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 information.

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 differently?
• Why the podcast format vs blogging vs. ... ?
• When did you know that the podcast was "working" ... bringing deal flow or whatever you thought was a strong signal that things were clicking for your audience?
• What surprised you once the podcast got "big"? Anything unexpected on the positive or negative side?
• How did the podcast tie into your recent fundraising process? Where did it help, and did it hurt or cause any issues, too?
• How did the podcast tie into your recent fundraising process? Where did it help, and did it hurt or cause any issues, too? Do you measure deal flow that is podcast related, and how much of your deal flow is it? How many completed investments came from the TFR community?
• I have heard from multiple Angel List employees re: Angel List syndicates that it's very hard to get people to back a deal unless the deal has a lead like Sequoia or KPCB or another top firm attached to it. Has that been true for your syndications? If no, why?
• What benefits did you see by using Angel List syndicates platform so early on? For those thinking of starting up a syndicate now, how has the game changed?
• How do you find and vet interns for your fund? Or how do they find you?
• Are there any processes at your fund that you think work REALLY well, and what are they? How do you execute them?
• Since we're both Dads: Other than having less time now that you have a child, have there been new tactics you've applied to the podcast, the firm, etc to help you get more leverage at work and free up time for home life?

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.

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 VC fund?
• Check size then and now?
• The biggest criticism of accelerators that I'm hearing from investors is that accelerators admit companies that need a lot of help and can't figure things out on their own -- and those are not the companies that one wants to invest in. What's your response to these folks?
• You've mentioned your interest in working w/ founders that have a "willingness to sell." How specifically do you develop the sell-skills of founders that are willing but green w/regards to sales.
  What are some the best demand-gen techniques that you use?
• Talk to us about how you think through pricing models and strategies at early-stage SaaS businesses.
• ACV initial vs. expansion rev opportunity
• Lemkin.. TAM... initial traction in SOM/Beachhead niche market is most important. Any company that gets traction here can find a $1B market. Agree, disagree?
• We talk a lot, on this show, about either why SF is the best place to build a company or why any place but SF is the best place to build a company. You've done both -- Objectively, can you break down the biggest advantages to building in the valley vs. the advantages to building outside?
• Let's talk a bit about pedigree -- most investors have simple heuristics here. If the founder didn't study at a Stanford/Ivy level institution... pass. If the founder didn't work for a FAANG tech company or fast-growing private tech company... pass. At New Stack, we like to say we're in the business of exceptions (deals that have all the right ingredients for success -- except these optics of provenance). Michael, where do you stand on pedigree and how do you define it?
• What percentage of the companies in the cohort to you invest in at completion?
• In terms of measuring success -- what key metric do you measure that you're most proud of?
• Over the past few years, what trends or major changes have you seen with regards to SaaS that founders and investors should be aware of?
• Tech-enabled services - a real trend or not? Venture fundable?
• There has been some recent issues in the Tech space with employee options -- what have you witnessed and what would you like to see change?

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:

• Scott Dorsey
• Aydin Senkut
• Cyan Banister

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 all of our other episodes.

Also, follow us on twitter @TheFullRatchet for updates and more information.