Ben Horowitz on How a16z Was Built

Erik Torenberg sits down with Ben Horowitz, Cofounder of a16z, for a candid conversation on venture capital, leadership, and the future of innovation. Recorded live at a16z’s Menlo Park offices in 2023, Ben shares practical wisdom and hard-earned lessons on navigating market cycles, building resilient companies, and why culture is a lasting competitive edge. Timecodes:  0:00 Introduction  0:49 Building a Lasting Venture Firm 1:57 Product vs. Investor-Driven Firms 5:17 Evolution of Andreessen Horowitz 8:43 Fund Sizing & Market Opportunity 11:38 Recruiting & Culture at a16z 13:58 Supporting Founders & Firm Mission 14:39 Governance & Firm Structure 17:15 The Future of Venture Capital 20:26 Riding Trends: AI, Web3, and Beyond 27:06 Regulation, Open Source, and Innovation 29:22 LPs, Macro, and Long-Term Strategy 33:25 Advice for the Next Generation 37:15 Tech Optimism & Societal Impact 42:33 Closing Thoughts & Outro   Resources:  Find Ben on X:  https://x.com/bhorowitz Subscribe to Turpentine VC: link.chtbl.com/TurpentineVC   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ 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.