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 category
• Why deep tech will drive the biggest outcomes
• How founders are able to de-risk deep tech opportunities where many others don't
• The waves that are coming in deep tech
• and finally how some consumer, social companies became deep tech companies by accident.

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.

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 twitter @TheFullRatchet for updates and more information.

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?
• Why the move to USV?
• Fred Wilson said: "Each partner who has joined USV has done two things very well. First, they have figured how to operate inside of our shared investment thesis. And second, they have figured out how to stretch it."
• You've said: "Next up: exploring the intersection between our core USV thesis around network effects, whether centralized or decentralized and the entrepreneurs building the standout consumer businesses that integrate into our hearts and minds." Talk about the types of Network effects that you look for and can create large, strong businesses on the consumer-side.
• Investment Process/Structure at Maveron vs. USV?
  You often talk a lot about one of my favorite items... customer obsession. It's well documented on this podcast that I will not invest in founders that aren't customer obsessed. I'd love to hear your thoughts here and how you test for this characteristic with early-stage founders.
  What are your thoughts on the role of brand and importance of brand in consumer companies?
• What are the key elements to building strong brand and can you give us specific examples that you've observed in portfolio companies?
• Thoughts on vertically-integrated brands-- strengths and weaknesses, is that critical for a brand w/ a physical good for you to make an investment?
• What's your role as investor, are you passive or active; are you coaching and teaching or more of a listener and support?
• What's your style?
• What do you like least about your job?
• In what ways do woman VCs support and help each other out in this male-dominated industry.
• Case Study-- very incomplete information, two companies, early stage, very similar sector and product category, both have exceptional founding teams... one has modest growth rates but exceptional NPS scores, the other has exceptional growth rate but modest NPS.  All other things being equal, which one are you more likely to invest in?

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.

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 companies staying private longer
• Yhe impact of new LPs coming into venture on asset class
• How the LP community interacts... adversarial, collaborative, competitive or othewise
• The areas where Chris can grow most as an LP
• and we wrap up w/ his thoughts on co-investment alongside GPs as well as follow-ons in later rounds

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.

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 updates and more information.