The holy grail of company building is finding product-market fit. But what most people don’t tell you is that once you’ve found it, product-market fit brings its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to scaling rapidly and hiring the right executives at the right time.Drawing from their extensive experiences, a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz and Databricks cofounder and CEO Ali Ghodsi sit down to talk about the hardest things about executive hiring and firing, and what is at stake.They dive into the common reasons an exec fails, why sometimes micromanagement is a good idea, and the difference between someone who has written a playbook and someone who has only run one.If you’d like to dive even deeper, the Growth team at a16z has spent the last year compiling insights from dozens of leaders at late-stage startups to literally write the book on hiring executives to scale. You can find that book at: http://a16z.com/executive-hiring-playbookTopics Covered:00:00 - When is it time to let someone go?05:41 - When do you give someone a chance to grow into the role?07:05-  Let go or level?09:27 - How do you have the tough conversation? 16:39 - Exit packages18:40 - Setting a new leader up for success24:27 - The importance of the first quick win 26:24 - The impact a new leader has on culture32:52 - Common ways new leaders fail37:35 - Closing thoughtsResources:Read the Executive Hiring: The Key to Scaling in the Growth Stages: http://a16z.com/executive-hiring-playbookLearn more about Databricks: https://www.databricks.comFind Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhorowitzFind Ali on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alighodsiStay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz discuss the benefits of embracing technology, the role of capitalism in reducing poverty, and the concept of luxury beliefs. They explore the challenges of effective pessimism and maintaining a balanced outlook on progress. The speakers also delve into topics such as the role of private and public sectors in technological progress, the potential of nuclear fusion as an energy source, and the freedom of not working in a society of abundance.

Co-founders of a16z, Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen, discuss the impact of tech regulation on America's future. Topics include decentralized AI, tech monopolies, policy collaboration, AI regulation, global tech culture, African techno optimism, and challenges in healthcare, education, and housing sectors.

The Ben & Marc Show features a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz discussing how small AI startups can compete with Big Tech, reasons why data is overrated, and comparing the AI boom to the internet boom. They cover topics like building foundation models, AI application in business, the evolving AI landscape, AI revolution in travel and healthcare, and the dark side of capitalism in tech companies.

What I learned from reading The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz.---There's no recipe for complicated, dynamic situations [0:01]Meeting Marc Andreessen [8:30]The co-founder relationship between Marc and Ben [11:00]How they came up with the idea for Loudcloud (Opsware) / A business is just an idea that will make someone's life better. —Richard Branson [13:45]Ben finds value by asking the question: What would I do if we went bankrupt? [21:05]Sell the wrong product to find the right one [22:30]Saving a $20 million a year customer by buying a $10 million company [23:16]Do not play the odds [27:27]Discount praise. Focus on what can be fixed [28:32]Why training is so important (compounding effect) [31:20]Difference between large company executives and founders [32:00]Why it is a good idea to collect good ideas [34:00]Determination is more important than intelligence [35:30]Your culture should be unique / Using shock to create behavioral change [38:24]There is no founder school [40:30]Perseverance is more important than intelligence [41:01]Copy from great founders [46:50] ----Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work.  Get access to Founders Notes here. ----“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — GarethBe like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast

Ben Horowitz and Ali Ghodsi discuss obstacles in implementing generative AI, building large models, fragmentation of AI use cases, impact of open source in AI, limitations and future possibilities of AI.

Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, and Salim Ismail, a technology strategist and Singularity University’s founding director, dive into the shifting tech landscape under the new administration. They discuss the slowdown in crypto innovation and the fierce AI race against China. The duo shares insights on the biotech industry’s regulatory hurdles and emphasizes the importance of innovation in healthcare. Additionally, they highlight the contributions of tech titans like Bezos and Musk while navigating the entrepreneurial challenges in an evolving market.

Listen to Ben Horowitz from a16z discuss organizational design for startups post-COVID, lore around layoffs, future of customer service, benefits of nicotine, Ozempic, CEO understanding, remote work challenges, productivity hurdles, AI innovation, state migration impact, tax complexities, retail tech, historical insights on consumption trends, weight loss drugs' impact on fertility, looming crisis in regional banks' real estate loans.

While building and shaping culture is as relevant as ever for startups and companies today, leaders have sought the answers to these questions for hundreds of years – and there is practical advice to be had by examining different cultures across time and around the globe.In this episode from December 2019, a16z co-founder Ben Horowitz sits down with host Sonal Choksi to talk about what actually makes up culture, whether in a company or any organization or team, as based on Ben’s best-selling book, What You Do is Who You Are. They discuss the idea of culture as code, the nuances of setting and changing a culture, and how to apply the principles of his book to startups, the tech industry and any company today.

Discussions on Internet's corporate takeover, blockchains inheriting open source ethos, AI's role, next global political battleground. Exploring economic moats, network effects, AI communism, and the importance of DAOs in reshaping business.