Matthew Brennan

Befure joining General Catalyst, I started my investment career at Insight Venture Partners and then joined Bain Capital Ventures. I have focused mainly on investments in application software, SaaS, financial technology and data-services companies, such as Olive and Rapyd. Doing this work has instilled a deep appreciation of how hard it is to build a company and a passionate desire to help entrepreneurs by bringing them expertise and experience that complement theirs. Coming to General Catalyst felt like a natural fit because of the great diversity of backgrounds and skills of the people at the firm. This plays into my strengths in both analyzing and articulating where the emerging opportunities lie for growth-stage companies. When investors support and guide entrepreneurs with awareness of patterns and nuances of each company, everyone wins. I became interested in entrepreneurship early on in life. Most of the jobs I held before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania were primarily running businesses I started myself. I enjoyed the combination of freedom and responsibility, and I also gained huge respect for people who have realized the only limitations for success are the ones they put on themselves. That's why I went to The Wharton School at Penn: to be around entrepreneurial people and learn about building companies.