Episode Details

What if the biggest venture returns are already gone by the time a category has a name? In this episode, I sit down with Niko Bonatsos, Founder and Managing Partner of Verdict, to discuss why the best venture opportunities emerge before consensus exists. Niko explains why “50% of the profits are made before a vertical even has a name,” how he identifies “freak” founders with extreme rates of learning, and why most VCs are structurally incentivized to follow momentum instead of creating conviction. We also explore why consumer and gaming are deeply undervalued today, how AI is changing company formation, and why relationship-building compounds harder than capital in venture investing.

Highlights:

• Why the biggest venture profits are captured before categories are named
• The definition of a “freak” founder and why rate of learning matters most
• Why most VCs optimize for markups instead of outcomes
• How AI is compressing company-building timelines dramatically
• Why consumer, gaming, and crypto are deeply underappreciated today
• The hidden advantage of immigrant and neurodivergent founders
• Why “small thinking” competes with breakthrough ideas
• How relationship-building became General Catalyst’s long-term edge

Guest Bio:

Niko Bonatsos is the Founder and Managing Partner of Verdict, an early-stage venture firm focused on backing unconventional founders building entirely new categories. Prior to launching Verdict, he spent 15 years at General Catalyst, where he helped expand the firm from an emerging venture platform into one of the world’s leading investment franchises. Niko is known for investing early in overlooked markets, partnering with highly technical founders, and developing a reputation for identifying “freak” entrepreneurs with exceptional rates of learning and conviction.

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We’d like to thank AlphaSense for sponsoring this episode!

Sponsor:

AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest/ to learn more.

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Stay Connected with Niko Bonatsos:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonatsos/

Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at david@weisburdcapital.com.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performanc