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Adam Neumann: This is How You Build Iconic Companies
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-16 10:00
In this recent episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Adam Neumann—founder of WeWork and now Flow—to unpack one of the most unlikely comeback stories in tech. What began as a personal reckoning after a very public fall has become a bold new vision for how we live and belong. Flow isn’t just a real estate company—it’s an operating system for community, built on first-principles software, design, and soul. Joined by a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg, the group goes deep on: - Why Adam’s childhood shaped his obsession with community - Adam’s fall from WeWork—and how he found a new path to redemption - How Flow is re-architecting real estate from scratch - Why loneliness is the greatest design challenge of our time With reflections on dyslexia, the American dream, and the thin line between failure and greatness, this is a candid and wide-ranging conversation about redemption, vision, and building something that matters in this world. We hope you enjoy this deeply human conversation about the future of living.
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What You Missed in AI This Week (Google, Apple, ChatGPT)
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-13 10:00
Things in consumer AI are moving fast. In this episode, Justine and Olivia, investing partners (and identical twins!) at a16z, break down what’s real, what’s overhyped, and what’s next across the consumer AI space. We cover: Veo 3: how Google's video model unlocked a new genre of content OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode: upgrades, realism, and... um, human-like hesitation Apple's big AI announcements (and the Siri letdown) 11Labs V3: expressive voice tags, real-time interruptions, and narrative tools for creators New data from a16z: AI consumer startups are ramping revenue faster than ever—and we show you how Justine walks through how she used GPT, Ideogram, and Krea to launch a fully AI-assisted brand prototype (store photos and all) Plus, we wrap with a tutorial + demo on making your own AI brand - from ideation to visuals to voice. It’s exhausting (in the best way) to be a creative in the age of AI.
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Marc Andreessen & Jack Altman: Venture Capital, AI, & Media
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-11 12:30
In this episode Jack Altman, CEO of Lattice and host of Uncapped, interviews Marc Andreessen on how venture capital is evolving - from small seed funds to billion-dollar barbell strategies - and why today’s most important tech companies don’t just build tools, they replace entire industries. They cover: - The end of “picks and shovels” investing - Why missing a great company matters more than backing a bad one - The power law math behind fund size and asymmetric returns - AI as the next computing platform — and a test for Western civilization - Preference falsification, media power, and what founders can’t say out loud This is a conversation about ambition at scale, the structure of modern venture, and the deep forces reshaping startups, innovation, and power.
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Chris Dixon: Stablecoins, Startups, and the Crypto Stack
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-09 10:00
What if crypto isn’t just a speculative asset class—but the next foundational layer of the internet? In this episode, Chris Dixon, founding partner of a16z crypto and one of the earliest, most forward-thinking investors in the space, joins TBPN for a wide-ranging conversation on the real, long-term promise of crypto—and why we're still early. He unpacks: -Why stablecoins are already functioning as internet-native money -How blockchains can serve as global, programmable financial infrastructure -Why programmability, not just low fees, is the real unlock -The evolving regulatory landscape and new bipartisan momentum -The rise of AI agents, decentralized platforms, and real-world crypto use cases This episode is about long-term thinking, technical optimism, and building open infrastructure for the future of the internet.
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The State of Consumer Tech in the Age of AI
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-06 10:00
In this episode, a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg is joined by the a16z Consumer team—General Partner Anish Acharya and Partners Olivia Moore, Justine Moore, and Bryan Kim—for a conversation on the current state (and future) of consumer tech. They unpack why it feels like breakout consumer apps have slowed down, how AI is changing the game, and what might define the next era of products. Topics include: - The rise of AI-native consumer tools and companion apps - Why users are now spending $200+/month on AI products - The missing AI-powered social graph - Why speed and iteration may matter more than traditional moats - And what it means to build for a world where software touches everything From shifting business models to new behavior patterns, this is your pulse check on where we are—and where consumer is heading next.
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Fei-Fei Li: World Models and the Multiverse
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-04 12:53
What if the next leap in artificial intelligence isn’t about better language—but better understanding of space? In this episode, a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg moderates a conversation with Fei-Fei Li, cofounder and CEO of World Labs, and a16z General Partner Martin Casado, an early investor in the company. Together, they dive into the concept of world models—AI systems that can understand and reason about the 3D, physical world, not just generate text. Often called the “godmother of AI,” Fei-Fei explains why spatial intelligence is a fundamental and still-missing piece of today’s AI—and why she’s building an entire company to solve it. Martin shares how he and Fei-Fei aligned on this vision long before it became fashionable, and why it could reshape the future of robotics, creativity, and computational interfaces. From the limits of LLMs to the promise of embodied intelligence, this conversation blends personal stories with deep technical insights—exploring what it really means to build AI that understands the real (and virtual) world.
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Marc Andreessen: What We Got Right—and Wrong—About the Future of Tech
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-06-02 10:00
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 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.
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Where Crypto Meets AI with Chris Dixon & David George
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-31 10:00
What happens when two of the biggest tech waves—AI and crypto—start to converge? In this LP Summit conversation, a16z General Partners Chris Dixon and David George explore how stablecoins are creating a new global financial layer, why generative AI is reshaping market structures, and how the next tech giants will be built. From network effects to native AI business models, this is a sharp look at the future of innovation and investing.
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Rick Rubin: Vibe Coding is the Punk Rock of Software
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-29 17:42
In this episode a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with legendary music producer and bestselling author Rick Rubin to explore the origin of his unexpected new creation: "The Way of Code"* Blending ancient philosophy and modern AI, The Way of Code reimagines the 3,000-year-old Tao Te Ching for the age of artificial intelligence, software, and “vibe coding.” What began as a viral tweet quickly evolved into a creative manifesto—part book, part tool, part spiritual operating system for the future. Joined by a16z General Partners Anjney Midha and Erik Torenberg, the group dives deep into: How Rick became a meme for Vibe Coding —and then quickly wrote "The Way of Code" Why AI is just another artistic tool Remix culture, creativity, and collective consciousness Why great founders and artists need to stay true to themselves With shout outs to punk rock, the collective unconscious, and Johnny Cash’s famed acoustic sessions, this conversation is a sprawling, soul-searching journey across music, philosophy, tech, and truth. We hope you enjoy this deeply personal and surprisingly practical conversation on how to live—and create—in the age of AI. The Way of Code: https://www.thewayofcode.com/ “Tools will come and tools will go. Only the vibe coder remains.” - Rick Rubin
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Where Value Will Accrue in AI: Martin Casado & Sarah Wang
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-27 18:12
AI’s breakout moment is here - but where is the real value accruing, and what’s just hype? Recorded live at a16z’s annual LP Summit, General Partners Erik Torenberg, Martin Casado, and Sarah Wang unpack the current state of play in AI. From the myth of the GPT wrapper to the rapid rise of apps like Cursor, the conversation explores where defensibility is emerging, how platform shifts mirror (and diverge from) past tech cycles, and why the zero-sum mindset falls short in today’s AI landscape. They also dig into the innovator’s dilemma facing SaaS incumbents, the rise of brand moats, the surprising role of prosumer adoption, and what it takes to pick true category leaders in a market defined by both exponential growth - and accelerated wipeouts.
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Sovereign AI: Why Nations Are Building Their Own Models
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-24 10:00
What happens when AI stops being just infrastructure - and becomes a matter of national identity and global power? In this episode, a16z’s Anjney Midha and Guido Appenzeller explore the rise of sovereign AI—the idea that countries must own their own AI models, data centers, and value systems. From Saudi Arabia’s $100B+ AI ambitions to the cultural stakes of model alignment, we examine: - Why nations are building local “AI factories” instead of relying on U.S. cloud providers - How foundation models are becoming instruments of soft power - What the DeepSeek release tells us about China’s AI strategy - Whether the world needs a “Marshall Plan for AI” - And how open-source models could reshape the balance of power AI isn’t just a technology anymore - it’s geopolitical infrastructure. This conversation maps the new battleground.
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What Is an AI Agent?
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-22 10:00
What exactly is an AI agent — and does anyone actually agree? In this episode, taken from of AI + a16z, General Partner Guido Appenzeller and partners Matt Bornstein and Yoko Li break down one of the most hyped- and most hotly debated 0 concepts in AI right now: agents. Are agents just clever wrappers around LLMs? Tools that can reason and act? Or simply a fresh label for familiar tech? Whether you're building, investing, or just trying to make sense of the buzz, this episode is for you.
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The Evolution of the Firm — with Ben and Marc
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-20 10:00
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.
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Unbundling the BPO: How AI Is Disrupting Outsourced Work
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-17 15:23
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a $300 billion industry powering the back- and front-office operations of the world’s largest companies. In her article, "Unbundling the BPO: How AI Will Disrupt Outsourced Work," Kimberly Tan (Partner, a16z) explores how the rise of AI is challenging the status quo. In this episode, Kimberly unpacks the shift—from call centers and invoice processing to cross-system automation and coding agents. They explore how AI is redefining the economics of scale, unlocking new markets, and expanding the reach of automation beyond the Fortune 500. For founders and operators alike, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at the playbook for building in this newly addressable space.
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Marc Andreessen: Deep Vs. Broad Founders, AI in America, & the New Face of a16z
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-16 10:00
Today on the a16z Podcast, we’re sharing Marc Andreessen’s recent appearance on TBPN. Marc—cofounder and general partner at a16z—joins hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays for a wide-ranging conversation, recorded live at the a16z’s 2025 LP Conference in Las Vegas. They cover the rise of AI, the future of open source models, and how tech is transforming every corner of the economy—from education and defense to healthcare and housing. Marc also shares his thoughts on the evolution of venture capital, the firm’s new branding, and what it takes to build enduring companies in a rapidly changing world.
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What Super Agers Reveal About Preventing Disease
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-14 10:00
American healthcare is in crisis—but what if we could change the system by preventing disease before it starts? In this episode of the a16z Podcast, general partner Vijay Pande sits down with Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute and one of the most cited researchers in medicine, to explore the cutting edge of preventive healthcare and longevity science. Drawing from his new book Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Path to Longevity, Topol breaks down why understanding the biology of aging—not reversing it—is the key to preventing the “Big Three” age-related diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative conditions. The conversation spans AI-powered risk prediction, organ clocks, polygenic risk scores, GLP-1s, and the cultural and economic shifts required to move from a “sick care” system to one rooted in precision prevention and extended healthspan. If you’ve ever wondered how data, personalized medicine, and AI can add seven healthy years to your life—and what it will take to bring those benefits to everyone—this episode is for you.
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Startups & Defense: Katherine Boyle on TBPN
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-07 16:27
In this episode of the a16z Podcast, we’re sharing Katherine Boyle’s recent interview on TBPN. Katherine—General Partner at a16z and the architect of the American Dynamism thesis—joins hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays to discuss the state of the movement today. They cover the Department of Defense’s sweeping reform efforts, the role of startups in national security, and why American Dynamism is just getting started. From procurement reform to reindustrialization, this wide-ranging conversation explores how founders and investors are reshaping the future in service of the national interest.
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Do You Really Know Your ICP? Why It Matters and How to Find Out
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-05-07 10:00
Your ideal customer profile (ICP) is the north star for your entire company: it determines who you’re building for and selling to. Though most growth-stage founders think they know who their ICP is, very few know how to update and refine it to keep the company focused as they grow—which can lead to a lot of headaches down the road. In this debut episode of a16z Growth’s new company scaling podcast, the a16z Guide to Growth, a16z's Joe Morrissey (General Partner, a16z Growth), Michael King (Partner, Go-to-Market Network), and Mark Regan (Partner, a16z Growth) break down why ICP misalignment is often the hidden cause of common problems across the entire company, from pipeline gaps and bloated marketing spend to stalled product roadmaps—and dive deep on how to fix it. They offer tactical advice for defining (and refining!) your ICP as you scale, explain why getting it right requires company-wide alignment, and how to navigate the “precision paradox” when implementing it. Plus, why ICPs matter even more in the AI era, and how a well-executed ICP shows up across the business when it's working.
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The Software Crisis Behind America's Infrastructure
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-04-30 10:00
Today’s critical infrastructure—air traffic, logistics, defense—is powered by legacy software. And that’s a problem. In this episode, recorded live at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, a16z partner Leila Hay sits down with Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Air Space Intelligence, and Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski (Ret.), ASI’s Chief Strategy Officer and former Director for Logistics on the Joint Staff for the Pentagon. They explore why software is now a weapon system, how dual-use tech can harden both civilian and military infrastructure, and what happens if we don’t modernize fast enough.
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What Comes After Mobile? Meta’s Andrew Bosworth on AI and Consumer Tech
From 🇺🇸 a16z Podcast, published at 2025-04-24 10:00
Are we nearing the end of the smartphone era? In this episode, a16z Growth General Partner David George talks with Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth about what comes after apps and touchscreens. From smart glasses to AR headsets, Boz shares how AI is powering a new wave of computing—one that’s ambient, agentic, and driven by human intent. They explore what it takes to build for this future, the risks of changing interaction models, and why the next big platform shift may already be in motion. This episode is part of our AI Revolution series, where we explore how industry leaders are leveraging generative AI to steer innovation and navigate the next major platform shift. Discover more insights and content from the AI Revolution series at a16z.com/AIRevolution.