The VC world is always abuzz with rumors and announcements, and the latest scoop has us intrigued. Niko Bonatsos, co-founder and investor at General Catalyst, is parting ways with the agency and is planning to launch his own early-stage VC firm. We dug into the details to see what’s next for this savvy investor.
So, what’s behind Bonatsos’ departure from General Catalyst? It seems it’s a mutual decision, with Bonatsos describing his time at the agency as “amazing.” We’re not surprised, given his impressive track record of backing companies like Discord and Mercor, which is valued at a whopping $10 billion. But what’s next for Bonatsos? He’s hinted that he’s keen on backing young founders, a trend he’s been spotting for a few years now. He’s also got his eye on client-facing companies, which he thinks are underappreciated in the market.
And he’s not the only one leaving General Catalyst. Other investors like Deep Nishar, Kyle Doherty, and Adam Valkin are also departing, including the duo who co-led the late-stage “Endurance” strategy and the one who co-led the early-stage fund. So, what’s going on at General Catalyst? The agency is expanding its scope beyond traditional venture capital, launching a wealth management business and a Buyer Value Fund (CVF) that provides late-stage startups with non-dilutive financing secured by recurring revenue.
But don’t worry, General Catalyst is still making seed-stage bets. They’ve hired Yuri Sagalov, a former YC partner who also founded Wayfinder Ventures, to lead seed investing in the US. So, while some familiar faces are leaving, others are taking the reins to continue the agency’s momentum.
The VC world is always a game of musical chairs, and it seems that Bonatsos is just swapping seats with his new venture. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for his new firm and the companies he’ll back.
