Around the firm we use “software eats the world” as a guide for how technology will impact every industry and every person – from education to healthcare and government. As a16z marks its five-year anniversary, we turned to the fellow who came up with the thesis, Marc Andreessen, to explain how it’s rippling around the globe. And to break down all the implications for building companies and managing people we tapped a16z's cofounder Ben Horowitz. With both “a” and “z” in the room, this segment takes stock of the technology industry and startup ecosystem – from entrepreneurs to investors, and where it’s all headed next. Part one of two.
We’ve had some incredible guests join us on the a16z podcast this year, ranging from moonshot entrepreneurs, to top creators, to some of the most forward thinking technologists – all of which are busy shaping the future right before our eyes… We have so much more in store for 2023 and cannot wait for you to see who we bring on as guests. But before we turn the page, we wanted to recap some of the most interesting, thought-provoking segments from our 2022 roster. Here are 8 of our favorite clips, covering topics from AI to space to the metaverse… and beyond. Catch all our full episodes here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM4u6XbiXf5rnUvH5NLdV_It2QLgbHBDZ 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Marc Andreessen (a16z) 5:59 - Balaji Srinivasan (The Network State) 9:58 - Neal Stephenson (Lamina1) 15:45 - Karen Cheng (Karen X Cheng) 21:19 - Steve Wozniak (Privateer) 29:02 - Dr. Moriba Jah & Alex Fielding (Privateer) 34:55 - Chris Power (Hadrian) 39:30 - Ryan Petersen (Flexport) Stay Updated: Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
with Marc Andreessen (@pmarca), Ben Horowitz (@bhorowitz), and Steven Johnson (@stevenbjohnson) The rise of zero-sum thinking -- which has come snapping back recently -- slows and even halts progress, observes Marc Andreessen. Because you're then dividing up a smaller piece, adds Ben Horowitz, instead of growing the pie altogether. This is true not just in economics, politics, and tech, but also in business relationships (and life), too. And speaking of such relationships, how does the partnership between Ben and Marc work, more than two decades later, how has it changed through different types of organizations -- and is there anything startup co-founders (and other colleagues) can take away from it? Where do they find the creative inspiration, information, and influences for new ideas? And then, more broadly, how do they think about tech change... including jobs, automation, AI in general? This episode of the a16z Podcast covers these questions and much more. It's based on a fireside chat that took place at our annual a16z Summit event in November 2017 (which brings together large companies, finance investors, academics, and startups to talk all things innovation), and is moderated by author Steven B. Johnson -- who has written numerous magazine articles, 11 books so far (including Where Good Ideas Come From), and also hosted the PBS series “How We Got to Now”. Incidentally, those are the de facto themes for this conversation, which arcs from past to present to future -- taking us from blinking cursors to dashboards to screens and beyond.
with Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman), Marc Andreessen (@pmarca), and Sonal Chokshi (@smc90) The writer-showrunner is a relatively new phenomenon in TV, as opposed to film, which is still a director-driven enterprise. But what does it mean, as both a creative and a leader, to “showrun” something, whether a TV show… or a startup? Turns out, there are a lot of parallels with the rise of the showrunner and the rise of founder-CEOs, all working (or partnering) within legacy systems. But in the day to day details, really “owning” and showunning something — while also having others participate in it and help bring it to life — involves doing the work, both inside and out. This special, almost-crossover episode of the a16z Podcast features Billions co-showrunner Brian Koppelman — who also co-wrote movies such as Rounders and Ocean’s 13 with his longtime creative partner David Levien — in conversation with Marc Andreessen (and Sonal Chokshi). The discussion covers everything from managing up — when it comes to executives or investors sharing their “notes” aka “feedback” on your work — to managing down, with one’s team; to managing one’s partners (or co-founders)… and especially managing yourself. How to tame those irrational emotions, that ego? Ultimately, though, it’s all about unlocking creativity, whether in writing, coding, or other art forms. Because something surprising happened: Instead of TV going the way of music à la Napster with the advent of the internet, we’re seeing the exact opposite — a new era of “visual literature”, a “Golden Age” of television and art. Are artists apprenticing from other artists virtually, learning and figuring out the craft (with some help from the internet, mobile, TV)? And if we really are seeing “the creative explosion of all time”, what does it take to explode our own creativity in our work, to better run the shows of our lives? All this and more in this episode of the a16z Podcast… as well as some Billions behind-the-scenes (and light spoilers, alerted within!) towards the end.
In this lively conversation -- from our recent annual tech and policy summit in Washington, D.C. -- Axios' Dan Primack interviews a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen about the two major narratives dominating discussions about the tech industry right now: the industry is building stupid stuff; and tech is “evil” (or at least has an outsized impact, is destroying jobs). Part of the problem, Andreessen argues, is that we don't have enough technological innovation: With higher productivity growth, we'd have higher economic growth and more opportunity. But without enough opportunity, we're all at risk on all sides of the ideological spectrum. And actually, both the "tech is stupid" and "tech is evil" narratives are true... in different sectors [hint: those afflicted by Baumol’s cost disease]. So what then are the roles for policymakers and and entrepreneurs in addressing these issues, including jobs? Ultimately, Andreessen argues, success in Silicon Valley isn't really about good idea vs. bad idea at all … and it's all eventually political. (Bonus: why Andreessen stopped tweeting!)
Most investors try to invest in things that don't change and last forever -- Warren Buffett for example loves Heinz ketchup! But VC is about investing in things that do change... a lot. How does this basic mindset challenge much of what people learn in business school or classic leadership training? Do software-led businesses require different mindsets? What are some of the most common things first-time vs. serial entrepreneurs do? This Q&A -- with Marc Andreessen interviewed by Don Faul (former U.S. Marine platoon commander and head of operations at Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and now COO at Athos) -- covers these topics, as well as what to consider when working for a big- v. small- (and especially intermediate-) -sized company, what it takes to make a career transition, and how to "go back to kindergarten". The conversation took place before a group of 25 veterans who participated in the Breakline education and hiring program (one week of which was hosted at Andreessen Horowitz) for veterans shifting into careers in the tech industry. photo credit: Rene Tate for Breakline
Cyber attacks are growing in number and impact, and the reason is simple: there's more of value (and more vectors to) steal in our increasingly virtual world. So how are we to continue to move forward along this connected path as a culture and as businesses? Marc Andreessen tackles that question in this segment of the a16z Podcast -- against the backdrop of ever-more sophisticated hackers and hacks, Edward Snowden, and the rise of trillions more devices coming online. Still, despite the real risk and pain of cyber attacks we won't go backwards -- we have no choice but to move forward, says Andreessen. "The reason we don’t have a choice is there’s too much value in the virtual world." Smartphones, the internet; pick your favorite device, app, or service... ask yourself what (if anything) you would be willing to give up. Not much, right?
"All of a sudden you can program the world" -- it's the continuation of the software eating the world thesis we put out over five years ago, and of the trajectory of past and current technology shifts. So what are those shifts? What tech trends and platforms do we find most interesting on the heels of raising our fifth fund? Are we just building on and extending existing platforms though, or will there be new platforms; and if so, what will they be? Well, distributed systems for one... This episode of the a16z Podcast covers all things distributed systems -- encompassing cloud and SaaS; A.I., machine learning, deep learning; and quantum computing -- to the role of hardware; future interfaces; and data, big and small. Podcast guests Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz (in conversation with Scott Kupor and Sonal Chokshi) also share the one piece of advice from a management and go-to-market perspective that all founders should know. And finally, why simulations matter... and what do we make of our current reality if we are all really living in a simulation as Elon Musk believes?
Everything old is new again when it comes to startup ideas and how technology innovation happens. But practically, how does that apply to starting and/or working at startups — especially since the default state of every company is “dying in obscurity”? In this episode of the a16z Podcast, Marc Andreessen and 21 co-founder Balaji Srinivasan cover everything from deciding what ideas to work on and the optimal type of startups to work at, to the funding environment and pendulum swings of deciding when to IPO. They also discuss the VC “formula” of weighting product vs. market vs. team; the full-stack approach to cracking industries that tech could never enter before; and recent tech trends and news including The DAO, AI, VR/AR and the “Instagrammification of everything”, more. And where does Andreessen stand on the “moral dilemma” of whether entrepreneurs should drop out of college or not? Would Srinivasan still do a PhD today? People’s early career goals should be about maximizing learning skills and minimizing “personal burn”, they argue. But no matter what, Andreessen believes, smart people — from all industries, not just tech — should build things. It’s also easier to get through startup hard times when there’s an ideological mission motivating you, observes Srinivasan. This episode is based on a May 2016 conversation that was recorded as part of the Annual Distinguished Speaker Series with Thought Leaders in Technology, hosted by engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi at Stanford University. photo credit: Ryan Jae/ The Stanford Daily
It's a myth that startups happen in isolation. Those legendary two people in a garage are often building on the deep and basic research -- long funded by government and conducted in universities -- that has come before it. But with the advent of the internet, what's the future of peer-to-peer collaborations and startups-as-"science experiments"? Can venture capital disrupt academia… and vice versa? And finally, what's the secret to universities like Stanford making money off the entrepreneurial ideas coming out of them? (Hint: It starts with a 'p'. But not what you think.) a16z's new professor in residence Vijay Pande interviews Marc Andreessen at our recent Academic summit on these topics, as well as 'regulatory arbitrage', how to mix humanities and science, and what Marc would have majored in if he were 18 today.
with Marc Andreessen (@pmarca), Ben Horowitz (@bhorowitz), and Tyler Cowen (@tylercowen) This episode of the a16z Podcast features the rare combination of a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz in conversation, together, with economist Tyler Cowen (chair of economics at George Mason University and chairman and general director of the Mercatus Center there, and host of his own podcast.) The conversation originally took place at our most recent annual innovation Summit -- which features a16z speakers and invited experts from various organizations discussing innovation at companies large and small, as well as tech trends spanning bio, consumer, crypto, fintech, and more. This discussion covers Ben and Marc's marriage, er, partnership; the evolution of VC and "talent as a network"; and where are we right now on industries being affected by tech (such as retail) and tech trends (such as VR/AR and wearables) -- and where are we going next? Finally, is software eating culture... or is it the other way around?
Google, eBay, even the Web itself, in the beginning all of these things appeared as point products, interesting in their way, but small. Of course, they weren’t. “There is this swallow-the-red-pill moment that happens,” Marc Andreessen says, “Where you realize something really, really big is going to happen.” Optimization -- the relentless improvement of everything -- is another one of those ideas. In this segment of the pod, Andreessen joins Optimizely CEO Dan Siroker during the company’s annual conference Opticon for a conversation that covers a huge swath of what’s most exciting in tech today: the spread of optimization tools, privacy trends, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, Bitcoin, and killer robots. All that, and why Donald Trump’s hair could use some A/B testing.
Getting denied another round of NSF funding in the early days of Mosaic turned out to be a huge catalyst to start a company around the fledgling web browser, says Marc Andreessen. That company was Netscape. Andreessen was still at the University of Illinois at the time, and he wanted the NSF money to help build what amounted to a customer support team. That wasn’t the NSF’s business. Since Andreessen’s Mosaic days, calibrating the interplay between academia, government, and the private sector has gotten, if not easier, less exotic -- with schools like UC Berkeley and Stanford setting the standard for providing students and faculty with a clear path forward. From picking the right classes, to picking the right institution from which to turn research into a company, Andreessen and Chris Dixon discuss the role academia plays in the startup world in this segment of the a16z Podcast. This discussion was part of the firm’s 2015 Academic Roundtable.
Don Faul, head of operations at Pinterest and a former U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Commander, grills Marc Andreessen in front of a crowd of veterans at an event we hosted for bringing more veterans into startups. The discussion ranges from what makes great founders great; the shift to venture capital; and how Silicon Valley is all about “applied creativity.” All that, plus the three books every entrepreneur should read...
We live in very interesting times, to say the least -- whether it's a shift in how technology is built and adopted today compared to the past; a changing international landscape with leapfrogging players; or an increased cyberattack surface as computing and networking touch everything. So what's next for technology and national security? This episode of the a16z Podcast is based on a conversation that took place last month between Marc Andreessen and Michèle Flournoy -- former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and co-founder of the Center for a New American Security -- moderated by Matt Spence, partner on the a16z Policy and Regulatory Affairs team (and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense). It covers everything from technology procurement and the tyranny of the inbox, to the politics of industrial policy and ethics debates around use-cases for new technologies. But... do we really want innovation, not just in the abstract but in the specifics? If so, how do we think about the future? And how can both policymakers and technologists work together in different ways to help the U.S. keep its competitive edge and "give the future a seat at the table"?
Turnabout is fair play: That's true in politics, and it's true at Andreessen Horowitz given our internal (and very opinionated!) culture of debate -- where we often agree to disagree, or more often, disagree to agree. So in this special "turnabout" episode of the a16z Podcast, co-founder Marc Andreessen (who is most often in the hot seat being interviewed), got the chance to instead grill fellow partners Frank Chen (who covers AI and much more), Vijay Pande (who covers healthcare for the bio fund), and Alex Rampell (who covers all things fintech). None of the partners had any idea what Marc would ask them. Putting them in the hot seat at our recent a16z Tech Policy Summit, in Washington, D.C., Marc asked them policy questions such as the implications for tech of the American Health Care Act or AHCA (which itself was being hotly debated that exact same day, just a few miles away); the role of regulatory arbitrage; and what happens to companies big and small if Dodd-Frank is repealed. Oh, but they also covered so much more: the pros and cons of using tech to "discriminate" for better risk pooling; the role of genetics in addiction (can/should it be used to determine risk?); the opioid crisis (can tech help?); applying AI as a "salve" for everything (what's hyped, what's real, what's easy, what's hard?); the line between redlining and predatory lending (and where/when did sentiment flip?); and the ethics of artificial intelligence (beyond the ole Trolley Problem). Throw in a classic nature vs. nurture debate, a bit of 2-D vs. 3-D, and some fries (yes)... and the future arrives in this episode in 35 minutes or less.
Biology startups have been around for a long time. But the world has changed since that first wave of bio startups, and especially more recently, due to the "peace dividends of the smartphone wars". So what happens when you combine those cheap sensors and compute power -- and apply it to bio? Cheaper costs and Moore's Law-like effects may mean lower barriers to entry, the ability to experiment more often and more easily, and other AWS-like effects for a new wave of bio company founders. But is all this just about cost … or about something more? And how do we know if this time is really different when it comes to bio startups? On this episode of the a16z Podcast, a16z partners Marc Andreessen, Chris Dixon, and Vijay Pande discuss how everything changes when software eats biology -- that is, when computer science is at the heart of bio companies. Pande also shares three trends we think are particularly interesting: "digital therapeutics", "cloud bio", and "computational biomedicine".
In 2011, Marc Andreessen said, “software is eating the world.” And in the last year, we’ve seen a new wave of generative AI, with some apps becoming some of the most swiftly adopted software products of all time. In this first part of our three-part series – we explore the terminology and technology that is now the backbone of the AI models taking the world by storm. We explore what GPUs are, how they work, and the key players like Nvidia competing for chip dominance. Look out for the rest of our series, where we dive even deeper; covering supply and demand mechanics, where open source plays a role, and of course… how much all of this truly costs! Topics Covered: 00:00 – AI terminology and technology 03:54 – Chips, semiconductors, servers, and compute 05:07 – CPUs and GPUs 06:16 – Future architecture and performance 07:12 –The hardware ecosystem 09:20 – Software optimizations 11:45 –What do we expect for the future? 14:25 – Upcoming episodes on market dynamics and cost Resources: Find Guido on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appenz/ Find Guido on Twitter: https://twitter.com/appenz Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz join a16z general partner Erik Torenberg and Not Boring founder Packy McCormick for a conversation on how the media and information ecosystem has changed over the past decade. The discussion breaks down the shift toward a more open and decentralized speech environment, the rise of writer- and creator-led platforms like Substack, and the erosion of centralized media gatekeepers. Marc and Ben also tie these dynamics to their investing worldview, outlining how supply-driven markets, major technological step changes, and reputation-driven venture platforms shape outcomes in the AI era. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:46 - How the Media Ecosystem Is Changing 04:20 - Why a16z Invested in Substack 06:28 - Supply-Driven Markets and New Content Creation 08:07 - Why Writers Felt Trapped by Media Companies 10:09 - Databricks and the 10x Cloud Multiplier 13:58 - Long-Form Podcasting Proves Demand 15:40 - What the New Fund Signals About the Future 16:24 - AI as a Universal Problem Solver 18:49 - Why Market Sizing Is Broken 20:45 - Go-to-Market, Policy, and Platform Power 22:37 - Turning Inventors into Confident CEOs 25:58 - Borrowing Power to Scale Faster 27:29 - Building Dreamers, Not Killing Dreams 30:46 - Reputation as a Core Competitive Advantage 35:57 - Taking Arrows in Public 38:56 - Avoiding Big Company Failure Modes 40:39 - Autonomous Teams Inside a16z 41:54 - Venture Capital as the Last Job 46:01 - Why Intangibles Matter More Than Ever 48:17 - Original Thinkers with Charisma 50:06 - Why Zoomers Are Different Resources: https://www.notboring.co/p/a16z-the-power-brokers https://www.a16z.news/p/firm-fund Follow Marc Andreessen on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca Follow Ben Horowitz on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz Follow Erik Torenberg on X: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Follow Packy McCormick on X: https://twitter.com/packyM Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg](https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
The last few months have seen dramatic — almost magical — applications of expert generative AI released to the public. But what does this mean for healthcare and bio? Vijay and Marc sat down for a wide-ranging discussion on AI as an additive superpower…for healthcare as well as screenplays, music, and more. Stay Updated: → Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z → Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z → Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ → Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Recorded live at the 2025 a16z LP Summit, this episode is a candid conversation between a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz—hosted by general partner Erik Torenberg. They cover the evolution of a16z from startup firm to multi-practice platform, how the media landscape is shaped by meme-speed narratives, why reorgs—not just returns—determine who wins, and what it takes to build an enduring venture franchise. They also share thoughts on the changing policy landscape for AI and crypto, the firm’s bipartisan approach to Washington—and why Marc personally screens social media profiles before anyone joins the team. Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction 00:43 The Evolution of Andreessen Horowitz 01:19 Breaking into the Top Tier 04:20 Scaling with Software 08:42 The Impact of Social Media on Traditional Media 16:11 The Need for Continuous Evolution in Venture Capital 19:34 The Scale Effect in Early Stage Investments 20:30 Mission-Oriented Venture Capital 22:23 Experimental Culture and Innovation 24:33 Founder Mindset vs. Professional CEOs 26:35 Cementing Company Culture 29:10 Succession Planning and Longevity 31:22 AI and Crypto: The Intersection 37:29 Innovator's Dilemma and Future Outlook Resources: Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca Find Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive deep into the unfiltered story behind the founding of Andreessen Horowitz—and how they set out to reinvent venture capital itself. For the first time, Marc and Ben walk through the origins, strategy, and philosophy behind building a world-class venture capital firm designed for the future—not just the next fund. They reveal how they broke industry norms with a bold brand, a full-stack support model, and a long-term commitment to backing exceptional builders—anchored in the radical idea that founders deserved real support, not just checks. Joining them to guide the conversation is Erik Torenberg—Andreessen Horowitz’s newest General Partner—who makes his Ben & Marc Show moderating debut. Erik is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and founder of the media company Turpentine. You can learn more about Erik via Marc’s announcement [here]. Together, they explore: - Why traditional VC needed reinvention - How a16z scaled with a platform model, not a partner model - The "barbell strategy" reshaping venture capital today - Why venture remains a human craft, even in the age of AI We’re thrilled to welcome Erik to the team—and we hope you enjoy this inside look at the structure, philosophy, and future of a16z. Topics covered: 00:00 - Intro / Welcome Erik Torenberg to a16z 00:26 - Why Traditional Venture Capital Was Broken 03:05 - Marc on Discovering VC and Its Legends 05:12 - Surviving the Dot-Com Crash and Angel Investing Collapse 07:05 - Helping Founders Raise Venture / Fix VC Relationships 08:47 - The a16z Strategy: Building a Support Platform 12:07 - First Fund Wins: Skype, Instagram, Slack, Okta 12:50 - Building a 'World-Dominating Monster' 15:00 - The Sushi Boat VC Problem 18:07 - Treating LPs Differently 21:40 - Marc and Ben's Working Relationship 23:30 - Updating a16z’s Media Strategy for the Social Era 27:20 - History of the Decentralized Media Environment 30:36 - Decline of Corporate Brands and Going Direct 36:06 - Naming the Firm 40:13 - Building the a16z 'Cinematic Universe' of Talent 42:16 - Creating a Federated Model 51:02 - Deciding to Market the Firm 53:26 - Recruiting General Partners 56:33 - Evolution to Full-Stack Companies 01:03:53 - The Barbell Theory: The Death of Mid-Sized VCs 01:11:50 - Why Venture Capital Should Stay Overfunded 01:19:50 - When a16z Knew It Could Be Top Tier 01:25:58 - Venture Capital is an Art, Not a Science Books referenced on this episode: - "The Revolt of the Public" by Martin Gurri https://bit.ly/4jDloba - "Infamous Scribblers" by Eric Burns https://bit.ly/4lSkaKy Listen to Us! Apple: https://bit.ly/3SdsfNt Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3SclPOr Resources: Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/ Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz Erik on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Erik's Substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/ Stay Updated: Find us on X: https://x.com/a16z Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z This information is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any investment or financial product. Turpentine is an acquisition of a16z Holdings, L.L.C., and is not a bank, investment adviser, or broker-dealer. Individuals and companies featured during this podcast are not endorsing AH Capital or any of its affiliates (including, but not limited to, a16z Perennial Management L.P.). Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described in this podcast are not representative of all a16z investments and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results. A list of investments made by a16z is available at https://a16z.com/investment-list/. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting effects, you should consult appropriate professionals. Information is from sources deemed reliable on the date of publication, but a16z does not guarantee its accuracy.
How to Start a Startup is a series of video lectures, initially given at Stanford in Fall 2014. Lecture Transcript: http://www.tech.genius.com/Marc-andreessen-lecture-9-how-to-raise-money-annotated Sam leads a panel Q&A on Fundraising in this lecture with Marc Andreessen, Founder of Netscape and Andreessen Horowitz, Ron Conway, Founder of SV Angel, and Parker Conrad, Founder of Zenefits. See Ron Conway's slide, and readings at http://www.startupclass.samaltman.com/courses/lec09 Discuss this lecture: http://www.startupclass.co/courses/how-to-start-a-startup/lectures/64038
My podcast with the brilliant Marc Andreessen is out! We discuss: * how AI will revolutionize software * whether NFTs are useless, & whether he should be funding flying cars instead * a16z's biggest vulnerabilities * the future of fusion, education, Twitter, venture, managerialism, & big tech Interesting throughout! Enjoy!! 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 * Transcript + Website: https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/marc-andreessen * Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RmRgTU * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HrQsIY * Follow me for updates on future episodes: https://twitter.com/dwarkesh_sp * Follow Marc: https://twitter.com/pmarca 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:04 - Chewing glass 00:05:08 - AI 00:07:29 - Regrets 00:09:38 - Managerial capitalism 00:19:30 - 100 year fund 00:23:02 - Basic research 00:27:54 - $100b fund? 00:31:19 - Crypto debate 00:44:16 - Future of VC 00:51:07 - Founders 00:57:29 - a16z vulnerabilities 01:02:15 - Monetizing Twitter 01:07:56 - Future of big tech 01:14:54 - Is VC Overstaffed?
My podcast with the brilliant Marc Andreessen is out! We discuss: * how AI will revolutionize software * whether NFTs are useless, & whether he should be funding flying cars instead * a16z's biggest vulnerabilities * the future of fusion, education, Twitter, venture, managerialism, & big tech Interesting throughout! Enjoy!! 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 * Transcript + Website: https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/marc-andreessen * Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RmRgTU * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HrQsIY * Follow me for updates on future episodes: https://twitter.com/dwarkesh_sp * Follow Marc: https://twitter.com/pmarca 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:04 - Chewing glass 00:05:08 - AI 00:07:29 - Regrets 00:09:38 - Managerial capitalism 00:19:30 - 100 year fund 00:23:02 - Basic research 00:27:54 - $100b fund? 00:31:19 - Crypto debate 00:44:16 - Future of VC 00:51:07 - Founders 00:57:29 - a16z vulnerabilities 01:02:15 - Monetizing Twitter 01:07:56 - Future of big tech 01:14:54 - Is VC Overstaffed?
In this closing keynote from a16z’s Runtime conference, General Partner Erik Torenberg speaks with our firm’s cofounders, Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz on highlights from throughout the conference, the current state of LLM capabilities, and why despite huge capex, AI is not a bubble. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Can AI Truly Create? Intelligence vs. Invention 03:32 Remix, Originality, and the Nature of Human Creativity 06:20 Ben on Hip-Hop, Innovation, and Creative Genius 09:10 Intelligence, Power, and Who Really Leads 12:20 Beyond IQ: Leadership, Emotion, and Theory of Mind 16:40 Embodied Intelligence – The Mind-Body Question 20:14 How Advanced AI Really Is at “Theory of Mind” 23:02 Are We in an AI Bubble? Fundamentals vs. Hype 27:58 Platform Shifts, Google’s Wake-Up Call, and New UX Paradigms 31:00 Coaching Founders in a Unique AI Era 34:14 Talent, Chips, and the Coming Glut Cycle 37:10 The U.S.-China AI Race and the Robotics Future 38:52 Reindustrialization and What Comes Next Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Resources: Follow Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
The gaming industry is a pioneer of cutting-edge technologies, ushering in innovations like GPUs, virtual and augmented reality, physics engines, and immersive multiplayer experiences. Recorded as part of a16z's games fund accelerator, SPEEDRUN, the a16z cofounder Marc Andreessen and Andrew Chen, General Partner at a16z Games, discuss why a16z was compelled to establish a dedicated games fund. They explore the origins of tech pessimism, effective engagement with government in tech, its significance for the gaming community, the ongoing AI revolution, and even what Marc himself would build today if he didn’t have his hands full. Timecodes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - The Bonding Power of Gaming 02:32 - How Gaming Drives Technological Innovation 05:32 - Technological Transitions: Moral Panics and the Promise of Progress 11:48 - Government, Innovation, and the Role of Regulation 21:37 - Envisioning the Future of Immersive Experiences 25:32 - AI as a Partner 33:00 - Big Models vs. Open Innovation 36:28 - Why a16z launched a games fund 43:29 - Shaping the Future of Gaming and Technology Resources: Find Marc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmarca Find Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewchen Learn more about SPEEDRUN: https://a16z.com/games/speedrun/ Stay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Sign Up for "Writing Examples" and Learn From The Best Writing of All Time: https://www.writingexamples.com Marc Andreessen deserves a place on the Mount Rushmore of Silicon Valley. His presence in the tech space is unprecedented and he's one of the most prolific investors. The world of online writing is in debt to him. He co-founded Netscape, where he created one of the first web browsers. He invented the tweetstorm, and has helped form the internet. He coined the idea “software is eating the world”, which has defined humanity's evolution over the last decade. Marc isn’t just a mad man creator. He’s a passionate historian and cultural critic too. Name the topic. Marc has an opinion. This episode is a masterclass into a combination of tech and liberal arts in a way to fuel your writing. I came to chat with him about writing, but left with a PhD in obscure Silicon Valley history and a list of book recommendations large enough to fill The Library of Congress. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:37 It's Time To Build 00:03:00 Editing 00:04:00 Frustration 00:05:00 Outline 00:06:30 Reading 00:08:00 Audiobooks & podcasts 00:10:00 Information intake 00:10:38 Groupchats 00:14:25 Writing 00:16:20 Twitter 00:16:50 Meme Lord & Software is eating the world 00:18:40 Distribution 00:19:50 Tweetstorm 00:23:30 Personal Blog 00:24:00 Lateral Thinkers (Venkatesh Rao, Balaji Srinivasan, Peter Thiel) 00:27:40 LLM 00:28:00 Software as a literary genre 00:33:30 Learning to code as a kid 00:34:45 Constraints 00:36:40 Roman a Clef 00:39:00 Writing at a16z 00:43:40 Hyperlinks 00:45:40 Comments 00:50:00 Reading 00:54:40 Science Fiction 00:58:00 Green Tea 00:58:30 Office 00:59:45 Music 01:01:00 Walking 01:01:20 Ben Horowitz 01:04:50 Manifesto 01:05:00 The Kanye of Blogs 01:09:30 Feedback 01:10:40 Critique 01:13:50 Twitter 01:16:00 Pmarca screenname SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://www.a16z.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmarca WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage? Click here: https://writeofpassage.school PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv ABOUT THE HOST: I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. How I Write is a podcast by Write of Passage // Production by Adam Soccolich
Marc Andreessen is the co-creator of Mosaic, co-founder of Netscape, and co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off - ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free - AG1: https://drinkag1.com/lex to get 1 year of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs TRANSCRIPT: https://lexfridman.com/marc-andreessen-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Marc's Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmarca Marc's Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com Marc's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@a16z Andreessen Horowitz: https://a16z.com Why AI will save the world (essay): https://a16z.com/2023/06/06/ai-will-save-the-world Books mentioned: 1. When Reason Goes on Holiday (book): https://amzn.to/3p80b1K 2. Superintelligence (book): https://amzn.to/3N7sc1A 3. Lenin (book): https://amzn.to/43L8YWD 4. The Ancient City (book): https://amzn.to/43GzReb PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:06 - Google Search 8:54 - LLM training 21:25 - Truth 27:38 - Journalism 37:29 - AI startups 42:51 - Future of browsers 49:15 - History of browsers 55:16 - Steve Jobs 1:09:50 - Software engineering 1:17:05 - JavaScript 1:21:23 - Netscape 1:26:27 - Why AI will save the world 1:34:26 - Dangers of AI 2:04:46 - Nuclear energy 2:16:43 - Misinformation 2:32:02 - AI and the economy 2:38:10 - China 2:42:22 - Evolution of technology 2:51:41 - How to learn 2:59:50 - Advice for young people 3:02:40 - Balance and happiness 3:09:16 - Meaning of life SOCIAL: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
In this episode of Monitoring the Situation, Marc Andreessen, Katherine Boyle, and Erik Torenberg dive into the movies that best explain America, from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to Tropic Thunder to Fight Club. They explore how Tarantino’s revisionist masterpiece reimagines 1969 and the end of America’s cultural innocence, why Tropic Thunder was the last un-cancellable comedy, and how Fight Club evolved from a left-wing critique of capitalism to a right-wing prophecy about alienation and identity. Along the way, they trace the parallels between the counterculture of the 1960s and the internet culture wars of the 2010s, and debate whether we’re living through another great American cultural reset. 00:00 Intro 02:10 Los Angeles: The Ultimate “Fake It Till You Make It” Story 04:55 The 1960s Cultural Revolution 08:15 When the Dream Turns Dark: Manson and the End of the Sixties 10:40 Tarantino’s Twist on the Manson Murders 13:10 The Easter Eggs and Alternate History 16:00 Cliff Booth, Sharon Tate, and the Genius of the Ending 20:15 The Counterculture, Violence, and Comedy Collide 23:15 Why Audiences Laughed Through the Violence 26:30 What Tarantino Says About America 29:45 From Once Upon a Time to Tropic Thunder 33:10 Tropic Thunder: The Ultimate Hollywood Satire 36:30 Robert Downey Jr. in Blackface 40:50 Booty Sweat, Les Grossman, and the Genius of the Marketing 44:30 Satire, Offense, and How the Film Aged 48:20 Oppenheimer: Nolan’s Epic and Its Moral Dilemma 53:45 Was Oppenheimer the Hero or the Traitor? 01:03:00 The Morality of the Bomb and the Cold War Reality 01:08:40 AI, Scientists, and the Burden of Invention 01:12:30 Fight Club: Nihilism, Masculinity, and "Capital A" Art 01:15:30 Could Fight Club Be Made Today? 01:16:00 Closing Thoughts Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Thinking Big: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1161700.Thinking_Big Follow Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca Follow Katherine on X: https://x.com/KTmBoyle Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Marc Andreessen, Co-Founder & Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, discusses his philosophy on investing in technical founders and the role of technology in today's startups. Andreessen also addresses the kind of entrepreneurs and ideas his venture capital firm look for: "Big breakthrough ideas often seem nuts the first time you see them." Related article: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/marc-andreessen-we-are-biased-toward-people-who-never-give More about the View From The Top speaker series: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/vftt All View From The Top videos: http://www.youtube.com/course?list=EC5C14B375A7F2FEA8
If you want to be successful as a venture capitalist, you need to be ruthlessly open-minded, constantly re-examining your assumptions, shared Andreessen Horowitz Cofounder and Partner Marc Andreessen. Read more leadership lessons from his Stanford GSB View From The Top talk on Tuesday, November 8, 2016: stanford.io/22fGCxZ
Erik Torenberg and Theo Jaffee speak with Marc Andreessen, cofounder and general partner at a16z, about the launch of Monitoring the Situation (https://www.youtube.com/mtsituation) a new, always-on media network on X. They discuss the rise of the “current thing,” how narratives spread in real time, and why internet-native media is reshaping politics, culture, and attention. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:36 - The CNN "Random Ammonium" Origin Story 05:18 - The Internet Reinvented Random Ammonium 10:02 - If It's on the Internet, It's a Viral Meme 17:25 - Is Political Polarization Overstated? 29:48 - What Makes Something "The Current Thing" 39:04 - Ops, Availability Entrepreneurs & Dark Money 52:38 - Legacy Media vs New Media & The First True Internet Election Resources: Follow Marc X: https://x.com/pmarca Follow Eric on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Follow Theo on X: https://x.com/theojaffee Follow MTS on X: https://x.com/MTSlive Check out MTS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/mtsituation Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.
Marc Andreessen talks about the rise of remote work, society''s reshuffling in response to it, and how a16z has changed its remote work policies. Watch the full episode with Marc here: https://youtu.be/0jIqF2_PFFM Follow Marc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmarca Stay Updated on the a16z Podcast: * Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z * Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z * Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ * Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Hollywood is going through a major cultural and creative reset, and Marc Andreessen thinks it’s long overdue. In this episode of Monitoring the Situation, Marc joins Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle to dissect the past decade of filmmaking, from the rise of “the message” in every movie to the return of genuine comedy and art. They cover the post-woke shift in Hollywood, the financial collapse of the streaming era, and why AI could spark a renaissance for a new generation of independent filmmakers. Marc also shares his favorite recent films (and the ones he thinks aged poorly), why Eddington might be the first true “Capital-A Art” film in years, and how AI could democratize storytelling the way digital cameras did in the 90s. Follow Marc on X: x.com/pmarca Follow Katherine on X: x.com/KTmBoyle Follow Erik on X: x.com/eriktorenberg Timecodes: 00:00 – Movies as Modern Myths 03:53 – Why Movies Still Matter 05:08 – The Great American Novel vs. The Great American Movie 07:03 – Taylor Swift, Scorsese & Cultural Artifacts 09:09 – Art That Stands the Test of Time 10:20 – The Great Films of 2019 & the Hollywood Shift 11:00 – The State of Hollywood, Post-COVID 13:43 – Streaming’s Rise & the Broken Economics 15:34 – “The Message” and Hollywood’s Cultural Capture 19:00 – The Post-Message Era Begins 20:06 – One Battle After Another: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Miss 27:41 – Eddington: The First Real Post-2020 Art Film 31:02 – Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal & Real America 39:00 – What Great Filmmaking Could Look Like Again 43:00 – Hollywood’s Fever Breaks & Comedy Returns 48:49 – AI in Filmmaking & the Future of Creativity 52:26 – Naked Gun Revival and the Return of Humor 56:26 – Fantastic Four and Pro-Family Cinema 58:17 – Could Atlas Shrugged Be Made Today? 1:03:54 – South Park, AI & a New Era of Film Creation 1:07:57 – Closing Thoughts If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Resources: Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
What does it take to build a venture firm from scratch—and scale it across multiple waves of technological and cultural change? In this special episode recorded at the a16z LP Summit, Marc Andreessen joins Erik Torenberg for a wide-ranging conversation on the origins and evolution of Andreessen Horowitz. From raising Fund I during the depths of the 2008 financial crisis to shaping the firm’s multistage, multi-sector strategy, Marc reflects on how the firm was built—and rebuilt—as the tech landscape shifted. They discuss the rise of “Little Tech,” why policy now matters to startups, how scale became a strategic advantage in venture capital, and why the move from generalists to vertical specialists was inevitable. Along the way, Marc shares behind-the-scenes stories on Facebook’s near-sale to Yahoo, the evolution of founder archetypes, the global talent arbitrage, and what too many people still misunderstand about tech’s role in society. This is a masterclass in firm-building, investing, and long-term thinking. Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Founding the Firm 10:43 The Evolution of Venture Capital 13:37 The Rise of Specialized Funds 16:52 The Role of Domain Expertise in Tech 19:45 Globalization and Tech Enthusiasm 21:23 Challenges and Opportunities in Europe 23:05 International Investments and Policies 24:38 The Evolution of Tech Industry Politics 27:43 The Rise of Little Tech vs. Big Tech 30:47 Historical Context of Tech and Defense 36:29 Modern Tech's Role in National Security Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
a16z cofounder Marc Andreessen joins an AMA-style conversation to explain why AI is the largest technology shift he has experienced, how the cost of intelligence is collapsing, and why the market still feels early despite rapid adoption. The discussion covers how falling model costs and fast capability gains are reshaping pricing, distribution, and competition across the AI stack, why usage-based and value-based pricing are becoming standard, and how startups and incumbents are navigating big versus small models and open versus closed systems. Marc also addresses China’s progress, regulatory fragmentation, lessons from Europe, and why venture portfolios are designed to back multiple, conflicting outcomes at once. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction 1:51 — What Inning Are We In? How Early the AI Shift Really Is 9:11 — Revenue Growth vs. Burn: Can AI Companies Scale Profitably? 15:52 — GPUs, Compute & Infrastructure: Shelf Life and Bottlenecks 24:23 — China, Open Source & the Global AI Race 32:46 — Policy & Regulation: State vs. Federal Dynamics 41:54 — AI Pricing Models: Usage-Based vs. Value-Based 47:10 — Open vs. Closed Models: Tradeoffs and Long-Term Winners 50:42 — Incumbents vs. Startups: Who Has the Advantage? 58:39 — a16z AMA: Disagree & Commit, Org Design, and Scaling Teams 1:08:44 — Jobs, Labor & How Society Adopts AI at Scale 1:15:50— Lightning Round: Rapid-Fire & Fun Questions Resources: Follow Marc Andreesen on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca Follow Jen Kha on X: https://twitter.com/jkhamehl Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X :https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Erik Torenberg speaks with Marc Andreessen about the state of AI, media, and the broader cultural and economic shifts shaping the internet. They discuss how narratives around AI, from fear to hype, are influencing public perception, and why real-world usage tells a very different story. The conversation covers AI’s impact on jobs and productivity, the rise of “AI-native” builders, and why increased capability tends to expand work rather than eliminate it. Andreessen also examines how companies are adapting, from restructuring teams to rethinking roles around more generalist “builders.” They also explore the changing media landscape, from the dynamics of influence and information to the breakdown of traditional authority, and what it means for trust, culture, and generational attitudes. Along the way, they touch on topics ranging from institutional power to emerging internet subcultures, offering a wide-ranging look at how technology is reshaping both systems and society. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:42 - The Anthropic Blackmail Incident & AI Doomer Literature 02:49 - Suicidal Empathy & the SPLC Indictment 16:33 - AI, Jobs & the Rise of the AI Vampire 25:39 - The Future of Tech Jobs: From Coder to Builder 30:55 - AI Psychosis, AI Cope & Why the Models Are Actually Great Now 38:48 - Why AI Sentiment Polls Are Misleading 45:28 - UFOs: What We Know and What the Government Has Hidden 52:25 - Advice for Young People & the Generational Divide Resources: Follow Marc Andreessen on X: https://x.com/pmarca Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.
Marc Andreessen joins Joe Lonsdale for a live conversation at the inaugural Ronald Reagan Economic Forum. They explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI and robotics catalyze a new era of American industrial strength—and how do we ensure the entire country, including rural communities, shares in the upside? Marc walks through the history of U.S. industrialization, the lessons of tariffs and trade from leaders like McKinley, and how America’s shift to a services-based economy helped fuel our current urban-rural divide. The conversation spans immigration policy, housing, education, energy, and the path to a true AI-powered manufacturing revival—touching on what needs to change and how. This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of American productivity, growth, and leadership in the age of AI. Timecodes: 00:00 Episode intro 02:18 Understanding McKinley & Trump on tariffs 07:20 Manufacturing to services; America's economic shift 11:30 The great clash between cities & rural America 15:50 Deindustrializing was a choice 17:40 AI is a fundamental turning point 20:30 Robotics will be biggest industry ever created 23:54 High-skilled immigration + DEI hurts rural kids 29:32 What are bottlenecks to AI boom Resources: Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca Follow Joe on X: https://x.com/jtlonsdale You can find his writings here: https://blog.joelonsdale.com/ Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Marc Andreessen is an entrepreneur, investor, co-creator of Mosaic, co-founder of Netscape, and co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep458-sb See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. *Transcript:* https://lexfridman.com/marc-andreessen-2-transcript *CONTACT LEX:* *Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey *AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama *Hiring* - join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring *Other* - other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact *EPISODE LINKS:* Marc's X: https://x.com/pmarca Marc's Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com Marc's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16z Andreessen Horowitz: https://a16z.com *SPONSORS:* To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: *Encord:* AI tooling for annotation & data management. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/encord-ep458-sb *GitHub:* Developer platform and AI code editor. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/github-ep458-sb *Notion:* Note-taking and team collaboration. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/notion-ep458-sb *Shopify:* Sell stuff online. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep458-sb *LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep458-sb *OUTLINE:* 0:00 - Introduction 1:09 - Best possible future 10:32 - History of Western Civilization 19:51 - Trump in 2025 27:32 - TDS in tech 40:19 - Preference falsification 56:15 - Self-censorship 1:11:18 - Censorship 1:19:57 - Jon Stewart 1:22:43 - Mark Zuckerberg on Joe Rogan 1:31:32 - Government pressure 1:42:19 - Nature of power 1:55:08 - Journalism 2:00:43 - Bill Ackman 2:05:40 - Trump administration 2:13:19 - DOGE 2:27:11 - H1B and immigration 3:05:05 - Little tech 3:17:25 - AI race 3:26:15 - X 3:29:47 - Yann LeCun 3:33:21 - Andrew Huberman 3:34:53 - Success 3:37:49 - God and humanity *PODCAST LINKS:* - Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 - RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ - Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 - Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips *SOCIAL LINKS:* - X: https://x.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://instagram.com/lexfridman - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://facebook.com/lexfridman - Patreon: https://patreon.com/lexfridman - Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman
We pulled together eleven of the most frequently asked questions from Startup School attendees and had YC partners answer them on stage. Here are the questions: 1. If you know you want to eventually start a startup, when should you do it? Should you wait to become a domain expert or start now? 0:50 2. What’s a good process for discovering and vetting new ideas that might be worth building? 1:48 3. How do you choose between an idea you love but might be tough to monetize and an idea that has great revenue potential? 3:19 4. YC generally recommends having a cofounder. Ooshma Garg of Gobble didn’t have a cofounder. What convinced you about her application? 3:42 5. What are tools or services you’d recommend for founders that are just starting? 6:20 6. What kinds of things do new founders waste time on? 7:37 7. Is it more important to move fast or perfect your product? 9:46 8. For a startup that’s recently launched, what would you consider a good growth rate? 12:40 9. What do you look for when you’re reading a YC application? What do you look for when you’re interviewing companies? 13:44 10. Is there an optimal time in the lifecycle of a company to apply for YC? 18:48 11. Is there anything you wish you’d known when you first started? 20:56
The long-standing (and chart-topping) a16z Podcast returns to cover the most important topics within the world of technology. Brought to you by the minds at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and hosted by Steph Smith, each episode goes beyond headlines, giving listeners insider access to the edge of innovation. Subscribe to be the first to receive upcoming episodes featuring industry leaders like Steve Wozniak, Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, and Neal Stephenson, and covering a range of topics, from AI to space to the metaverse to genomics, and beyond. Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.com/podcasts Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Recorded live at the New Media Summit, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Erik Torenberg, and Gaby Goldberg discuss how media, communication, and influence are changing in the internet era. The conversation explores the shift from legacy media to creator-led platforms, why authenticity has become a competitive advantage, and how founders can build audiences by communicating directly with customers, employees, and the public. They discuss podcasts, social media, storytelling, corporate communications, and the changing relationship between companies, journalists, and audiences. Along the way, they examine how founders can develop a public voice, why some leaders become influential communicators, and what it means to build a brand in a world where distribution is increasingly decentralized. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: The New Rules of Media 00:56 - Why Authenticity Beats Media Training 02:41 - Marc's Media Training Horror Story 06:59 - How the Legacy Press Turned Adversarial 11:58 - Going Direct: The Founder Is the Brand 20:20 - Picking Your Battles: When to Fight Back 23:42 - Why Being Polarizing Beats Being Liked 25:06 - Hiring a Team Built for New Media 30:03 - The Founder Messaging Mistakes to Avoid 33:47 - Tell the Bigger Story: The Alex Karp Playbook Resources: Follow Marc Andreessen on X: https://x.com/pmarca Follow Ben Horowitz on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz Follow Erik Torenberg on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Follow Gaby Goldberg on X: https://x.com/gaby_goldberg Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg This material is solely for educational purposes and is not investment advice or an offer of investment advisory services. This material should not be used as the basis for an investment decision. a16z is an investor in SpaceX and Cursor through its managed funds, and thus has a financial interest in the company's performance and future prospects. In particular, a16z benefits if the company grows in value; and a16z funds will receive any customary dividend payments in connection with their status as a shareholder of the company. However, a16z is not being compensated by SpaceX or Cursor for this material. Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.
Erik Torenberg, Ben Horowitz, and Marc Andreessen discuss how the media landscape has fundamentally changed and what a16z is doing about it. They cover why offense beats defense, why individuals now matter more than corporate brands, why speed wins in the new media landscape, and the difference between oral and written culture on the internet. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction 2:26 — Offense Beats Defense in New Media 7:01 — The Death of the Corporate Brand 12:17 — Long Form as the Ultimate Shield 17:55 — If It's on TV It's a TV Show — If It's on the Internet It's a Viral Post 28:13 — Speed Wins Everything 33:16 — Is the Internet Oral or Written Culture? 37:02 — Building a16z's New Media Machine Resources: Follow Erik Torenberg on X: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Follow Ben Horowitz on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz Follow Marc Andreessen on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.
David and Marc Andreessen discuss writing a roman a clef. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV6kDr1rwTs WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? https://take.writeofpassage.school/writing-sprints PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv ABOUT THE HOST: I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. #business #writing #shorts
With much coverage of technology lined with pessimism, the a16z Podcast returns to highlight the bright side of technology, alongside the founders building it. But before featuring the solutions in progress, we wanted to explore why building the future is still so important. And who better to traverse this ground than a16z’s own cofounder Marc Andreessen, who has built and invested in the future time and time again, especially when it wasn't the obvious thing to do. Together with Marc, this episode explores technology through the lens of history – including the three stages of human psychology as we encounter new technologies, how that process often manifests in regulation, when to change your mind, the Cambrian explosion of opportunity coming from distributed work, the importance of founder-led companies, and perhaps most importantly, we examine why there's still much reason for optimism. Topics Covered: 00:00 - Welcome back! 02:12 - The importance of tech today 05:34 - Historical negativity toward technology 10:13 - The invention of the bicycle 14:01 - Innovation vs status in society 21:57 - Automobile moral panic and red flag laws 26:28 - Balaji’s arc on social networking 29:28 - Surfacing signal from noise 36:10 - The role of timing in innovation 40:04 - Today’s major unlocks 47:51 - Remote work and society reshuffling 53:08 - Changing your mind 57:52 - Retaining a lens of optimism 1:08:58 - What Marc’s excited about 1:13:39 - Bourgeois vs managerial capitalism 1:23:12 - Reform vs starting anew Resources: * Marc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmarca * Pessimist’s Archive: https://pessimistsarchive.org/ Stay Updated: * Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z * Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z * Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ * Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.