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cover of episode The Evolution of the Firm — with Ben and Marc

The Evolution of the Firm — with Ben and Marc

2025/5/20
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B
Ben Horowitz
知名风险投资家和企业家，Andreessen Horowitz 联合创始人和总合伙人。
M
Marc Andreessen
联合创始人和风险投资家，专注于人工智能和技术领域的投资。
Topics
Ben Horowitz: 作为一家风险投资公司，我认为我们必须不断发展和适应，因为世界在变化。我们最初的目标是创建一个平台，帮助创始人成长为CEO，并建立一个网络，让他们可以向任何CEO或政府官员寻求帮助。随着软件吞噬世界，我们意识到需要扩大规模，并重组公司以适应新的市场，如加密货币和人工智能。我们通过共享经济利益但不共享控制权来实现这一点，这使我们能够快速行动和创新。现在，我们的目标是让监管环境有利于创新，并建立我们自己的渠道来传播我们的声音。 Marc Andreessen: 我认为风险投资公司需要不断发展，因为世界在变化。我们必须能够适应新的技术和市场，并不断尝试新的事物。我们还必须确保我们的文化是鼓励创新和实验的。我们通过让人们领导，但仍然在他们关心的领域保持参与来实现这一点。我们还通过雇用有才华和有动力的人来实现这一点，他们会挑战我们并推动我们做得更好。我们必须抓住模因的生产，因为如果你能控制模因，你也能控制媒体，因为他们正在从互联网上获取线索。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the transformation of Andreessen Horowitz, highlighting its journey from a traditional venture capital firm to a multi-practice platform. It discusses the firm's three phases of evolution, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and restructuring in a rapidly changing industry.
  • a16z's Act I focused on creating a platform to support founders' growth into CEOs.
  • Act II involved scaling the firm to address the expanding opportunities in various tech sectors like crypto and AI.
  • The firm's success is attributed to its ability to reorganize and adapt, unlike competitors constrained by shared control structures.

Shownotes Transcript

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.

 

Resources: 

Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca)

Find Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz)

 

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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.