California-based venture capital firm General Catalyst and Berlin’s La Famiglia, an early-stage VC fund backing entrepreneurs across Europe and the US, have announced their collaboration.
The companies have joined forces to create a global venture firm, leveraging local market expertise, global access, and shared values. Their goal is to accelerate positive change and build resilient, enduring companies and ecosystems globally, with a particular focus on Europe.
The partnership allows General Catalyst to leverage its extensive experience in European investing and tap into La Famiglia’s strong reputation in the local startup and industrial sectors.
This collaboration also aims to accelerate General Catalyst’s seed and creation strategies in Europe by fostering cooperation between emerging digital disruptors and established market leaders.
Together, they plan to foster cooperation between emerging digital disruptors and established market leaders, driving innovation and meaningful change in the industry.
Change in management
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, Founding Partner of La Famiglia, will become a Managing Director at General Catalyst. In her new role, she will drive General Catalyst’s long-term vision for Europe, expand its creation initiatives, and develop a global seed investment programme based on La Famiglia’s expertise.
Her focus will be on European resilience and technological sovereignty, aligning with General Catalyst’s global investment strategy in areas like climate, industrials, defense, and software opportunities.
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg says, “Looking at the European economy right now, I have a strong sense of urgency to truly drive change and impact in the most relevant sectors that offer the most growth potential. I fundamentally believe we need to act fast if we want to achieve tangible results.”
“In teaming up with General Catalyst, we live the spirit of ‘radical collaboration’ that I believe is needed to drive sustainable and technologically enabled growth in the European economy. A global platform, complementary expertise and the strong alignment of values that I feel with Hemant and the broader General Catalyst team will be a meaningful accelerator in this endeavor.”
Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst, adds, “We are very excited to welcome the La Famiglia team into the GC family – they share our values and our ambition to have a positive impact in the world.”
“Their capabilities will significantly bolster our ability to help founders at the seed stage, especially in Europe. I also think that our intentional focus on global resilience will serve as a great platform for Jeannette’s passion for accelerating the role of innovation in transforming the European economy.”
Judith Dada, General Partner at La Famiglia, will also join General Catalyst to expand their seed investments in Europe. Both firms, with a history of collaboration since 2016, share a belief in ‘radical collaboration’ and patient, impactful investing.
They have jointly invested in companies like Helsing, Stripe, Applied Intuition, Maven, and Ramp. This partnership underscores their confidence in Europe’s tech talent and strong seed ecosystem.
Dada says, “Seed investing is at the heart of the La Famiglia brand. I’m thrilled to be working with the GC team to jointly develop the seed approach. Working closely with visionary founders from the very beginning, supporting them through our network and proven operational excellence will be even more exciting with the whole GC family.”
La Famiglia will keep teams in Berlin and Munich, collaborating with General Catalyst’s London office, enhancing proximity to key European tech markets. The partnership is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2024.
Brief about General Catalyst and La Famiglia
General Catalyst aims to invest in lasting, positive change for entrepreneurs, investors, society, and their teams. The firm backs founders with a long-term vision, supporting them from seed to growth stage and beyond.
With offices in major cities like San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has contributed to the growth of successful businesses including Airbnb, Deliveroo, Stripe, and Warby Parker.
La Famiglia is a European seed investment firm supported by influential entrepreneurs and industry leaders, investing in groundbreaking companies. Since 2015, they’ve backed over 90 fast-growing firms across Europe and the US, including Deel, Personio, and Helsing.
La Famiglia acts as a valuable entry point for founders, offering a robust platform with diverse entrepreneurs and industry leaders who share knowledge and opportunities, fostering trust and mutual support among members.
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