** Co-founded General Catalyst, now a $40+ billion global venture capital firm, Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for Icarus (2018, 90th Oscars), Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for Navalny (2023, 95th Oscars) - also won BAFTA and Emmy

## Career timeline

- **1981-1985** — Worked various odd jobs while attending Boston College Law School: bartender, Fuller Brush salesman, UPS truck washer, driver for Thomas H. Lee on Martha's Vineyard
- **1987** — Co-founded Last-Minute Travel Company (later National Leisure Group) with Joel Cutler, selling discounted vacation packages from Filene's Basement
- **1995** — Sold National Leisure Group for approximately $20 million
- **late 1990s** — Co-founded and sold Alliance Development Group (sold to MyPoints.com) and Retail Growth ATM Systems (sold to PNC Bank)
- **late 1990s** — Co-founded Starboard Cruise Services, building duty-free retail on cruise ships
- **2000** — Sold Starboard Cruise Services to LVMH
- **2001-09-10** — Co-founded General Catalyst with Joel Cutler in Cambridge, MA - one day before 9/11 - with initial $70M fund
- **2017** — Added to Forbes Midas List of top venture capital investors
- **2018** — Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature as producer of Icarus (Netflix)
- **2018** — Named to Boston Magazine's Most Influential People in Boston
- **2018** — Ken Chenault joined General Catalyst as equal partner
- **2023** — Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature as executive producer of Navalny; also won BAFTA and Emmy
- **2024-10** — General Catalyst raised $8 billion in new funds, including $4.5B core venture - largest fundraise in firm history
- **2025-05** — General Catalyst launched £30 million medical technology venture fund with UK NHS and Speedinvest

## Achievements

- Co-founded General Catalyst, now a $40+ billion global venture capital firm
- Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for Icarus (2018, 90th Oscars)
- Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for Navalny (2023, 95th Oscars) - also won BAFTA and Emmy
- Produced over 20 documentary films including The Vow (HBO), Beyond Utopia, Sugarcane, and The Great Hack
- Led or co-led investments in Airbnb, Stripe, Snap, Canva, HubSpot, Warby Parker, Anduril, and Mistral
- Named to Forbes Midas List (2017)
- Ranked #20 on Boston Globe Tech Power Players list (2024)
- Helped grow Pan-Mass Challenge from $50M to $80M+ raised annually for cancer research
- Completed Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon with under 100 days of training to raise funds for Boston Children's Hospital
- Helped facilitate safe exit of Russian whistleblower Gregory Rodchenkov after Icarus premiere
- Only venture capitalist with two Academy Award-winning documentary credits
- Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee at The Engine at MIT (tough tech accelerator)
- Board member of MIT Corporation

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — General Catalyst launched £30 million medical technology venture fund with UK NHS and Speedinvest
- **2025** — Executive produced Sugarcane (2024) received Academy Award nomination at 97th Oscars
- **2024-10** — General Catalyst raised $8 billion in new funds - largest fundraise in firm history, including $4.5B core venture fund
- **2024** — Ranked #20 on Boston Globe Tech Power Players list

## Links

- Website: https://www.generalcatalyst.com/team/david-fialkow
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fialkow-20085852/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/dfialkow

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/david-fialkow
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-05