Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz: Rewriting the Rules of Venture — Live From the a16z LP Summit
05/20/25 • 32 min
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.
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.
Previous Episode
How Andreessen Horowitz Disrupted VC & What’s Coming Next
On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive deep into the unfiltered story behind the founding of Andreessen Horowitz—and how they set out to reinvent venture capital itself.
For the first time, Marc and Ben walk through the origins, strategy, and philosophy behind building a world-class venture capital firm designed for the future—not just the next fund. They reveal how they broke industry norms with a bold brand, a full-stack support model, and a long-term commitment to backing exceptional builders—anchored in the radical idea that founders deserved real support, not just checks.
Joining them to guide the conversation is Erik Torenberg—Andreessen Horowitz’s newest General Partner—who makes his Ben & Marc Show moderating debut. Erik is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and founder of the media company Turpentine. You can learn more about Erik via Marc’s announcement [here].
Together, they explore:
Why traditional VC needed reinvention
How a16z scaled with a platform model, not a partner model
The "barbell strategy" reshaping venture capital today
Why venture remains a human craft, even in the age of AI
We’re thrilled to welcome Erik to the team—and we hope you enjoy this inside look at the structure, philosophy, and future of a16z.
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.Turpentine is an acquisition of a16z Holdings, L.L.C., and is not a bank, investment adviser, or broker-dealer. Individuals and companies featured during this podcast are not endorsing AH Capital or any of its affiliates (including, but not limited to, a16z Perennial Management L.P.). 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.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-ben-and-marc-show-283220/marc-andreessen-and-ben-horowitz-rewriting-the-rules-of-venture-live-f-91502688"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to marc andreessen and ben horowitz: rewriting the rules of venture — live from the a16z lp summit on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy