From Thesis to Meme to Fund: Building American Dynamism

a16z Podcast

a16z

Science, Innovation, Business, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Disruption, Software Eating The World, Technology

4.4 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For over a century, the United States has been the birthplace of world-changing innovation – from the Wright brothers’ first flight to the invention of the transistor, the moon landing, and the birth of the internet. But in recent years, belief in American progress has wavered. Three years ago, a16z General Partner Katherine Boyle wrote a bold thesis called Building American Dynamism, challenging this apathy and calling for startups to tackle the country’s biggest problems. The idea spread fast – first as a meme, then as a movement, and today as a $600M dedicated fund. In this episode, Katherine and fellow a16z General Partner David Ulevitch discuss: -The origins of American Dynamism—and why it was controversial at first -How Washington and Silicon Valley can come together -America’s competitiveness in today’s great power competition -The latest American Dynamism 50 list focused on the Indo-Pacific, showcasing the top startups building for the national interest If you’re curious about the future of America, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Check out this year’s full AD50 list at a16z.com/AD50.

Transcript

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0:00.0	The fact that this movement moved faster than any of us anticipated
0:04.2	says something about the organic nature of founders wanting to build in the physical world.
0:10.1	There is no negative way to interpret American dynamism.
0:13.3	That's about improving the state of education, of housing, of defense, of energy.
0:18.1	It's all these things that are the cornerstones and building blocks.
0:21.8	It was shocking to Silicon Valley. It was not shocking to Washington. What would happen to our supply chain?
0:27.7	What are all the shipping and logistics issues that would be created? What would be the energy impact?
0:33.2	A lot of people say there's going to be a war for space, but I think it's important people recognize
0:37.2	there's going to be a war in space. But I think it's important people recognize there's going to be a war in space.
0:39.8	That work has to start today.
0:41.3	It can't start 20 years from now.
0:42.7	It has to start now.
0:44.2	A lot of our companies are focused on the fight of the future, not the one happening today.
0:48.9	The United States of America has embodied excellence for centuries.
0:53.6	Whether it was the Wright brothers taking
0:55.0	flight in 1903 or the invention of the transistor in 1947. How about the moon landing in
1:00.9	1969 or the birth of the internet in 1984? All of these humanity-shaping innovations were built
1:08.1	on American soil. So when did it become taboo to believe in America?
1:13.6	Well, three years ago, A16Z general partner Catherine Boyle wrote a thesis called Building American Dynamism.
1:20.1	Like few others at the time, Catherine's words were unafraid. She discussed America's apathy toward
1:25.4	progress and the country's institutional failure,
1:28.6	but equally, that decline did not need to be our destiny.
	...

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