The Full Ratchet: Vc | Venture Capital | Angel Investors | Startup Investing | Fundraising | Crowdfunding | Pitch | Private E

Vincent Diallo of Interlace Ventures joins Nick to discuss Retail Apocalypse or Renaissance, the Commerce Evolution, and Fundraising from Corporates. In this episode, we cover: Article Mentioned in Episode: http://bit.ly/TFR-Vincent Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at Interlace? COVID has affected commerce severely -- for better and for worse. Has this changed your investment approach? Many investors are avoiding all physical retail as COVID has created a “retail apocalypse”, but you've stated that you see it more as a retail renaissance.  Why? What are some trends from COVID that you think investors are overreacting to that you expect will return to pre-pandemic levels? What new consumer experiences or behaviors are emerging that you are excited about? You mentioned supply chain as another area of interest, where are the biggest opportunities in the supply chain? Biggest mistake fundraising? Biggest win fundraising? Oper8tor program? Is now a good time or

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Tom Tunguz Patrick Gallagher Trae Vassallo Brian Hirsch Each investor highlights a situation where they decided not to invest, why they passed, and how it played out.

Sach Chitnis of Jump Capital joins Nick to discuss Discovering the Next Sectors of Opportunity, The Impact Platform, & The Exit Discussion. In this episode, we cover: Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at Jump Capital? Talk about developing a thesis on a specific market opportunity — can you give us the broad strokes on your process of how you dissect emerging markets and identify where existing offerings are lacking? How do you determine who will be the winner?  Is it common that, of the existing set of players, none will emerge as the winner and you need to wait for a fresh approach? Having a portfolio support platform is unusual for your size — how are you able to make it work at your fund size and what all does it entail? In what areas do you find a Series A funded company needs the most help? How do you advise a founder that's in a hot space, doesn't need capital but has inbound interest and large investment offers, maybe at inflated valuations, from tier

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Niko Bonatsos Melody Koh Ramy Adeeb Mark Suster Each investor discusses a portfolio company that did not survive and why it was that they failed.

Maren Bannon of January Ventures joins Nick to discuss Breaking the Founder Stereotype, Mastering Conviction Over Zoom, & the Contrast between European and American Entrepreneurs. In this episode, we cover: Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at  January Ventures? How are you and your team at January Ventures making tech more of an equal opportunity? What is your approach to portfolio construction in this fund and how will that evolve in the future? What's one thing you know now that you wish you knew prior to raising the fund? You take meetings with founders VERY early — no warm intro, no pitch deck, or no revenue required to pitch to January Ventures. How do you evaluate the potential this early? How do you filter all of the opportunities -- what is your pre-filter process? How have you changed your work/process at January post COVID? What is your experience like moving from SF to Europe and what is your view of the European tech ecosystem?

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Henrique Dubugras Jim Douglass Beezer Clarkson Avichal Garg Each investor describes the most unusual situation or pitch that they've encountered as an investor.

Tim Guleri of Sierra Ventures joins Nick to discuss Advice from a Unicorn Founder Turned VC, the Future of the VC Landscape for Founders & VCs, and the Founder Love Metric. In this episode, we cover: Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at Sierra Ventures? What's been your biggest influence on the firm's ethos? You've had two incredible outcomes as a founder... first question is do you think the process of building a company today is materially different than it was when you did it... if so how? We've talked a lot on the show, over the past 8 months about the effects of COVID on venture... what have been you main observations on how VCs are adjusting to investing during COVID? What do you think the new normal for startups looks like post-covid? How do you advise a founder that's in a hot space, doesn't need capital, but has inbound interest and large investment offers, maybe at inflated valuations, from tier 1 coastal investors? How do you handle situations whe

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Check Warner Ty Findley Lo Toney Byron Deeter Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach.

Ed Sim of boldstart ventures joins Nick to discuss: Velocity as a Superpower, Why Contrarians Win, The Role of a Board Member, and Why Some Challenge When they Should Chill Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at boldstart ventures? What was it like starting Boldstart in NYC in 2010? Tell us a bit about the thesis at investment and how things evolved over the years until the ultimate exit? What's your preference...  Niche and narrow problems or big and expansive opportunities? What is your mental model for investing in enterprise founders with ideas? category creation Why only technical founders? Will this enterprise bull market sustain? You've talked about being involved and sitting on boards from "whiteboard to scale" ?...  how do you manage ever-increasing board responsibilities with other demands of the job? Where are VCs most lacking when it comes to the value that early-stage founders require? Do you think there's too much money in venture? How do y

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Steve Blank Niki Pezeshki Lolita Taub Jesse Middleton Each investor discusses sectors, drivers and/or trends that may have significant impact in the future and are potentially positioned for outsized-returns.

Brian Hirsch of Tribeca Venture Partners joins Nick to discuss Maintaining a Disciplined Fund Size and Strategy, The Rise of NYC Tech, and Changes in the Exit Environment. In this episode, we cover: Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at Tribeca Venture Partners (TVP)? We've seen notable firms in the valley launch platform and service offerings to founders... have you considered this at Tribeca - why or why not? Biggest differences between NYC tech vs Bay Area Tech COVID is causing many people to move away from the city. Any concerns about losing tech talent? How much does the exit environment for tech companies effects what you invest in? what's most undervalued in the public market or exit market at large that will be more appropriately valued in 3-5 years from now What's your take SPACs? 10/9 Brain's Tweet: "New

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Janet Bannister Shawn Carolan Reid Christian Villi Iltchev Each investor highlights a situation where they decided not to invest, why they passed, and how it played out.

Simeon Iheagwam of Noemis Ventures joins Nick to discuss Starting a Fund w/ Life Savings, Why it Takes More than Just Performance to Find Success, and Sticking to Your Framework. In this episode, we cover: Walk us through your background and path to VC What’s the thesis at NOEMIS Ventures? What is your process for investing? Are there any must-haves? Like Brad Feld... you are syndication agnostic... don't care about who else is in the round and you're willing to be the first yes.  How do you get to conviction -- especially not having worked for a large VC fund? Where do you help your portfolio companies the most? In your words... why is it difficult to launch a fund as a diverse manager? What were some of the most unexpected and challenging aspects of launching a fund? Strangest question you've received from an LP? What's your approach to investing in diverse founders? You were recently highlighted by Grasshopper Bank and Left Tackle Capital as an extraordinary funder.  And I believe yo

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Stephen McIntyre Gigi Levy Weiss Richard Kerby Kane Hsieh Each investor discusses a portfolio company that did not survive and why it was that they failed.

Charles Adler of Kickstarter joins Nick to discuss The Founding Story of Kickstarter — Community, Competition, and Customer-Obsession. In this episode, we cover: Walk us through your background and path to tech. Growing up what inspired you most? How did the idea for Kickstarter begin? Was there an MVP - was there an initial target vertical? When did you know that it was working? What was the biggest mistake you made during the journey? When competition arose... did it scare you? Is Kickstarter today still delivering on the initial vision you and your co-founders had? What was the hardest part of growing a venture-backed company? What advice would you have for founders before selecting VC partners? Organic growth and categories? We often talk on the show about the importance of customer obsession, really knowing what they care about and spending time to understand that -- what has been your philosophy and approach w/ customers? Many founders and investors talk about the importance o

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Ben Casnocha Janet Bannister Nikhil Basu Trivedi Farooq Abbasi Each investor describes the most unusual situation or pitch that they've encountered as an investor.

Guest Update: When the episode was recorded in 2019, Cyan was a partner at Founders Fund. Currently, Cyan is a partner at Long Journey Ventures.  In this special replay of episode 180, Cyan Banister of Long Journey Ventures joins Nick to discuss the Self-Made Engineer, Angel, and Venture Capitalist. In this episode, we cover: So, Cyan you have a really interesting story and background that led you to where you are today. Feel free to start wherever makes most sense but can you talk about your life experience and how it led you to where you're at now? You spoke publicly about your early life at the 2018 TechCrunch Disrupt conference, from living on the streets to becoming a venture capitalist, tell us about this incredible journey, what you accredit your success to and how it lead to venture? Where along the way did you meet Scott? Did you guys every consider raising your own fund? How early are you able to go at Founder's Fund? How do you work with founders post-investment? Judicious with your magic bulle

In this special replay of episode 135 & 136, Eric Paley of Founder Collective joins Nick to dispel some conventional wisdom in VC. We address questions including: What’s the focus at Founder Collective? What are the downsides of heavily funded companies? Overview and Methodology of the study of 71 IPOs: ‘Overdosing on VC: Lessons from 71 IPOs’ Conventional VC...

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Eric Collins Trae Vassallo Ramy Adeeb M.G. Siegler Each investor illustrates a critical lesson learned about startup investing and how it's changed their approach.

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following individuals are featured: Nick Moran Thomas Gentle This will be a unique segment where, Founder of Shotcall, Thomas Gentle, will discuss his startup story and how he chose New Stack to participate in the funding round. follow us on Twitter @TheFullRatchet for updates and more information.