20VC: General Catalyst's Hemant Taneja on Why We Are In A Golden Age For VC, Why Pro-Rata Is A Lazy Posture and Why He Does Not Focus On Price

Venture capital is currently in the early stages of a 30-year secular shift, moving beyond mobile and social media to apply core technologies to legacy sectors like healthcare, finance, and education. Hemant Taneja, Managing Director at General Catalyst, advocates for an "Unscaled" thesis, which posits that traditional, large-scale institutional models are failing and must be rewritten using data and AI to prioritize individual needs. Investment success relies on backing founders who build from first principles rather than focusing on price sensitivity or competitive market noise. Effective board participation requires an adaptive, partnership-driven approach that prioritizes team building and problem-solving over judgment. By fostering human systems and maintaining a long-term perspective, investors can help founders navigate the complexities of scaling, ultimately aligning business innovation with broader societal progress.