The Evolution of the Firm — with Ben and Marc

a16z Podcast

a16z

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

4.4 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	It's just as hard to build a small, inconsequential thing as it is to build a giant world-changing thing.
0:08.0	You work the same amount of hours, and so you might as well go for doing something important.
0:14.0	Social media's become the dog and traditional media's become the tail, and they just get whipped around like crazy by all these shifting memes.
0:20.0	We've basically recreated the original Fund One seven times.
0:24.6	So every team is like the original Andresen Horowitz.
0:28.6	So we really have seven Andres and Horowitz's, but with common infrastructure,
0:32.6	common LP relations, common brand, common culture.
0:39.7	I think there's going to be a whole wave here, okay? I think actually incredibly successful projects.
0:42.9	This week we hosted our annual LP summit, bringing together our partners, portfolio,
0:48.1	and the people shaping what's next in tech.
0:50.5	As part of the event, I hosted an interview with Mark and Ben.
0:54.2	We talked about the evolution of the firm, the state of venture, and how to stay ahead in an industry that doesn't sit still.
1:01.5	Let's get into it.
1:04.6	As a reminder, the content here is for informational purposes only.
1:08.2	Should not be taken as legal business, tax, or investment advice,
1:11.2	or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential
1:16.0	investors in any A16Z fund. Please note that A16Z and its affiliates may also maintain investments
1:21.6	in the companies discussed in this podcast. For more details, including a link to our investments,
1:26.7	please see A16Z.com forward slash disclosures.
1:35.1	Welcome to a live private viewing of the Mark and Ben Show, our favorite married couple in venture capital.
1:42.6	Yeah. Old married couple. Yeah, that doesn't get along that well. The romance is venture capital. Yeah. To be clear, old married couple.
1:44.7	Yeah, that doesn't get along that well.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from a16z, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of a16z and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.