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

Nick Moran | Angel Investor | Startup Advisor | Venture Capitalist
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Sep 1, 2025 • 6min

Investor Stories 424. The Unique Traits of Visionary Founders Backed by Gigascale, Heavybit & York IE (Schroepfer, Ruscio, York)

Discover the remarkable traits of visionary founders, including how a tech CEO leverages innovative electrochemistry for sustainability. Hear about a leader's unique listening habits, capturing customer insights to drive success. Delve into the world of data collection at sporting events, where a visionary's MLB background revolutionizes the startup scene. Each story showcases the distinctive qualities that set these founders apart in their industries, highlighting the importance of understanding customer experiences and market fit.
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Aug 28, 2025 • 8min

Investor Stories 423. From Checklists to Leadership: Lessons from iFLY, DFJ Growth & Pismo Leaders (Shen, Schuler, Binatti)

Dive into the intriguing parallels between aviation and venture investing, where checklists play a crucial role in risk assessment. Explore the challenges faced by CEOs transitioning to investors, along with the rewarding experience of mentoring young entrepreneurs. Discover the vital importance of transparency in leadership, as personal stories illustrate how open communication fosters collaboration and engagement within teams. Each contributor shares their key lessons, making for an enlightening discussion on the nuances of leadership and investment.
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13 snips
Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 10min

490. Why Foundry Isn’t Raising a New Fund, Lessons from Hibernation, and the Benefits and Drawbacks of a Give First Philosophy (Brad Feld)

Brad Feld, a founding partner at Foundry and co-founder of Techstars, sheds light on the decision not to raise a new fund and the philosophy behind 'give first.' He discusses the evolution of Techstars, emphasizing community building and managing investor expectations. Brad reflects on personal growth during hibernation and the importance of authentic mentor-mentee relationships. The conversation dives into balancing generosity with personal time, and how ancient wisdom can inform modern entrepreneurial practices.
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4 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 7min

Investor Stories 422: Best LP Question (Stevens, Patel, Shapiro)

Explore what top investors consider the best questions for limited partners. Discuss strategies for maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market. Dive into the importance of long-term vision and legacy in venture capital. Discover how infrastructure investments and team-building shape a firm's future. Learn how success is defined and the critical alignment between risk tolerance and investment goals for early-stage ventures.
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Aug 18, 2025 • 6min

Investor Stories 421: Rewriting the Playbook (Walsh, Schroepfer, Saxena)

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Shamin Walsh Mike Schroepfer Shashank Saxena We asked guests to describe the biggest change to their investment philosophy over the course of 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.
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Aug 14, 2025 • 6min

Investor Stories 420: Why I Passed (Abel, Ruscio, Niehenke)

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Godard Abel Joseph Ruscio Alexander Niehenke 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.
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Aug 11, 2025 • 44min

489. Investing in the Gen AI Extraction Layer, Value Accrual in New Tech Waves, and India’s Digital Currency & Identity Economy (Hemant Mohapatra)

Hemant Mohapatra, Partner at Lightspeed India and former investor at A16Z, shares his insights on AI and India's innovation landscape. He discusses the opportunities and challenges in AI investments, particularly in healthcare and legal sectors. Hemant highlights the importance of strategic positioning in tech super cycles and how vertical integration is reshaping India's digital future. He delves into the potential of India's digital currency and blockchain, emphasizing the need for strong narratives in the investment world.
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Aug 7, 2025 • 5min

Investor Stories 419: Key Advice (Patel, Schuler, Walsh)

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Manish Patel Barry Schuler Shamin Walsh 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.
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Aug 4, 2025 • 6min

Investor Stories 418: Visionary Founders (Shen, Shapiro, Jiang)

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Han Shen Craig Shapiro Kevin Jiang We asked guests to discuss the most visionary founder that they've worked with and what makes them so special. 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.
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4 snips
Jul 31, 2025 • 7min

Investor Stories 417: Best LP Question (Delk, Hilaly, Dash)

This episode dives into the best questions allocators have posed to investors, highlighting their profound impact on decision-making. A strong focus is placed on the necessity for aligning expectations in founder-investor relationships, showcasing the emotional connections that fuel long-term success. It also emphasizes the critical questions entrepreneurs must ask to gauge investors' priorities, sharing an inspiring anecdote about resilience in the face of skepticism in the startup landscape.

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