The Ben & Marc Show

On this special live episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz take the stage for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on the evolution—and future—of Andreessen Horowitz.

Recorded live at a16z’s LP Summit in Las Vegas, Marc and Ben unpack how the firm grew from a disruptive newcomer into one of the most ambitious and adaptive forces in VC. They share how a16z broke from industry orthodoxy to build a firm designed to scale with innovation itself—powered by structural agility, a platform model, and a long-term commitment to transformational founders.

Moderated by a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg, this live chat dives deep into the firm’s internal culture, its speed of decision-making, and the philosophy that underpins every strategic move—from launching into crypto and AI to reshaping the role of media and memes in tech.

Together, they explore:

How a16z restructured to lead across multiple emerging markets

The importance of the firm's cultural enforcement

What it means to build a generational firm

Why narrative control is more vital than ever in the age of social media

Enjoy this behind-the-scenes story of how a16z became the leading VC firm -- and what comes next!

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

Erik on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg

Erik's Substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/

Stay Updated:

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

This information is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any investment or financial product. Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described in this podcast are not representative of all a16z investments and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results. A list of investments made by a16z is available at https://a16z.com/investment-list/. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting effects, you should consult appropriate professionals. Information is from sources deemed reliable on the date of publication, but a16z does not guarantee its accuracy.

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen. In this week’s episode, Marc and Ben answer YOUR questions from X (formerly Twitter).

In this one on one conversation, Ben and Marc discuss the best way to approach a VC, how their views on crypto have evolved over the past few years, and whether we should be using AI to bring iconic musical artists back from the dead. That and more! Please enjoy.

Topics Covered:

00:00:01 Teaser

00:00:31 What is the best way to approach VCs for potential funding?

00:04:53 Which of your foundational investment dogmas have withstood the test of time?

00:13:31 What are your thoughts on the creator economy blending into startup territory?

00:21:32 What happens when the cost of AI goes to zero?

00:27:18 How will generative AI change public education?

00:34:33 How soon before AI advancement allows ALL people to access their greatest creativity?

00:38:53 Are data centers in a position today to accommodate the growth of AI apps?

00:43:49 Could AI replace governments in the future?

00:49:20 What are your thoughts on AI being used to create new songs by mimicking deceased artists?

00:53:57 Is the issue of a growing wealth gap in society solved through techno-optimism? 01:00:35 How do you assess the future economic and technological growth potential in the Middle East?

01:07:29 Do you see recent crypto scandals (like FTX) leading to more government regulations?

01:11:41 How have your views on crypto changed over the past 5 years?

01:15:08 What was your last strongly held belief that you’ve changed your mind on?

01:20:25 Sign off

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

Book mentioned on this podcast:

– “The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money” by Bryan Kaplan https://amzn.to/47HOSOO

Films mentioned on this podcast:

“Who Killed the Electric Car?” https://amzn.to/3Ne2uZU

“Tropic Thunder” https://amzn.to/41bVzXg

Stay Updated:

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any a16z funds.

PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to "The Ben & Marc Show" featuring a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. In this first episode of a two-part series, Marc and Ben visit the Twittersphere (or X-sphere) to answer YOUR questions about startup building in this post-COVID world.

In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc discuss the biggest tech disruptions of the past four years, dive into the major problems facing American cities – including crime and a commercial real estate crisis – and question the future of our 40-hour work week. That and much more. Enjoy!

Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-zzrGs5Z1yk

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

Book mentioned in this episode:

“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair amzn.to/3Ue2snA

Films mentioned in this episode:

“The Graduate” (1967; Dir. Mike Nichols) amzn.to/44a7BSi

“The Hunt for Red October” (1990; Dir. John McTiernan) amzn.to/3UvYc4j

Stay Updated:

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

In this episode of “The Ben & Marc Show”, a16z’s co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen take on the biggest and most important film of the year – Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster “Oppenheimer”.

The film – based on the 2005 biography “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer'' by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin – chronicles the life of the American theoretical physicist, whose direction of the top secret Manhattan Project forever changed the course of world history.

In this one-on-one conversation based on YOUR questions from Twitter, Marc and Ben examine the historical accuracies (and inaccuracies) of Nolan’s epic work, explore in-depth the life of the enigmatic physicist himself, and tackle – from all angles – the social and philosophical aspects of communism, a theme that weighs heavily in the film, as Oppenheimer’s association with party members led to his political downfall. Enjoy!

Watch the full Video:" https://youtu.be/AwOFcxENsVk?si=vUF9ZO5Fcj9W0O49

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

NY Times: "The Problem With Everything-Bagel Liberalism" by Ezra Klein: ’https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/02/op...

Books mentioned on this podcast (and others you’ll want to check out):

– “Red Decade” by Eugene Lyons https://amzn.to/3OEQMbZ

– “When Reason Goes on Holiday: Philosophers in Politics” by Neven Sesardic https://amzn.to/455zYRv

– "Witness" by Whittaker Chambers https://amzn.to/3OEu0RC

– ”The Great Leap Forward" by Alexander J. Field https://amzn.to/3QlCYV2

– "The Economic Consequences of U.S. Mobilization for the Second World War" by Alexander J. Field https://amzn.to/3Yemsbz

– “The Man From the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann” by Ananyo Bhattacharya https://amzn.to/446SbNf

– “Stalin's War: A New History of World War II” by Sean McMeekin https://amzn.to/47c29zw

– “McCarthy” by Arthur Herman https://amzn.to/3OFKYzc

Stay Updated:

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen. In this latest episode -- the final in a three part series on the current crisis in higher education -- Marc and Ben answer YOUR questions from X (formerly Twitter).

In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc unpack the merits of a Harvard undergrad education versus a Thiel Fellowship, discuss the benefits of trade school, and determine what universities are going to look like ten years from now. That and much more! Please enjoy.

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

Stay Updated:

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/