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

Paul Martino of Bullpen Capital joins Nick to discuss the emergence of the Post-Seed round. In this episode, we cover: Why Paul passed on joining Mike Maples at Floodgate in order to start Bullpen The product/market fit algorithm he developed for Mike If the stages of funding are moving out or if there are just more of them How Bullpen is differentiated The metrics they require to engage with star...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Peter Boyce Jordan Nof Sergio Gurrieri  Each investor describes their investment thesis and how they evaluate startups for investment.   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...

James Hardiman of Data Collective joins Nick to discuss The Deep Tech Debate: Why Invest in a Capital Intensive, Long Time-to-Exit Category?. In this episode, we cover: James' definition of deep tech The segments within the category How this area differs from others Types of founders and founder profiles that he looks for Why he's willing to invest in a capital intensive, long-time horizon categor...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Chris Farmer Chris Olsen David Cowan Each investor describes a situation where they did decide to invest, what the key factors were that led to "Yes" and how that investment has worked out.   To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/ for all of our other episodes. Also, follow us on twit...

Rebecca Kaden of Union Square Ventures joins Nick to discuss USV's Newest GP on Leveraged Growth, Consumer Brand Building & Customer Obsession. In this episode, we cover: I've heard you talk about Allbirds, Zullily, and others before, can you highlight a few notable investments from your time at Maveron? Previous career as a journalist? Did you write about tech? How'd you end up joining Maveron? W...

Chris Douvos, the Super LP, joins Nick to discuss Chaos Capital, the new Micro VC Movement and LPs Chasing Hype. In this episode, we cover: How his mindset as an LP has evolved Startups out of Standford vs Berkley and if the valley is over-fished how the micro VC movement has changed Chris' selection criteria and what he looks for in managers Why he most often says no The impact on LPs of companie...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: -Zach Coelius -Nathan Benaich -Jason Calacanis   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 upd...

The Trend Spotter joins us today on the program. Tim O'Reilly is one of the top minds in tech, who has predicted and/or driven many of the movements that now seem so obvious to us. In today's episode we discuss: Tim's path to becoming an investor How he linked up w/ Bryce Roberts and launched O'Reilly Alphatech The shift in their model w/ Indie VC We talk about Tim's focus on profitability and his...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Stuart Larkins & Ezra Galston Ben Einstein Bilal Zuberi  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 updat...

Ben Narasin of NEA joins Nick to discuss how NEA makes decisions, why he joined the firm and the key traits he looks for in founders. In this episode, we cover: -Why he made the move to NEA -His Investment focus -the role of Venture Partner at NEA -the investment process the firm... and if decisions are made by committee -Ben's Evaluation Process -the key factor that every successful founder posse...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: -Guy Turner -Jonathon Triest & Brett DeMarrais -William Mougayar -Madhavan Ramanujam Each investor discusses sectors, drivers and/or trends that may have significant impact in the future and are potentially positioned for outsized-returns.   To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/ for...

Eric Ries, author of the Lean Startup and The Startup Way, joins Nick to discuss his new book and his response to the naysayers. In this episode, we cover: Eric's backstory and path to working in tech Steve Blank was on the program and mentioned Peter Thiel's famous comments where he decried the MVP and lean startup approach. Steve thought he was entirely wrong. But I'd love to hear your response...

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: 96. Student-Focused VC Funds, Part 1 (Peter Boyce II) 97. Student-Focused VC Funds, Part 2 (Peter Boyce II) 98. Public Policy for Angel Investors, Part 1 (David Verrill) 99. Public Policy for Ang...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: John Buttrick Semil Shah Eric Paley 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 mo...

Brendan Wallace of Fifth Wall Ventures joins Nick to discuss Kingmaking, De-Risking Every Investment & the Future of Real Estate Tech.  In this episode, we cover: how building a fund is different from a startup why fifth wall invests in real estate tech why they take a different approach to workign with LPs and portcos how large corporate LPs get comfortable with threatening tech that can destroy...

J.B. Pritzker of Pritzker Group Venture Capital joins Nick to discuss his impact on tech in Illinois, where he gets his motivation and why he's running for Governor. In this episode, we cover the following questions: Take me back to your childhood...What was it like growing up in your family and what did you learn from your parents? Your father and uncle famously built and managed Hyatt Hotels...W...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: -Christine Tsai -John Greathouse -Lindel Eakman   Each investor describes a situation where they did decide to invest, what the key factors were that led to "Yes" and how that investment has worked out.   To listen more, please visit  http://fullratchet.net/podcast-episodes/ for all of our other episodes. Also, foll...

Bilal Zuberi of Lux Capital joins Nick to discuss Startup Moats. In this episode, we cover: An overview of moats Example companies with moats How to build a monopoly from the outset and if Bilal requires in startups he invests in Incremental vs. step-change innovation and the implications on the breadth and depth of the moat The types of moats Bilal's take on data and network effect-based moats us...

Vic Pascucci of Lightbank joins Nick to discuss New Founders, New Stages, New Offerings-- The Only Constant in Venture is Change. In this episode, we cover: Where'd you get your start in venture and how'd your path lead to Lightbank? Can you walk us through the Lightbank backstory... before you joined? What's the current thesis and investment focus for the firm? How active a role do you play with...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Adam Draper Chris Farmer Mark Suster 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 mor...

Madhavan Ramanujam of Simon-Kutcher & Partners joins Nick to discuss Monetization Strategy & Why Price Trumps Product. In this episode, we cover: What's the backstory and how did you develope this monetization expertise? What VC firms and/or investors have you worked with? What's the most common missteps that innovators make? What are the 4 types of innovation fails? I want to talk about your thre...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: David Verrill Galen Mason Jason Calacanis   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.

Zach Coelius of joins Nick to discuss Investing in Rocket Ships Before they Take Off, Part 1. We address questions including: His Path to investing The Biggest difference between entrepreneur Zach vs. the entrepreneur Zach invests in? Best lesson from his startup, Triggit? Right place, right time... how do you apply to investing? Top 3 characteristics you look for in founders? Great entrepreneur.....

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Andrew Parker Niki Scevak Bryce Roberts Charles Hudson Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach.

Semil Shah of Haystack joins Nick to discuss First Institutional VC Fund Raised-- Key Learnings, Part 1. We address questions including: Maybe we can start off with how your investment focus has evolved since the last time you joined us. What are your thoughts on how seed has split into pre-seed, seed, seed extension, and post seed? Are you investing once with a company or reserving for these vari...