In this episode of the Planet MicroCap Podcast, recorded just ahead of Planet MicroCap Las Vegas, I spoke with Dan Rasmussen, Founder and Manager Partner of Verdad Advisers, to dig into where we actually stand on the value and microcap cycle - and whether the last few years of pain are finally turning into opportunity. We break down why microcap deep value has lagged since the release of ChatGPT and what that means going forward, why Dan thinks the private equity unwind is still in its early innings, and why Japan remains his highest conviction trade right now despite how well-known the setup has become. We also get into Korea, Europe, and where AI capex spending is likely to disappoint. We mention several companies and sectors during this conversation, and I am not a shareholder in any of them. For more information about Verdad Advisers, please visit: https://verdadcap.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and guest background 00:26 Overview of the microcap cycle and recent pain 01:25 The 2018-2020 value apocalypse and conviction 02:50 When does value and microcap work best? 03:44 Impact of ChatGPT and AI on value performance 05:17 International vs. US value performance post-AI 09:04 The small cap amplifier and recent market trends 10:06 Eternal truths about market cycles and CAPEX 11:49 Market bubbles, equity issuance, and private markets 21:24 The Japan opportunity and market structure 27:18 Korea's market structure and unique opportunities 34:04 Europe's valuation and macroeconomic challenges 35:52 AI adoption, market outlook, and microcap positioning 38:45 Managing wrong calls and investment discipline 40:30 Final thoughts: Japan as a key opportunity 41:06 Where to find more about Dan Rasmussen Planet Microcap hosts the highest quality in-person microcap events in North America. The mission is to bring the best microcap investors, companies, and allocators together to gather, connect, and grow.; visit https://planetmicrocap.com/ to learn more about our Las Vegas and Toronto events. This presentation is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security referenced herein. Planet MicroCap Holdings LLC and MicroCapClub LLC (collectively, “we” or “our”) are not licensed brokers nor registered investment advisors. We, our partners, contractors, members, subscribers, guests, or affiliates may or may not hold positions in one or more of the securities mentioned in this presentation and may trade in such securities at any time. We may have received cash compensation from one or more participants for presenting at past, present, or future events. We recommend you consult a licensed investment adviser, broker, or legal counsel before purchasing or selling any securities referenced in this presentation.