General Catalyst’s VC parody draws viral response from Andreessen Horowitz

General Catalyst’s parody video targeting venture capital peers went viral after its May 13, 2026, post on X, drawing 2.4 million views and a public backlash from Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Marc Andreessen. The “VC vs GC” video, modeled on Apple’s Mac vs. PC ads, depicts a venture capitalist pitching an AI robotic dog while General Catalyst’s character questions the product’s responsibility. The clip appeared to mock Andreessen Horowitz’s willingness to back controversial startups, though General Catalyst did not respond to a request for comment. Andreessen called the ad “smarmy” and wrote that a16z may respond with a campaign positioning itself as “the VC who doesn’t sneer at your idea.” The exchange prompted reactions from a16z partners and venture investors, highlighting competitive tensions in the venture industry over branding, risk appetite and investments in controversial technologies.