The Full Ratchet

Passed on @tapcart_app. Declined a term sheet. Dismissed a market that took off. Hear anti-portfolio lessons from Shamin Walsh of @BamVentures, @danibinatti of @pismo_io, and @schrep of @gigascale. Why they passed—and what they’d do differently. Check out Investor Stories #415!

VC is sales. Love it or leave it. Pick a space—momentum matters. And know what kind of investor you want to be. @tseides of Capital Allocators, @kevindstevens of @EnergizeCapital, and @jaypatil of @swellvc share key advice for new investors in this episode of Investor Stories.

“Would you put your grandmother’s money in your fund?” On this episode, @tseides, Bradley Tusk of @tuskventures, and @DavidGarAce of @digittmexico share the best LP questions they've been asked. Tune in to learn what separates a good question from a great one.

Investing your own money. Backing founders over trends. Managing asymmetric risk. This week on TFR's Investor Stories, @jaypatil of @swellvc, Mathias Schilling of @HeadlineVC & @godardabel of @G2dotcom share the critical lessons that reshaped how they invest and lead.

“Find a team that will give you full reps.” From in-person learning to obsession-level curiosity—Ted Clark, Jon Terbell of FourBridge, Mathias Schilling of @HeadlineVC, and @godardabel of @G2dotcom share timeless advice for new investors. Tune in to Investor Stories Ep. 409!

From touring with Gaga to investing in @neuralink—@dawallach has one of the wildest resumes in tech. We talk early bets on @Spotify, why most frontier tech fails commercially, and the future of biotech + medicine. Check out The Full Ratchet Episode 485!

Three firms. Three big passes. From Google to fund-of-fund regrets to bubble-fueled flameouts—Jon Terbell & Ted Clark, @jaypatil, and Mathias Schilling share the stories behind their biggest misses and what they learned. Hear the “Why I Passed” on this Investor Stories segment!

The best founders today aren’t just technical — they’re rapid experimenters. I spoke with @bussgang of @flybridge about AI-native startups, exits gone wrong, tiny teams at $1B+, and his new book The Experimentation Machine. Tune in today!

On this episode of TFR Investor Stories, @laurachau of @canaanpartners, @MikeWhitmireFQ of @FloQast, and @DavidGarAce of @digittmexico each share one piece of advice for early investors and founders. Quick takes, lasting lessons 🎙️

Tune into today's investor stories—@YungerOren on @BM_DataDowntime and building the data observability category. Bradley Tusk on the brilliance (and controversy) of @travisk—and lessons from @MikeBloomberg. Ted Clark & Jon Terbell on the best LP questions.

From two-time founder to one of Business Insider’s "Rising Stars" in venture capital, @mkhandel of @defyvc shares her path to investing, insights on vertical AI, and the critical early decisions that make or break a startup. Listen to Episode 483 of The Full Ratchet for more.

What’s the best question an LP or VC has ever asked you? On this episode of The Full Ratchet, we hear from CapitalG’s @jillchase124, @pendoio’s @eboduch, and @FloQast’s @MikeWhitmireFQ on the questions that have shaped their companies and sparked big ideas.

What critical lesson has shaped the way you invest? @YungerOren of @notablecap shares his mindset, @laurachau of @canaanpartners reflects on board dynamics, and Ted Clark and Jon Terbell of FourBridge Partners discuss why small funds often outperform.

Before backing Facebook & Salesforce, Paul Madera flew F-16s. Now a multi-time Forbes Midas List honoree and cofounder of @MeritechCapital, he joins Nick to talk late-stage VC, AI overhype, and why revenue momentum is lazy underwriting.

“The old way of VC is dying.” @rusty_ralston, @jaypatil, Mathias Schilling, and @kevindstevens each share the one force they believe will define the next decade of venture. Tune in to this Disruptive Forces edition of Investor Stories.

Gregory Ho, @YungerOren, and Bradley Tusk share the one piece of advice they’d give to new investors. From reading widely to having no pride to finding your edge—this segment is packed with insight. 🎙️ Listen to the latest Investor Stories on TFR. Link to website is in our bio.

What makes a founder truly visionary? @laurachau on @nagish_inc’s mission-driven founders. @MikeWhitmireFQ on leadership by example—from his mom to @Benioff. @DavidGarAce on @nubank’s @velez_david and @Cucinelli. Hear what drives them—and what sets them apart. Link in bio.

‘I don’t care if you make money… I care about getting humans to Mars.’ @PhinUpham recalls the boldest LP question—and Elon’s unforgettable response. Plus, answers from Gregory Ho and @YungerOren on today's Investor Stories 🎙️

Nearly 60% of 4th graders in the U.S. aren’t proficient in reading or math—and outcomes get worse over time. @delk is building @Primer, a network of micro schools that empower teachers and give kids agency. Hear his bold vision for the future of education in today's episode.

Big lessons from top leaders: @jillchase124 learned discipline in hot markets, @eboduch shares how timing can trip up even great plans, and @MikeWhitmire shows the power of transparency. 🎙️ Hear their stories on the latest segment of Investor Stories.