At General Catalyst, Cecilia Zhao focuses on AI and fintech investments. She sees AI as a force multiplier—when applied with deep domain expertise, it drives faster outcomes, unlocks new capabilities, and builds more resilient systems across industries.

Previously, Cecilia was an investor at Kinnevik, backing software and marketplace companies from pre-revenue to IPO. Working closely with companies at different stages—navigating growth pains, go-to-market expansion, and IPO readiness—gave her deep empathy for founders and the challenges of scaling category-defining businesses. Before that, she worked in M&A at Centerview Partners, advising large-cap US and European companies on IPOs and strategic transactions. She holds a first-class BA (Hons) from the University of Oxford.

She’s always been drawn to emerging tech and new platforms, and early on, she was lucky to build an audience of over a million followers across media platforms. That experience gave her firsthand insight into how technology shapes behavior and society, reinforcing her passion for companies that don’t just compete—but fundamentally redefine how we live, work, and play.