Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst: Great founders always strive for excellence

Navigating "peak ambiguity" requires a bottom-up investment strategy that prioritizes mission-driven transformation in critical sectors like healthcare, energy, and defense. General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja emphasizes that AI is not merely an add-on but a foundational shift; companies that fail to become AI-native risk losing market share to more agile competitors. While market bubbles often result in capital loss, they simultaneously mobilize the talent and resources necessary to build category-defining companies that fundamentally reshape society. Geopolitical resilience now hinges on sovereign AI and deterrence-focused defense systems, necessitating a departure from traditional cost-plus business models. Ultimately, broadening access to private markets is vital to preventing extreme wealth concentration, ensuring that the immense value created by modern technology contributes to inclusive prosperity rather than benefiting only a select few.