
37 segments available
At the end of 2022, our team at a16z asked dozens of partners across the firm to spotlight one big idea that startups in their fields could tackle in 2023. Emerging from this exercise came 40+ builder-worthy pursuits for the year, ranging from entertainment franchise games to precision delivery of medicine to small modular reactors, and of course loads of AI applications. In our 2-part series, we’ll be covering 12 of these big ideas with the partners that shared them. Here in part 2, we’ll cover Fintech, American Dynamism, and Bio & Health. Listen in as we chat with Anish Acharya, Angela Strange, Michelle Volz, Ryan McEntush, Vijay Pande, and Julie Yoo. And for the full list of 40+ ideas, check out the full article: https://a16z.com/2022/12/15/big-ideas-in-tech-2023/ Topics Covered: (0:00) Intro (1:12) GPT Unlocks Credit Counseling - Anish Acharya (10:31) Compliance as a Competitive Advantage - Angela Strange (23:48) Small Modular Reactors Advance the Nuclear Renaissance - Michelle Volz (34:38) Overhauling the Space Supply Chain - Ryan McEntush (46:36) The Biggest Company in the World - Vijay Pande (53:29) The Value-Based Care Stack - Julie Yoo Resources: - https://a16z.com/2022/11/02/america-space-age/ - https://a16z.com/2022/11/11/the-biggest-company-in-the-world/ - https://a16z.com/2021/01/08/the-new-tech-stack-for-virtual-first-care/ 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.
In this segment, the hosts introduce the second part of the series on big ideas in technology for 2023. They highlight the collaborative effort of a16z partners to identify over 40 builder-worthy pursuits, focusing on fintech, American dynamism, and bio & health. This sets the stage for the discussions to follow.
"at the end of 2022 our team at a16z asked dozens of Partners across the firm to Spotlight one big idea that startups in their fields could tackle in 2023 emerging from this exercise came literally 40 ..."
Anish Acharya discusses how GPT technology can revolutionize credit counseling by providing scalable, cost-effective solutions. He explains the potential of AI to democratize access to credit coaching, making it available to a broader audience while addressing the complexities of the credit system.
"thank you [Music] carrying over some of the themes around AI from part one let's start with a niche hi everyone I'm Anish from Andresen Horowitz I'm a GP on the fintech team and my big prediction is a..."
Acharya elaborates on the market size for credit counseling, emphasizing the vast number of individuals who could benefit from improved credit advice. He discusses the challenges faced by traditional credit counseling services and the potential for AI to provide better outcomes for consumers and lenders alike.
"Niche this is really interesting to really set the stage how big is this market and let's break that down not just in terms of the people who are currently using credit counseling but also the the fol..."
The conversation shifts to the risks associated with using AI for credit counseling. Acharya and the host discuss the importance of accuracy in financial advice and the potential consequences of errors, highlighting the need for careful implementation of AI solutions in sensitive financial contexts.
"access it today but I also have to think about how Finance as a space is as you could say less fault tolerant than maybe some other spaces that AI is currently being applied to so just as an example i..."
Acharya addresses the incentives within financial services, arguing against the notion that companies profit from keeping consumers in poor credit situations. He explains how improved creditworthiness can lead to lower costs for consumers and better profitability for lenders.
"that there are a subset of challenges within this space and a subset of customers you know who either desperately need the service and are getting it so wrong that you know any rational advice would b..."
The discussion continues with Acharya exploring how AI can unlock a significantly cheaper labor supply in fintech. He identifies customer support as a key area where AI can enhance service delivery, making financial interactions more accessible and efficient for all consumers.
"importantly they're subject to less volatility in markets like this when sort of my market cycle is changing and their business or book can get blown out by a sudden shift in consumer credit worthines..."
Acharya shares insights on the future of wealth management, discussing the challenges of building empathy in AI-driven financial advice. He highlights the potential for AI to commoditize financial advice while acknowledging the complexities involved in personal finance.
"that's one wealth management I think is another wealth management is tricky because it's one part counseling you know one part advice and it's just hard for people to for obvious reasons build empathy..."
Angela Strange introduces her perspective on compliance in fintech, arguing that effective compliance technology will become a competitive advantage. She outlines the regulatory landscape and the challenges faced by financial institutions in managing compliance.
"Angela hi I'm Angela strange I'm a general partner on the fintech team here at Andreessen Horowitz and I believe that in 2023 doing compliance well Tech enabled is going to become a competitive Advant..."
Strange discusses the operational and economic burdens that compliance regulations place on fintech firms. She provides insights into the costs associated with compliance and the increasing need for effective solutions in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.
"50 000 regulations that is a ton and I want to give our listeners a sense of the weight that this puts on companies Without Really commenting on whether this is a good or bad thing what kind of operat..."
Strange concludes by reflecting on the evolution of financial services and the growing complexity of compliance as more companies enter the fintech space. She emphasizes the need for innovative compliance solutions to keep pace with the changing landscape.
"problem two right if you had compliance procedures that were working well in the old world and there was some software and many manual procedures and all of a sudden that complex actually doubled your..."
Strange emphasizes the role of technology in addressing compliance challenges, particularly in the context of money laundering. She discusses how AI and machine learning can streamline compliance processes, reduce manual reviews, and improve efficiency in financial services, ultimately helping companies manage the complexities of regulatory requirements.
"and this compliance had had nothing to do with crypto it was simply you know all Financial Services institutions have an obligation to kyc like understand who their customers are as they go through th..."
The conversation shifts to the opportunities for new companies in the compliance space. Strange identifies three key areas for innovation: integrating siloed compliance systems, addressing the unique needs of crypto compliance, and enhancing data sharing among financial institutions to improve overall compliance effectiveness.
"space well if you ask chat gbt that answer um they will basically say surprise AI but let me tell you a little more specifically let's take any money laundering for instance right and there's there's ..."
Strange explores how compliance impacts competition in the financial sector, noting that companies may seek jurisdictions with less stringent regulations. She discusses the potential for new compliance-focused companies to emerge, helping businesses navigate complex regulatory landscapes while maintaining competitive advantages.
"we we talked a little bit of coinbase um just in the U.S more than 10 percent of people have a crypto wallet and so does it make sense that you would have entirely separate on-chain compliance systems..."
Michelle Volz introduces the concept of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a key innovation in nuclear energy. She highlights the potential of SMRs to provide clean, reliable power with lower capital costs and faster deployment times compared to traditional nuclear plants, positioning them as a viable solution for energy needs in various applications.
"yeah I mean coming back to what you mentioned before 10 of Revenue that's that's a lot that's not 10 of profit um so I think this will be top of think of all the new products you could be building wit..."
Volz elaborates on the advantages of SMRs over traditional nuclear power plants, including reduced construction timelines and the ability to deploy in diverse locations. She discusses the regulatory challenges that remain but expresses optimism about the future of SMRs and their potential to revolutionize the nuclear energy landscape by 2030.
"the US's electricity it's commonly misconceived as a dangerous and non-viable option when it comes to adding reliable sources of carbon free energy but recently nuclear energy has been having a bit of..."
The segment delves into the regulatory challenges facing the nuclear industry, particularly for SMRs. Michelle Volz outlines the bottlenecks created by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the need for reform to lower approval fees and accelerate timelines. The discussion emphasizes the importance of establishing a clear regulatory framework for SMRs to facilitate their development.
"before 2030. that's exciting and I like the framing of decades versus years something that you just spoke to there which has come up in my very limited Research into this space is regulation it seems ..."
Michelle Volz compares the U.S. nuclear regulatory framework with those of other countries, highlighting the need for actionable guidelines. She discusses how international coordination and learning from countries with more efficient nuclear regulations can help the U.S. advance its nuclear capabilities, particularly in the context of SMRs.
"next few years yeah I was really surprised to hear that in the case of some of these regulations like there isn't actually even a threshold of the appropriate amount of radiation which is allowed it's..."
In this segment, Michelle Volz explores the various business opportunities within the nuclear supply chain as the industry evolves. She identifies potential gaps in areas such as uranium supply, manufacturing, and waste disposal, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions and new companies to support the growing demand for nuclear energy.
"the US as people listen to this there may be potential Founders some of them won't want to be the entity that goes and sets up a whole nother nuclear plant or an SMR but something you spoke to in your..."
Michelle Volz discusses the advancements in nuclear fusion and its potential impact on the energy landscape. While acknowledging that fusion is still in its early stages, she expresses optimism about its future role alongside SMRs in meeting global energy needs. The segment highlights the importance of continued investment in both fission and fusion technologies.
"on that note nuclear we're currently talking about it in the stance of fission which people are more familiar with but there have been other advancements in Fusion which I think is a little further ou..."
Michelle Volz addresses the challenges that could hinder the progress of nuclear energy development over the next decade. She emphasizes the need for a collective decision to invest in nuclear technology and the importance of overcoming regulatory hurdles to enable the construction of new reactors and SMRs.
"smaller modularity that's going to be the breakthroughs we see I feel like I have to ask this question after you brought up this idea that the technology already exists if we look out let's say five t..."
Ryan McEntush introduces the concept of overhauling the space supply chain, drawing parallels between historical advancements in resource collection and today's space age. He emphasizes the importance of building advanced rockets and satellites to maintain leadership in space and support both military and economic interests.
"us getting in our own way next up we have Ryan hi I'm Ryan McIntosh I'm a partner on the American dynamism team overhauling the space supply chain civilizations ancient past is segmented by advancemen..."
Ryan McEntush discusses the holistic view of the space supply chain, emphasizing the importance of mining, manufacturing, and on-orbit servicing. He highlights the need for critical resources and infrastructure to support the growing demand for space technology, including the production of satellites and rockets. This segment explores the immediate opportunities in space-related industries and the potential for mass manufacturing in the sector.
"sure so the way I think about space and space supply chain holistically is that space is sort of the well it is you know the final frontier it's where our industrial capacity and the stuff that we can..."
Ryan McEntush elaborates on the ambitious nature of space ventures, using SpaceX as a prime example of a company that balances moonshot goals with practical revenue generation. He discusses the challenges faced by founders in the space industry and the importance of creating sustainable business models that can support long-term aspirations in space exploration and technology.
"last piece is what's called osam so like onser on orbit servicing and Manufacturing basically activity that services this Market of satellites and space stations if we're going to have 30 000 satellit..."
Ryan McEntush introduces the concept of 'Jamestown businesses' in the space industry, drawing parallels to historical examples of successful market entry. He discusses how companies can leverage immediate market needs, such as satellite imagery and government contracts, to establish themselves in the space sector while preparing for future expansion into broader domains.
"curious to know if there are examples that you could provide of other companies perhaps that have been able to build that bridge because I think perhaps one of the reasons that maybe more Founders are..."
In this segment, Ryan McEntush highlights the role of military contracts in driving innovation within the space industry. He discusses how government demand for space capabilities, such as satellite tracking and orbital debris management, can provide a pathway for revenue and technological advancement, setting the stage for future commercial opportunities.
"contracts then the first sort of uh customer for a lot of space pushing the frontier if you will is often government SpaceX is still largely derives a lot of revenue from government but looking at are..."
Ryan McEntush emphasizes the strategic importance of space assets in contemporary conflicts, using the example of the Ukraine war to illustrate how satellite technology influences military operations. He discusses the potential for space resources, including asteroid mining, to reshape industries and address material shortages on Earth, highlighting the long-term vision for space utilization.
"um I would be remiss if I did not cover this question as we close this out which is just you know you in your big idea kind of framed this idea of space providing the you could say that this measuring..."
Vijay Pande presents his vision for the future of consumer health technology, arguing that the largest company in the world could emerge from this sector. He outlines the potential for a vertically integrated health company that combines payer and provider roles, or a horizontal marketplace that enhances healthcare delivery, emphasizing the vast opportunities for innovation in consumer health.
"we have Vijay hi I'm Vijay Pandey Journal partner of Bion Health at a16z and this is my biggest idea the biggest company in the world will be a consumer health tech company this may sound crazy to som..."
Vijay Pande discusses the difficulties faced by major tech companies like Google and Apple in successfully entering the healthcare space. He attributes their struggles to a lack of deep understanding of healthcare systems and the unique challenges of integrating technology into medical practices, suggesting that new founders with a blend of tech and healthcare expertise are needed to drive change.
"Vijay this is a big prediction so before we jump into the nitty-gritty I want to hear from you just how big is this healthcare industry yeah actually people forget just how huge it is it's approaching..."
Vijay Pande explores the potential for improving consumer experiences in healthcare, drawing parallels to advancements in enterprise software. He emphasizes the need for founders who prioritize patient-centric design and user experience, suggesting that a shift in focus could lead to significant innovations and improvements in healthcare delivery.
"so we've covered the incumbents on the tech side but there's also large Healthcare companies out there today one that you've mentioned is United Health Group which is the largest Healthcare company in..."
In this closing segment, Vijay Pande reflects on the need for a new breed of healthcare companies that prioritize consumer needs and experiences. He discusses the importance of integrating technology into healthcare and the potential for new startups to disrupt the industry by focusing on patient-centric solutions, ultimately reshaping the landscape of healthcare in the coming years.
"into Enterprise and Enterprise software started having the look and feel of a really smooth UI from you'd expect from meta or from Google or something like that and similarly it just takes a different..."
Julie Yoo introduces the concept of the value-based care stack, emphasizing the need for a fundamental reorientation of care models. She explains that many existing models have not delivered value due to their roots in the legacy fee-for-service system. This segment outlines the requirements for a new stack that supports higher value care through innovative approaches.
"that yeah well first off I think if you think about what a human endeavor should be taking care of of of the sick is one of the most important things that we could be doing it's important to realize t..."
Julie Yoo contrasts the fee-for-service model with value-based care, explaining how the former incentivizes volume over quality. She discusses the implications of this model on patient care and the need for a shift towards managing population health. This segment highlights the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a value-based care system.
"name a few so if the first generation of the digital Health Tech stack which we wrote about in 2020 was about enabling administrative and operational efficiency for virtual first providers the next ge..."
Julie Yoo identifies key roadblocks to the adoption of value-based care, including the entrenched fee-for-service model and the inertia within the healthcare industry. She discusses the impact of government initiatives aimed at incentivizing value-based care and the slow progress being made. This segment provides insight into the systemic challenges facing healthcare reform.
"of that savings and so again it incentivizes a different care model associated with that which is uh you want to be much more sort of proactive about getting ahead of any escalation of health issues t..."
Julie Yoo discusses the potential for innovation in the healthcare tech stack, particularly in clinical decision-making and risk management. She emphasizes the role of AI and machine learning in enhancing patient care and the need for providers to adapt to new payment models. This segment explores the future landscape of healthcare technology and its implications for patient outcomes.
"right now um you know that said I think there's still we're still looking at depending on what reports you read you you were only at roughly about 20 percent of all Health Care payments being in some ..."
The conversation shifts to the concept of direct-to-consumer care, expanding its definition beyond out-of-pocket payments. The speaker argues for a model where patients have direct loyalty to healthcare entities, emphasizing the importance of patient engagement in value-based care. This segment explores how technology facilitates patient accountability and data sharing.
"Innovation within this Tech stack you know something you touched on there is the focus in the past on provider-based care versus patient-based care do you see that changing as in do you see Healthcare..."
This segment presents Firefly Health as a prime example of innovation in the commercial insurance space. The speaker details how Firefly employs a concierge model to enhance patient engagement, achieving an impressive average of 45 clinically meaningful interactions per patient annually. The discussion highlights the role of technology in reducing costs and improving care delivery.
"successful in these in these kind of value-based orientations I've also heard you speak about the increasing Affinity that consumers sometimes have with some of these companies that are building more ..."
The final segment emphasizes the critical role of technology in enabling value-based care. The speaker discusses how advancements in mobile health, connected devices, and provider communication are essential for reducing care delivery costs and improving patient outcomes. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the transformative potential of these innovations in healthcare.
"that you can Implement using technology in really systematic ways and not just relying on throwing bodies at the problem as traditional providers have done and you know which obviously is inherently u..."