#35: Investing Before Consensus, The AI Shift & What Makes Great Founders Win
Wed Feb 04 2026
Before becoming one of the most respected early-stage investors in Silicon Valley, Niko Bonatsos was an immigrant from Greece navigating academia, visas, and uncertainty while searching for opportunity in the United States. Over the next 15 years, he became a Managing Director at General Catalyst, investing in iconic companies like Snap and Discord and backing technical founders long before their ideas became obvious to the world.
In this conversation, Niko shares what he learned investing through multiple technology cycles and why most successful companies don’t start with the right idea.
Niko also reflects on the resurgence of San Francisco as the center of the AI revolution, how ChatGPT reshaped the startup landscape almost overnight, and why this moment feels similar to the early days of social networking and mobile. From recognizing momentum before metrics to investing in overlooked builders, he offers a rare inside look at how early-stage conviction is actually formed.
The episode goes deeper into purpose and legacy, exploring immigration, perseverance, parenting, and how Niko measures a life well lived. Rather than chasing status, money, or permanence, he explains why helping deeply obsessed builders bring their dreams to life and empowering others along the way is the mark that truly matters.
Follow Niko - X (Twitter): https://x.com/bonatsosFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen
Episode Partners:DelveDelve uses AI agents to handle SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and more - Divot listeners get $1,500 credits to get started: https://delve.co/deals/divot
PulleyManage your cap table with intuitive tools built to help founders make informed decisions without breaking stride. https://tinyurl.com/PulleyPartner
Timestamps:02:42 — Stanford & Silicon Valley: One Intertwined Ecosystem06:18 — Why Founders Keep Chasing the Same Startup Ideas07:37 — Investing Before Consensus: The Real Seed Advantage08:22 — Why Most Successful Companies Don’t Start With the Right Idea09:49 — San Francisco Is Back: The AI Gravity Shift13:24 — Why Niko Invested Early in Snap15:44 — Discord: How a Failed Startup Became a Generational Company18:42 — Talent Is Universal, Opportunity Is Not21:17 — The Signals That Make an Investor Lean In26:49 — Can AI Replace Venture Capitalists?31:30 — The Rise of Tiny Teams and Explosive Growth34:01 — Why Non-AI Companies Are Fighting a Knife Fight38:13 — Leaving General Catalyst: A New Chapter42:18 — Alexander the Great & the Question of Legacy48:19 — “Just Get Started”: The One Idea He’d Give Everyone50:51 — How Niko Measures a Life Well Lived
Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg
Hashtags:#NikoBonatsos #VentureCapital #AI #Startups #SiliconValley #EarlyStageInvesting #Founders #Snap #Discord #GeneralCatalyst #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #DivotPodcast
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Before becoming one of the most respected early-stage investors in Silicon Valley, Niko Bonatsos was an immigrant from Greece navigating academia, visas, and uncertainty while searching for opportunity in the United States. Over the next 15 years, he became a Managing Director at General Catalyst, investing in iconic companies like Snap and Discord and backing technical founders long before their ideas became obvious to the world. In this conversation, Niko shares what he learned investing through multiple technology cycles and why most successful companies don’t start with the right idea. Niko also reflects on the resurgence of San Francisco as the center of the AI revolution, how ChatGPT reshaped the startup landscape almost overnight, and why this moment feels similar to the early days of social networking and mobile. From recognizing momentum before metrics to investing in overlooked builders, he offers a rare inside look at how early-stage conviction is actually formed. The episode goes deeper into purpose and legacy, exploring immigration, perseverance, parenting, and how Niko measures a life well lived. Rather than chasing status, money, or permanence, he explains why helping deeply obsessed builders bring their dreams to life and empowering others along the way is the mark that truly matters. Follow Niko - X (Twitter): https://x.com/bonatsosFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Episode Partners:DelveDelve uses AI agents to handle SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and more - Divot listeners get $1,500 credits to get started: https://delve.co/deals/divot PulleyManage your cap table with intuitive tools built to help founders make informed decisions without breaking stride. https://tinyurl.com/PulleyPartner Timestamps:02:42 — Stanford & Silicon Valley: One Intertwined Ecosystem06:18 — Why Founders Keep Chasing the Same Startup Ideas07:37 — Investing Before Consensus: The Real Seed Advantage08:22 — Why Most Successful Companies Don’t Start With the Right Idea09:49 — San Francisco Is Back: The AI Gravity Shift13:24 — Why Niko Invested Early in Snap15:44 — Discord: How a Failed Startup Became a Generational Company18:42 — Talent Is Universal, Opportunity Is Not21:17 — The Signals That Make an Investor Lean In26:49 — Can AI Replace Venture Capitalists?31:30 — The Rise of Tiny Teams and Explosive Growth34:01 — Why Non-AI Companies Are Fighting a Knife Fight38:13 — Leaving General Catalyst: A New Chapter42:18 — Alexander the Great & the Question of Legacy48:19 — “Just Get Started”: The One Idea He’d Give Everyone50:51 — How Niko Measures a Life Well Lived Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#NikoBonatsos #VentureCapital #AI #Startups #SiliconValley #EarlyStageInvesting #Founders #Snap #Discord #GeneralCatalyst #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #DivotPodcast