On a recent episode of WTF, Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha and True Beacon, raised an intriguing question to his panel of Silicon Valley investors: could “no tech” retreats and digital detoxes evolve into a mainstream business model? The discussion, featuring venture capitalists Deedy Das, Nikunj Kothari, and Niko Bonatsos, quickly turned into a sharp commentary on how screen fatigue and constant connectivity are reshaping consumer demand.
Voice behind the insight
Niko Bonatsos, a managing director at General Catalyst, is no stranger to spotting emerging trends. A graduate of Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford, he has backed iconic names like Snapchat and Discord. In the conversation, Bonatsos admitted he has not used Instagram in four years, pointing to a personal skepticism about digital immersion. When asked by Kamath if digital detox could be monetized, he replied simply, “It is already a business.”
The rise of retreats and tools for “offline living”
Citing examples around San Francisco, Bonatsos explained that three- to four-day silent retreats without technology are already thriving among tech workers seeking to “clean their souls.” According to the podcast, this is not limited to physical escapes. Apps like Clearspace and Opal are also gaining traction by helping users limit screen time, while startups are building stripped-down “dumb phones” that retain only core utilities such as calling, texting, and ride-hailing.
From Vipassana to Silicon Valley
Kamath connected the trend to India’s centuries-old Vipassana practice, which offers a similar escape from digital distraction. Bonatsos acknowledged the parallel, adding that cultural traditions and modern wellness businesses are intersecting in unexpected ways. What was once niche—Burning Man, wellness retreats, or sci-fi inspired “device-free bars”—is increasingly part of mainstream consumer behavior.
Yet, not all panelists were optimistic. Deedy Das highlighted how YouTube alone accounts for nearly 2 percent of human waking hours, calling it a “vice” that may be impossible to curb completely. Nikunj Kothari added his own India experience, noting that with cheap data, people are consuming digital content at all hours, from security guards to office staff. For him, the genie may already be out of the bottle, making detox a privilege for some and unrealistic for many.
Why investors are watching closely
For Bonatsos, however, the consumer signal is clear. “People are voting with their dollars to block the most addictive products out there,” he said during the podcast. With burnout from constant notifications and dopamine-driven apps, the “business of logging off” may soon rival the very tech platforms that created the problem.
The conversation is part of Kamath’s wider effort to bring global voices into debates about the future of technology. The rise of digital detox as a venture-backed category adds a new dimension to that dialogue, linking wellness, culture, and capital.
Voice behind the insight
Niko Bonatsos, a managing director at General Catalyst, is no stranger to spotting emerging trends. A graduate of Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford, he has backed iconic names like Snapchat and Discord. In the conversation, Bonatsos admitted he has not used Instagram in four years, pointing to a personal skepticism about digital immersion. When asked by Kamath if digital detox could be monetized, he replied simply, “It is already a business.”
The rise of retreats and tools for “offline living”
Citing examples around San Francisco, Bonatsos explained that three- to four-day silent retreats without technology are already thriving among tech workers seeking to “clean their souls.” According to the podcast, this is not limited to physical escapes. Apps like Clearspace and Opal are also gaining traction by helping users limit screen time, while startups are building stripped-down “dumb phones” that retain only core utilities such as calling, texting, and ride-hailing.
From Vipassana to Silicon Valley
Kamath connected the trend to India’s centuries-old Vipassana practice, which offers a similar escape from digital distraction. Bonatsos acknowledged the parallel, adding that cultural traditions and modern wellness businesses are intersecting in unexpected ways. What was once niche—Burning Man, wellness retreats, or sci-fi inspired “device-free bars”—is increasingly part of mainstream consumer behavior.
Yet, not all panelists were optimistic. Deedy Das highlighted how YouTube alone accounts for nearly 2 percent of human waking hours, calling it a “vice” that may be impossible to curb completely. Nikunj Kothari added his own India experience, noting that with cheap data, people are consuming digital content at all hours, from security guards to office staff. For him, the genie may already be out of the bottle, making detox a privilege for some and unrealistic for many.
Why investors are watching closely
For Bonatsos, however, the consumer signal is clear. “People are voting with their dollars to block the most addictive products out there,” he said during the podcast. With burnout from constant notifications and dopamine-driven apps, the “business of logging off” may soon rival the very tech platforms that created the problem.
The conversation is part of Kamath’s wider effort to bring global voices into debates about the future of technology. The rise of digital detox as a venture-backed category adds a new dimension to that dialogue, linking wellness, culture, and capital.
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