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

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured:

  • Ambar Bhattacharyya
  • Mike Droesch
  • Sami Inkinen

We asked guests to tell the most important lesson they've learned in their career.

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!


Kevin Stevens of Energize Capital joins Nick to discuss The Energy Transformation, Challenges with Transmission and Distribution, Nuclear vs. Renewables, and Why Unreasonable Hospitality is Necessary in VC. In this episode we cover:

  • Challenges in Energy Distribution and Storage
  • The Role of Batteries and Other Energy Storage Solutions
  • Data Centers and Energy Consumption
  • Nuclear Energy and Its Role in the Energy Transition
  • Financing Challenges and Strategies for Energy and Climate Companies
  • The Importance of Intellectual Humility and Debate in Investing
  • Future of AI and Defensibility in Energy Software
  • Evaluating Revenue Quality and Key Metrics for Success

Guest Links:

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!

Direct download: Kevin_Stevens_Final.mp3
Category:Podcast Episodes -- posted at: 4:00am EST

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured:

  • Rick Heitzmann
  • Alexa Von Tobel
  • Adam Felesky

Each investor highlights a situation where they decided not to invest, why they passed, and how it played out.

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!


Mathias Schilling of Headline joins Nick to discuss Why Culture is King, The Role of “Founder Mode” in Building Iconic Companies, Lessons From 25 Years in the Business, and How to Make Tech a Force Multiplier Within a VC Firm. In this episode we cover:

  • Evolution of the Venture Capital Industry
  • Headline's Winning Strategy
  • Global Presence and Investment Approach
  • Navigating Market Cycles and Founder Mode
  • Capital Efficiencies and AI's Impact
  • Succession Planning and Leadership
  • Future of AI and Regulation

Guest Links:

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!

Direct download: Mathias_Schilling_Final_Revised.mp3
Category:Podcast Episodes -- posted at: 4:00am EST

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured:

  • Sami Inkinen
  • Heidi Roizen
  • Phin Upham

We asked guests to discuss the factor that could cause the most disruption to the industry going forward and how that will change the next decade of venture.

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!

Direct download: Investor_Stories_374-_Disruptive_Forces_Inkinen_Roizen_Upham.mp3
Category:Investor Stories -- posted at: 4:00am EST

Rusty Ralston and Jay Patil of Swell VC joins Nick to discuss Investing in "N-of-1" Companies, Focusing on Category Creators, How to Invest in AI While it’s at Peak Hype, and Using Recruiting as a Key Differentiator. In this episode we cover:

  • Assessing Category Creation and Founder Caliber
  • Sector Potential and Investment Strategy
  • Syndicate Structure and Fund Size
  • Talent Model and Sync Playbook
  • Market Conditions and Future Outlook
  • Investing in AI and Navigating Hype
  • Defensibility in AI and Future Investments

Guest Links:

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!

Direct download: Rusty_Ralston_and_Jay_Patil_Final.mp3
Category:Podcast Episodes -- posted at: 4:00am EST

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured:

  • Katelin Holloway
  • Adam Felesky
  • Mike Droesch

We asked guests for the most important piece of advice that they'd share with folks early in their venture career.

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!

Direct download: Investor_Stories_373-_Key_Advice_Holloway_Felesky_Droesch.mp3
Category:Investor Stories -- posted at: 4:00am EST

Ted Seides of Capital Allocators joins Nick to discuss Lessons from Top Allocators, David Swensen’s Principles for Investment, Insights on Private Equity Deals, and What Strategies are Timeless vs. Fleeting. In this episode we cover:

  • Evolution of Private Equity and Its Role in the Economy
  • Challenges and Opportunities in the Private Equity Industry
  • Impact of David Swensen and His Philosophy
  • Key Insights on Allocation and Alignment
  • Team Structure and Decision-Making in Private Equity
  • Innovative Models and Persistence in Private Equity
  • Insights on Allocation of Time and Resources

Guest Links:

The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social.

You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we’ll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!

Direct download: Ted_Seides_Final.mp3
Category:Podcast Episodes -- posted at: 4:00am EST

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