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

Niki Scevak of Blackbird Ventures joins Nick to discuss Customer-centric Startup Investing Down Under, Part 1. We will address questions including: To start off… in your estimation, what are the key factors that make a startup investable? What are your thoughts on a company like Box? At the seed stage... 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: 55. The Hands-on Investor | High-Engagement Investing, Part 1 (John Greathouse) 56. The Hands-on Investor | High-Engagement Investing,... 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: Mohnot Mougayar Tunguz Each investor describes their investment thesis and how they evaluate startups for investment. 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Economic Theory in Venture Capital with Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures. In this segment we address: What are your impressions of what Bryce Roberts is doing at Indie VC? How have your thoughts on investment psychology and economics been influenced by The Black Swan? 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.

Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures joins Nick to cover Economic Theory in Venture Capital, Part 1. We will address questions including: You've written about a major lesson from Clayton Christensen's book, the Innovator's Dilemma, which was one of 'deflationary economics.' Can describe what this means and why it should be... 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: - Roberts - Heymann - Eakman 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.

On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following investors are featured: Moran Cohn Saunders Each investor highlights a situation where they decided to invest in a startup and why they said yes. 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.

Galen Mason & Brian Axelrad of Service Provider Capital join Nick to cover Part 2 of their unique approach to using service providers to source high volume dealflow, LPs and to employ an index investment fund strategy. We will address questions including: Their concerns about adverse selection and not receiving... 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.

Galen Mason & Brian Axelrad of Service Provider Capital join Nick to cover Part 1 of their unique approach to using service providers to source high volume dealflow, LPs and to employ an index investment fund strategy. We will address questions including: How did your experience as attorneys reveal an... 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: 50. The 3-year Wait is Over | SEC Vote on JOBS Act Title III (David S. Rose) 51.... 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: - Heltzer - Larkins and Galston - McClure 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of The Next Great Startup Ecosystem with Chris Olsen of Drive Capital. In this segment we address: Chris' thoughts on engineering talent retention in the midwest vs. the valley If the region presents unique challenges due to how spread out it is geographically His take... 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 Olsen of Drive Capital joins Nick to talk about the next great venture ecosystem: The Midwest. We review the following: How Chris first discovered the opportunity in the midwest and the reaction of fellow Sequoia partners when he presented his findings The research effort the launched that helped build the... 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: 46. The Must-Have Characteristics of SaaS Startups (Tomasz Tunguz) 47. Entrepreneur-Investor Fit (Peter Wilkins) 48. The Value of... 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: -Ben Einstein -Ezra Galston & Stuart Larkins -David Cowan 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Developer Platform Investing with Ethan Kurzweil of Bessemer Venture Partners. In this segment we address: His 8 commandments of building big developer-focused businesses How he uses these commandments while evaluating a startup for investment How he sees the future of developer platforms and what... 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.

Ethan Kurzweil of Bessemer Venture Partners joins Nick to cover Developer Platform Investing, Part 1. We will address questions including: What it means for a startup to have a developer platform focus Why Ethan has chosen to focus in this area The history of the developer platforms, over the past... 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: 41. The Exit (John Huston) 42. Raising a VC Fund (Jonathan Struhl) 43. Why Angels Don't Do Drugs... 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: Acunzo Rose Hudson Each investor describes their investment thesis and how they evaluate startups for investment. 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Reinventing Venture Capital with Bryce Roberts of Indie VC. In this segment we address: What are your filters, what level of traction are you looking for and what else do you like to see in prospective applicants? Many VCs target 100x+ exits for success…... 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.

Bryce Roberts of Indie VC & OATV joins Nick to cover Reinventing Venture Capital, Part 1. We will address questions including: Can you walk us through your background and how you became involved in startup investing? As a pioneer in early-stage investing 10 years ago, what was the original investment... 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: Polovets Collett Benaich Each investor highlights a situation where they decided to invest in a startup and why they said yes. 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Underserved Startup Ecosystems with Stuart Larkins & Ezra Galston of Chicago Ventures. In this segment we address: Their opinion on why the majority of HNW accredited investors have never invested in venture. How Chicago ventures has been so successful yielding follow-on funding for their... 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.

Stuart Larkins & Ezra Galston of Chicago Ventures join Nick to cover Underserved Startup Ecosystems, Part 1. We will address questions including: What do you think are the key ingredients for a startup ecosystem? In what ways do you feel that some ecosystems are underserved? Can you talk about some... 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: - Greathouse - Boyce - Huston 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: 37. The Algorithm for Raise Amount & Valuation (Leo Polovets) 38. Cross-Border Investing (Michael Goldberg) 39. Cleantech Investing... 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of The Limited Partner with Lindel Eakman of . In this segment we address: Do you think that LP investment strategy is driving the strategy of individual fund managers? Why or why not? What are the biggest challenges for limited partners? How do LP's differentiate... 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.

Lindel Eakman of Foundry Group Next joins Nick to cover The Limited Partner, Part 1. We will address questions including: Can you walk us through your background and your path to becoming an LP? Can you talk about your experience at Foundry Group and what you're doing w/ FG Next?... 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: - Tsai - Mougayar - Shah 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.

In this episode we flip the script and the host of Tech in Chicago, Colin Keeley, interviews Nick Moran with questions from the listeners including: How did you meet your investment partner, Jeff Heitzman? What's your investment thesis and how do you evaluate startups for investment? What's an ideal case... 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.

For this milestone #100 episode, the host of Tech in Chicago, Colin Keeley, interviews Nick Moran with questions from the listeners including: Nick, there are a number of brands that you own: The Full Ratchet, Venture Weekly, New Stack Ventures, and Moran Capital Partners. Why all the brands and what... 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: -Gurrieri -Wilkins -Mohnot 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Public Policy for Angel Investors with David Verrill of Hub Angels Investment Group. In this segment we address: Recently I was a little uncomfortable when I noticed an investor that was live streaming a demo day via Periscope, where startups were discussing fundraise details.... 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.

David Verrill of the Hub Angels Investment Group joins Nick to cover Public Policy for Angel Investors, Part 1. We will address questions including: Can you talk about your experience at Hub Angels and how the group and investments are structured? Can you tell us the story of how you... 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Student-Focused VC Funds with Peter Boyce II of General Catalyst & Rough Draft Ventures. In this segment we address: One of the biggest issues I've encountered at university is that schools and their students have been siloed. How have you considered bridging the gap... 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.

Peter Boyce II of General Catalyst & Rough Draft Ventures joins Nick to cover Student-Focused Venture Funds, Part 1. We will address questions including: Today we're talking about University and Student-focused funds… First off, can you give an overview of the hypothesis here and why you choose to launch a... 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: Buttrick Sanwal O'Donnell Each investor describes their investment thesis and how they evaluate startups for investment. 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.

In this episode, Nick answers questions from the listeners including: First off, a question from Dave at a family office in the midwest… Dave asks: "Nick, I recently reviewed a great startup but am not going to pursue because of the terms. Our lawyer requires a that a convertible note... 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of "What's Wrong with Venture?" with Dave McClure of 500 Startups. In this segment we address: Are there any problematic issues that you've observed w/ founders? Any thoughts on who might be one of the most misunderstood people in the venture ecosystem? How do you... 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.

Welcome back to TFR. We've got a good one today as we welcome one of the most respected and polarizing figures in venture, Dave McClure, to the program. Dave, of course, is a founding partner at 500 startups and, with Christine Tsai, they have built an organization that may be... 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: Davis Heymann Ramsinghani Each investor highlights a situation where they decided to invest in a startup and why they said yes. 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: Ep32: Capital Outside of the Valley (Morris Wheeler, Mike Belsito) Ep33: Syndicate Investing (Gil Penchina) Ep35: Developing Startup... 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of SpaceX & Elon Musk's Mission to Mars with Tim Urban of Wait but Why. In this segment we address: When does Elon project that the first crew of people will land on Mars? The surface of Mars is not livable. How does Elon plan... 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.

Tim Urban of Wait but Why joins Nick to cover SpaceX & Elon Musk's Mission to Mars, Part 1. We will address questions including: Tim, can you start us off by telling us your story and how that led to the launch of Wait but Why? You've written about Space... 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.

Welcome back to TFR for another Cram Session. In these special releases, we have aggregated the takeaways and tips from previous episodes. In this installment, we will be recapping the following episodes: Ep26: A New Era of Startup Investing | Angel Evolution (Christopher Mirabile) Ep28: The Investment Readiness Level (Steve... 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: - Struhl - Collett - Hudson 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.

Today we cover Part 2 of Fintech Investing with Sheel Mohnot of 500 Startups. In this segment we address: What was your business, Fee Fighters, doing in the payment category of fintech and how did that lead to an exit? What are the major customer segments most often served by... 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.

Sheel Mohnot of 500 Startups joins Nick to cover Fintech Investing, Part 1. We will address questions including: Can you talk about your experience at 500 and how the fintech fund and accelerator are related? How do you define fintech?From your standpoint, what are the major categories within fintech? From your... 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.