

The Full Ratchet (TFR): Venture Capital and Startup Investing Demystified
Nick Moran
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 9, 2025 • 6min
Investor Stories 432. The Pain of Passing: Missed Bets on Uber, DoorDash, and Great Founders Who Proved Them Wrong (Shapiro, York, Dash)
On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Craig Shapiro of Collaborative Fund Kyle York of York IE Somesh Dash of IVP 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. We're proud to partner with Ramp, the modern finance automation platform. Book a demo and get $150—no strings attached. 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.

Oct 6, 2025 • 39min
493. From Data Science to Drug Design: How AI Shifts Discovery, Target Validation, and Portfolio Construction (Jim Tananbaum)
Jim Tananbaum of Foresite Capital joins Nick to discuss From Data Science to Drug Design: How AI Shifts Discovery, Target Validation, and Portfolio Construction. In this episode we cover: Data Science and Investment Approach Investment Practices and Market Conditions China's Role in Biotech and Regulatory Considerations Impact of AI on Biotech and Healthcare Healthcare Adoption of AI and Preventive Measures Payers and Insurance Companies' Role Lessons from Successful Investments Generating Liquidity in a Sluggish Market Future of GLP-1 Agonists Guest Links: Jim's LinkedIn Jim's X Foresite's LinkedIn Foresite's 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. We're proud to partner with Ramp, the modern finance automation platform. Book a demo and get $150—no strings attached. 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.

Oct 2, 2025 • 3min
Investor Stories 431. Level Heads Build Enduring Companies, The Power of Persistence, and Why Conviction is Everything (Saxena, Delk, Rizik)
On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Shashank Saxena of Sierra Ventures Ryan Delk of Primer Chris Rizik of Renaissance Venture Capital 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. We're proud to partner with Ramp, the modern finance automation platform. Book a demo and get $150—no strings attached. 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.

Sep 29, 2025 • 9min
Investor Stories 430. Focus and Execution at Nubank, How Storytelling Wins Customers, and How Creative Partnerships Unlock Growth (Binatti, Madera, Okike)
On this special segment of The Full Ratchet, the following Investors are featured: Daniela Binatti of Pismo Paul Madera of Meritech Capital Nnamdi Okike of 645 Ventures 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. We're proud to partner with Ramp, the modern finance automation platform. Book a demo and get $150—no strings attached. 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.

Sep 25, 2025 • 7min
Investor Stories 429. Focus and Discipline in Growth, The Dangers of Rules of Thumb, and Fighting Cynicism in Venture (Stevens, Patel, Shapiro)
Dive into the minds of seasoned investors as they share valuable lessons from their careers. Kevin Stevens emphasizes the importance of making strategic leaps rather than overwhelming shifts. Manish Patel encourages evaluating opportunities based on first principles rather than common patterns. Craig Shapiro highlights the delicate balance between a beginner's mindset and skepticism in venture investing. Together, they challenge the 'curse of perfect' and remind us that staying in our lanes can enhance our success in the ever-evolving investment landscape.

Sep 22, 2025 • 48min
492. Prioritizing Monetization: Beautifully Simple Pricing, AI Models for Profitable Growth, and Guardrails for Freemium and Expansion Tiers (Madhavan Ramanujam)
Madhavan Ramanujam, co-founder of 49 Palms Ventures and author, shares his expertise in monetization and growth strategies for AI startups. He discusses choosing the right pricing archetype and warns against the 20/80 trap. Madhavan also delves into the trade-offs of autonomy versus attribution in pricing models and emphasizes the importance of keeping pricing beautifully simple. He provides insights on implementing effective freemium structures and offers nine strategies to maximize profitability while balancing market and wallet share.

Sep 18, 2025 • 5min
Investor Stories 428. Trust and Integrity with LPs, What Churn Reveals About Founders, and Building True Differentiation (Ralston, Abel, Shen)
This engaging conversation dives into the importance of trust and long-term relationships with investors. Insights on why understanding customer churn can highlight product vulnerabilities are shared. The guests discuss their unique differentiation strategies and how their focused investment approaches influence founder support. Additionally, they explore thought-provoking questions that impact investment decisions, shedding light on the evolving landscape of venture capital. Tune in for valuable perspectives on building meaningful partnerships in the industry.

Sep 15, 2025 • 10min
Investor Stories 427. Balancing Growth with Profitability, Why the Customer's Pain Matters Most, and Lessons from Film Financing to Supply Chain (Jiang, Ruscio, Niehenke)
Dive into the world of venture investing where seasoned investors share how their philosophies have evolved. A key highlight is the critical balance between growth and profitability, with a focus on the importance of unit economics. The discussion emphasizes the significance of understanding customer pain points over mere tech glamour. Plus, hear about a humorous journey from film financing to modern business models, shedding light on how past experiences shape innovative investment strategies.

Sep 11, 2025 • 6min
Investor Stories 426. Investor Regrets and Hard Calls: From Tax Credit Dependence to Saying No to Zoom (Hsieh, Delk, Hilaly)
Three investors share their stories of missed opportunities and the lessons learned from deciding not to invest. They discuss the importance of focus to avoid distractions that lead to regret. Notably, one recounts passing on an early chance with Zoom, emphasizing the need for thorough assessment of a founding team's leadership. Additionally, the concept of 'anti-portfolios' is explored, revealing how these experiences can shape better investment strategies in the future.

13 snips
Sep 8, 2025 • 36min
491. How AI Reshapes LP Allocation Strategy, The Convergence of Venture and Buyout, and Permanent Shifts to Liquidity (Lara Banks)
Lara Banks, a leader at Makena Capital Management, dives into the evolving landscape of venture capital and private equity. She highlights how AI is reshaping LP allocation strategies and the convergence between venture and buyout firms. Lara discusses the significance of secondary markets as a new liquidity force and the increasing importance of strategic relationships in underwriting investments. She emphasizes the need for adaptability and community connection in navigating today's dynamic investment environments.


