Nick Moran (New Stack Ventures) - Going from podcast to syndicate to fund, how he’s investing in founders outside major markets and the state of the current VC market

The Consumer VC: Venture Capital I B2C Startups I Commerce | Early-Stage Investing I Brands

Our guest today is Nick Moran, General Partner of New Stack Ventures. New Stack's mission is to invest in the Outsiders. Nick is also the host of The Full Ratchet. We discuss why he’s bearish about Web 3 short term, how he thinks about deploying capital in this current market and how he thinks about long-term sustainability of a company when he invests. Without further ado, here’s Nick.

Some of the questions I ask:

1. You’re long Web 3, but during the short term you aren’t investing in it. Mind explaining your reasoning?
2. How have you seen valuations change in companies that are outside silicon valley? Is it as drastic?
   1. What’s still overlooked when it comes to ecosystems outside the bay?
3. How do you view this investing period? How do you think about deploying capital currently? Has this environment changed how you invest?
4. How do you think about company sustainability, profitability vs. growth?
5. What about consumer technology do you focus on in today’s environment?
6. Walk us through your diligence process.
7. What are the must-haves from a founding team?
8. What’s your biggest piece of advice for new fund managers?
9. Recently raised over $40 million for your latest fund. Why that amount specifically?
10. What’s one thing you would change about venture capital?
11. What’s one book that inspired you personally and one book that’s inspired you professionally?
    1. Can’t Hurt Me by David Gogans
    2. Who is Michael Ovitz?
12. What’s one piece of advice for founders?