
The Full Ratchet (TFR): Venture Capital and Startup Investing Demystified
The podcast dedicated to demystifying Venture Capital. Nick Moran and Nate Pierotti interview VC's & Startup Founders and on how they build great technology startups.
Latest episodes

Jun 30, 2025 • 52min
486. From Power Law to Proprietary Insight: Unlocking Early-Stage Alpha, Data-Driven VC, and Building a Next-Gen Firm (Nnamdi Okike)
Nnamdi Okike of 645 Ventures joins Nick to discuss From Power Law to Proprietary Insight: Unlocking Early-Stage Alpha, Data-Driven VC, and Building a Next-Gen Firm. In this episode we cover: Frameworks and Signals for Early-Stage Investing Challenges and Opportunities in Non-Consensus Investing The Role of AI in Venture Capital Guest Links: Nnamdi’s LinkedIn Nnamdi’s X 645 Ventures’ LinkedIn 645 Ventures’ Website 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.

Jun 26, 2025 • 9min
Investor Stories 410: Why I Passed (Stevens, Patel, Shen)
On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Kevin Stevens Manish Patel Han Shen 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

Jun 23, 2025 • 4min
Investor Stories 409: Key Advice (Terbell and Clark, Schilling, Abel)
On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Jon Terbell and Ted Clark Mathias Schilling Godard Abel 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.

Jun 19, 2025 • 5min
Investor Stories 408: Visionary Founders (Seides, Ralston, Stevens)
Explore the essence of visionary leadership as guests share experiences with icons like Warren Buffett, revealing their humility and inspiration. Discover how innovative founders, including Ari Trousdal, are transforming industries through groundbreaking companies. The excitement doesn’t stop there, as the achievements of the PV Case team in Lithuania showcase their impact on the utility-scale software sector and commitment to community. Dive into stories that celebrate the extraordinary vision and contributions of industry leaders!

Jun 16, 2025 • 60min
485. From Touring with Lady Gaga, Blink‑182, and Pharrell Williams to investing in Spotify, SpaceX, and Ripple… How an Artist Went from Tastemaker to Transformative Healthcare VC (D.A. Wallach)
D.A. Wallach, co-founder of Time BioVentures and former recording artist, shares his intriguing journey from touring with stars like Lady Gaga to investing in life sciences. He discusses how his experiences in the music industry shaped his investment philosophy. The conversation covers the intersection of creativity and technology, tackling healthcare reform, and the role of AI in drug discovery. Wallach emphasizes the importance of taste in investment decisions, highlighting the need for innovation within the healthcare system.

Jun 12, 2025 • 5min
Investor Stories 407: Best LP Question (Chau, Terbell and Clark, Schilling)
Listen as seasoned investors share the most impactful questions asked by limited partners. Discover how these inquiries can illuminate partnership dynamics and motivations. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trust and curiosity in fund management, advocating for a culture of open dialogue to boost teamwork and decision-making. Dive into the essence of investor relationships and how they can shape the future of venture capital.

Jun 9, 2025 • 6min
Investor Stories 406: Lessons Learned (Garcia, Tusk, Seides)
Prominent investors share invaluable lessons from their careers in leadership and investment strategy. They emphasize the critical nature of talent retention and overcoming regulatory challenges in venture capital. The conversation also delves into the financial difficulties faced by early-stage companies, highlighting the evolution of investment strategies to prioritize impactful relationships alongside profits.

Jun 5, 2025 • 7min
Investor Stories 405: Why I Passed (Terbell and Clark, Patil, Schilling)
Dive into intriguing stories from seasoned investors as they reflect on times they chose not to invest. Discover a missed opportunity from the mid-90s that highlights the importance of experienced managers. Explore the delicate balance between structured investment strategies and seizing unique chances. Hear valuable lessons on the significance of intuition and disciplined investing, especially in the face of inflated startup valuations. Each tale sheds light on the complexities of venture investing and the emotions behind tough choices.

Jun 2, 2025 • 46min
484. Calculating the Market Size for AI, Building an "Experimentation Machine," the Bull Case for Non-Technical Founders, and the Key to PMF in the AI Age (Jeff Bussgang)
Jeff Bussgang, a General Partner at Flybridge Capital and author, shares insights on calculating market size for AI and the vital role of experimentation in startup success. He discusses the rise of business-savvy non-technical founders, emphasizing the importance of unique business insights and effective strategies over technical backgrounds. Bussgang explores how AI is transforming productivity and the evolving landscape of venture capital, showcasing the opportunities and challenges that accompany this technological shift.

May 29, 2025 • 6min
Investor Stories 404: Disruptive Forces (Abel, Patel, Shen)
Discover how generative AI is transforming the B2B SaaS landscape by making user interactions more conversational. Explore the disruptions in venture capital as AI shifts entrepreneurship toward leaner startup models, changing the funding landscape. Learn about the evolving role of family offices in venture capital, highlighting their direct investments and collaborative synergies with general partners, enriching the support network for founders. Tune in to uncover the future dynamics of the industry!