New Stack Ventures

New Stack Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm specializes in backing exceptional founders who operate outside traditional venture capital hubs, focusing on what it terms "Outsiders"—entrepreneurs who did not attend Stanford, did not work for major technology companies, and do not reside in the Bay Area. New Stack invests across pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, with check sizes ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million for lead or co-lead positions. The firm targets companies in vertical AI, B2B SaaS, fintech, healthcare, and legacy industries including manufacturing, energy, construction, and supply chain technology.

New Stack Ventures was established by Nick Moran, who previously worked at Danaher, a Fortune 500 conglomerate, where he held roles in product management, M&A, and market strategy. In May 2014, Moran founded The Full Ratchet, the first venture capital podcast, which grew to over 90,000 active subscribers and became instrumental in building the firm's extensive network. The podcast's success created a significant sourcing advantage, generating substantial dealflow from non-coastal markets and enabling the firm to identify breakout opportunities that other venture investors overlooked. This unique positioning as both a media platform and investment firm distinguishes New Stack in the venture ecosystem.

The firm has built relationships with founding partners and general partners at approximately 90% of Tier 1 venture capital firms, leveraging these connections to facilitate Series A introductions for portfolio companies when they reach appropriate milestones. New Stack's investment approach emphasizes hands-on support, combining strategic guidance with access to a broad network of operators and investors. The firm invests in companies at various traction stages, including pre-revenue startups, those in pilots or proofs of concept, and early-commercialization ventures, demonstrating a commitment to supporting founders through critical early development phases.

The New Stack team comprises experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds spanning technology, operations, law, and military service. Nick Moran serves as General Partner, while Luke Skertich holds the Principal position with prior experience at FJ Labs investing in marketplaces and SaaS. Nate Pierotti, a Venture Partner, brings deep tech and robotics expertise from founding Monarc. The team also includes J.R. Moran as Chief Operating Officer with 15+ years of legal and venture experience, Brenna Kyper as Operations Manager with an engineering background from West Point, and Ariella Frank as Associate with startup ecosystem exposure. This composition reflects the firm's operator-first philosophy and commitment to supporting founders with practical, experienced guidance.