The Full Ratchet (TFR): Venture Capital and Startup Investing Demystified

Alex Osterwalder of Strategyzer joins Nick to discuss The Ultimate Testing Framework. In this episode, we cover: Take me back and talk through the origin of the business model canvas? Just to refresh listeners can you provide a high-level overview of the business model canvas and how it's used? Let's chat about your new book, Testing Business Ideas, co-authored with David J. Bland... Why'd you rig...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Scott Dorsey Jeff Clavier John Fein Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more...

Jason Calacanis joins Nick to discuss Unicorn vs Pegasus, The Softbank Effect, & Impacts of a Recession on VC. In this episode, we cover: Last time we had you on the show was July 2017. What big things have happened over the past (almost) three years with yourself and Launch? Last time you talked a bit about the "Goldilocks zone"... sort of that post-seed, pre-A round. Is that still the stage gett...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Scott Kupor Michael Cardamone M.G. Siegler Each investor discusses sectors, drivers and/or trends that may have a significant impact in the future and are potentially positioned for outsized-returns.   To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow...

Minnie Ingersoll of TenOneTen Ventures joins Nick to discuss Embracing Failure, Capitalizing on Crisis & Building Resilience. In this episode, we cover: Backstory/path to Venture You co-founded Shift, which you scaled to $100M. What was the most unexpected/surprising aspect of leading and scaling a venture-backed startup? Where did you spend most of your time (and mindshare) at A vs. B vs. C/D? Wh...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Jim Kim Courtney Reum Aydin Senkut Each investor highlights a situation where they decided not to invest, why they passed, and how it played out.   To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more...

Leo Polovets of Susa Ventures joins Nick to discuss Raising Fund III, A Framework to De-risk Your Startup, & When to Explore vs. Exploit. In this episode, we cover: Give us an update on your investments at Susa since we last chatted? How has the thesis at Susa evolved over the past couple of years? Do each of the GPs at Susa have specialty areas of focus? This year Susa closed on 2 new funds - Sus...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Adeyemi Ajao Ash Rust SC Moatti Each investor discusses a portfolio company that did not survive and why it was that they failed. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more information.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes:   138. How to Angel Invest Like the Best, Part 1 (Jason Calacanis) 139. How to Angel Invest like the Best, Part 2 (Jason Calacanis) 142. Beacon: An Engineering Systems Approach to Investing, Part...

Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures joins Nick to discuss Economic Theory in Venture Capital. In this episode, we cover: You've written about a major lesson from Clayton Christensen's book, the Innovator's Dilemma, which was one of 'deflationary economics.' Can describe what this means and why it should be a focus for startups? In light of deflationary economics, what are the key questions that a foun...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: John Vrionis Bradley Tusk Oren Klaff Each investor describes the most unusual situation or pitch that they've encountered as an investor. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more informatio...

Jason Whitney of IU Ventures joins Nick to discuss University-Affiliated Funds & Angel Networks. In this episode, we cover: Backstory/path to venture At IU you have 3 core initiatives - The Quarry, IU Venture Fund and the IU Angel Network. What's the focus of each? Talk about the investment focus for the IU Philanthropic Fund. What're the criteria to be eligible for funding? How does IU Ventures s...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Craig Wortmann David Horowitz Cyan Banister Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates...

Can you give us a brief overview of Assure? Can you walk us through the history of how sidecars and/or angel groups have handled (or mishandled) these syndication style investments in previous decades? What are the pros and cons of utilizing an SPV as an LP or individual investors? Do the lead investors on these SPVs make money upfront -- initiation fees, mgmt fees, broker/transaction fees? Do you...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Bobby Franklin Steve Glickman Cheryl Cheng Each investor discusses sectors, drivers and/or trends that may have a significant impact in the future and are potentially positioned for outsized-returns. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow u...

M.G. Siegler of GV joins Nick to discuss Streaming Wars, The Future of Mobile & The Evolution of User Interaction. In this episode, we cover: Backstory/path to Venture How'd you find your way from Hollywood to SV? Who was the first VC that, based on your writing talent, saw your potential as an investor? Why did you leave Crunchfund for GV?  A little confusion about the array of venture funds affi...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Michael Cardamone Jenny Rooke Scott Dorsey Each investor highlights a situation where they decided not to invest, why they passed, and how it played out. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and...

John Vrionis of Unusual Ventures joins Nick to discuss The DNA of Startup Success. In this episode, we cover: Backstory/path to venture. Talk about your experience at Lightspeed and your decision to leave. Where/when did you first meet Jyoti Bansal, the founder, AppDynamics? What's unusual about what you do? 'Unusual Academy' and 'Get Ahead Platform' -- what are they and what's the difference? You...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Jeff Clavier Bradley Tusk Scott Kupor Each investor discusses a portfolio company that did not survive and why it was that they failed. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more information.

Courtney Reum of M13 joins Nick to discuss Creating Unfair Advantages, Surviving Founder Burnout and Driving Successful Exits. In this episode, we cover: Backstory/path to venture Tell us about your experience being an investor at Goldman Sachs and working with brands like Procter & Gamble, Under Armour and Vitamin water. What are some takeaways you got from that experience that influence you toda...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: David Horowitz Jim Kim Ash Rust Each investor describes the most unusual situation or pitch that they've encountered as an investor. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more information.

Oren Klaff of Intersection Capital joins Nick to discuss Flip The Script & Perfect Your Pitch. In this episode, we cover: Backstory/path to finance What led to the founding of Intersection? What's your mandate and focus at Intersection? Tell us about the Velocity product. Your bestselling book Pitch Anything, provides a detailed methodology on effectively presenting, persuading and winning a deal...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Adeyemi Ajao Roy Bahat Cheryl Cheng Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach. To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/  for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twitter  @TheFullRatchet  for updates and more...

John Gannon of Going VC interviews Nick to discuss The Story Behind TFR & New Stack Ventures. In this episode, we cover: How did you get Brad Feld on early on? How did you stay true to your vision when you were getting asked early on by entrepreneurs to feature them on the podcast? (you mentioned this in episode 10, w/Brad Feld) If you were starting TFR again, in 2019, what would you do differentl...

Michael Cardamone of Acceleprise joins Nick to discuss SaaS Acceleration, Sales Savvy Founders & the Rise of Tech-Enabled Services. In this episode, we cover: What is Aaron Levie like to work for? Backstory and path to Acceleprise When you started Acceleprise a lot of folks told you not to -- the world doesn't need another accelerator. Why did you proceed? Why an Accelerator and not a traditional...