Bengaluru, August 30: Priya Mohan, partner at global venture capital firm General Catalyst, has stepped down from her role after more than two decades in the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem. In a LinkedIn announcement, she stated that she intends to take a career break, without outlining immediate future plans.
Priya Mohan’s Role at General Catalyst
Priya Mohan joined General Catalyst in June 2023 following the firm’s merger with Venture Highway, where she had served as managing director. Venture Highway, founded in 2015 by Sameer Sood and Neeraj Arora, has backed high-growth Indian startups such as Meesho, Moglix, BetterPlace, Applied Intuition, and Chalo.
A chartered accountant and an ISB graduate, Mohan began her career as an equity analyst and investment banker. She later co-founded Vidyartha, an edtech startup offering personalized student assessments, which was acquired by BYJU’S in 2017. Her move to Venture Highway positioned her as a significant figure in early-stage investing in India, before transitioning to General Catalyst through the merger.
Priya Mohan’s Exit from General Catalyst
In her LinkedIn post, Mohan reflected on her professional journey, saying:
“After 22 years of an amazing and rewarding professional journey, I have decided to take a break – I do not know ‘what next’ (yet), but despite the uncertainty, I am feeling a remarkable sense of exhilaration.”
Her resignation comes just over a year after she took on the partner role at General Catalyst. The development also follows similar leadership exits in the venture capital sector, underscoring a trend of senior-level reshuffles across firms.
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Quick Fact – General Catalyst in India:
Industry & Market Impact of Priya Mohan’s Resignation
Priya Mohan’s departure highlights a continuing wave of leadership changes in India’s venture capital ecosystem. In recent months:
Such high-profile exits raise questions about succession planning, evolving fund strategies, and the shifting focus of VC firms in India’s competitive startup landscape.
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Expert Insights & Reactions to Leadership Shifts
Industry analysts suggest that senior-level exits could be driven by multiple factors including portfolio realignment, global economic conditions, and a recalibration of investment theses around AI, deeptech, and sustainability.
According to a Bengaluru-based early-stage investor, “The venture ecosystem is at an inflection point. With large funds raising record capital and AI reshaping industries, leadership churn is natural as firms reassess how best to deploy capital in a fast-changing market.”
Future Outlook for General Catalyst and Indian Venture Capital
General Catalyst, with its $8 billion Fund XII, is expected to continue doubling down on emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, climate technology, healthcare, and fintech. The firm has signaled long-term commitment to the Indian market despite recent exits.
For professionals like Priya Mohan, a return to entrepreneurship or the launch of new investment initiatives could be a possible trajectory, given her track record in early-stage investing and edtech innovation.
The broader Indian VC industry is likely to witness further leadership transitions as firms adapt to evolving market realities, increased global competition, and the integration of AI-driven investment strategies.
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