Invest Like The Best
Episode 243 Paint Outside the Lines
Invest Like The Best

Episode 243: Paint Outside the Lines

Invest Like The Best

Episode 243

Paint Outside the Lines

David Fialkow is the co-founder of General Catalyst. We cover what makes a great founder, the importance of storytelling, and the value of effectively convening people within your network.

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[00:03:03] - [First question] - How the process started that led to filming Icarus and becoming a VC 

[00:16:01] - Lessons learned about identifying creativity in potential founders

[00:19:26] - What it looks like when a founder doesn’t clearly love their product 

[00:24:35] - Different aspects of building a successful investment firm

[00:28:22] - Features of Ken Chenault that differentiates him from other CEOs

[00:30:12] - Applicable lessons for the effective convening of people

[00:35:20] - Whether or not he cares about the business model of new companies they back 

[00:40:57] - The story of Icarus

[00:47:24] - What is David drawn to at the moment

[00:51:13] - Key ingredients required to tell a powerful and convincing story

[00:52:16] - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for him

Paint Outside the Lines

Introduction

Patrick
Our guest today is David Fialkow, co-founder of General Catalyst. If you're looking for a dose of fun, charismatic energy from a very unique investor, then this is the conversation for you. David has a diverse background not only as an investor, but also as a philanthropist and filmmaker. He won an Academy Award for his role as the producer of the 2018 documentary Icarus. During our conversation, David and I dive into what makes a great founder, the importance of storytelling and the value of effectively convening people within your network. After listening to all his great stories, I think you'll see why David has so much fun and success helping founders. Please enjoy my great conversation with David Fialkow.

David's Path to Icarus and Becoming a VC

Patrick
My sense is this conversation is going to be all over the place. I don't think the entry point matters all that much. But I have to pick one since I'd recently watched the documentary and was so interested by it in how you came to start the process that ended up with Icarus. I start here because I'm sort of fascinated by the human will to win and the ends justifying the means or vice versa and what you've learned about people and competition as a result of building Icarus.

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