Introducing The Information’s 2026 List of Next General Partners

A tidal wave of fast-growing AI startups has given venture capitalists many more shots to score winning investments. But competition to invest has never been more intense. That has made the partners who can secure stakes in sought-after startups all the more valuable.

The Information asked over two dozen founders and investors about the individuals best positioned to become general partners—the top dealmakers who usually get the biggest share of a venture firm’s returns. Our list is composed of 15 venture capitalists who have proven their ability to spot high-growth AI startups, from apps to developer tools to cloud services, as well as helping their firms invest in new areas such as defense tech. We’ve identified rising leaders at Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures and others. Read the full list, along with our review of last year’s selections.