Episode description

In this special replay episode Grace Isford of Canvas Ventures joins Nick on a special Crisis Coverage installment to discuss the GTM Playbook; Building a Career in VC; Societal Challenges and Opportunities Post-COVID; and a Comprehensive Analysis of Successful GPs and Venture Investments. In this episode, we cover:

• You’re an extroverted, people-person… how you holding up w/ the quarantine?
• Quick overview of your background and path to VC?
• Your focus (and thesis) at Canvas?
• You developed a 30 page GTM Playbook based on interviews w/ 10+ CROs/VPs of Sales across major B2B companies. First of all, is this publicly available and also what were some takeaways that really stood out?
• There’s a segment of VCs that believe that one must be an operator to be a good VC… what’s your stance?
• Examples of successful non-operators?
• You completed a comprehensive analysis of the portfolios of over 200 venture firms, looked at 100 successful GPs, and winning, U.S.-based investments w/ a valuation greater than $500M… what were your key takeaways?
• A bit about signaling… Many in the industry and those observing determine the value of a startup based on whether a brand name venture firm is in the deal… “If Sequoia is in the deal, startup must be great”… what are your thoughts on this common perception?
• What does your weekly routine look like and how have you prioritized the various demands of the job?
• What have you found to be most challenging in your career as a VC?
• What advice do you have for young folks trying to make an impact as an investor or board observer?
• You wrote a great piece that analyzed three areas where VCs could invest to address the societal challenges of COVID-19. Can you walk us through each of these and why the opportunity here is greater?
• What do you think the future holds for venture & entrepreneurship in a post-COVID world?
• The old playbook for winning deals is gone… Any idea on how one might win a deal virtually?

• Grace’s Twitter
• Grace’s LinkedIn
• Canvas Ventures

The hosts of The Full Ratchet are Nick Moran and Nate Pierotti of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area.

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