Katherine Boyle

Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz leading the firm’s American Dynamism fund, discusses the importance of investing in America, the role of tech in solving civic problems, and the decrease in status of government work. They also explore trauma, the intersection of religion and technology, and the importance of seriousness and resolute beliefs.

Katherine Boyle, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, specializes in investing in companies tackling vital national issues like defense and education. She discusses the concept of 'American dynamism,' emphasizing the need for collaboration between Silicon Valley and the government. The conversation also touches on how remote work is reshaping urban housing policies and the role of immigrants in driving economic innovation. Additionally, Boyle highlights the challenges of investing in hybrid ventures and the importance of philosophical alignment with founders.

Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, shares her journey from journalism to venture capital, shedding light on the concept of 'American Dynamism'. She emphasizes the urgency of investing in innovation across sectors like defense and education, especially after COVID-19 shifted the VC landscape. The discussion covers the evolving partnership between Silicon Valley and government, the rise of diverse founders, and how technology is transforming entrepreneurship and vital sectors, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic innovation culture.

Palmer Luckey, a tech visionary and founder of Oculus, joins venture capitalist Katherine Boyle and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale to discuss pressing global conflicts. They explore the risks of a potential war involving China and Taiwan and how they are innovating in defense technology. The trio highlights the unique challenges facing defense startups and the need for AI in military strategies. They also delve into border security, emphasizing innovative solutions amidst rising threats. Their insights reveal a call for renewed focus on national security in today’s tumultuous landscape.

Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a former reporter at The Washington Post, dives into compelling discussions about the evolving role of public service and the push to make it more appealing. She passionately advocates for free speech and highlights the cultural shifts in talent from government to tech. Katherine also explores the effects of technology on resilience in modern adulthood, emphasizing the need for meaningful challenges. Lastly, she critiques Silicon Valley's aversion to national security and the importance of cultural narratives in the innovation landscape.

Erik Torenberg sits down with Katherine Boyle, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz where she invests in companies that promote American dynamism. Erik and Katherine discuss the private sector versus the public sector, the American dream in conflict with the rise of therapeutic culture, and how to reinstill a love of public service. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMIf you enjoyed this podcast you listen to Katherine's recent Moment of Zen episode next, where she discusses founder mentality, Twitter, SpaceX, and more ( https://link.chtbl.com/moz)--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode preview(03:21) What is American Dynamism?(05:49) How should VC’s view China?(08:03) We aren’t seeing China as an ally anymore(10:19) Private vs public sector(13:23) Why the public sector won’t build the next SpaceX(16:35) Sponsors: Secureframe | Marketerhire(20:00) Tradeoffs with privatization(26:20) How to reinstill a love for public service(31:02) Where Katherine differs from Balaji(33:39) What can we learn from China(36:13) Building is a political philosophy(35:56) Katherine’s family background(38:47) America is where you can escape your past(40:29) We are a nation of families moreso than individuals(42:40) What Katherine learned from being an au pair(44:48) The rise of therapeutic culture(50:38) What to do about struggling men(59:32) The problems of delaying adulthood(1:07:42) The problems of optionality(1:11:07)How religion informs her work and lifeTWITTER:Katherine’s Twitter: @KTmBoyleA16z’s Twitter: @a16zErik’s Twitter: @eriktorenbergUpstream : @upstream__podLINKS:American Dynamism: https://a16z.com/american-dynamism/Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Secureframe Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months-Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial periodShopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg.- Secureframe: https://secureframe.com/Secureframe is the leading all-in-one platform for security and privacy compliance. Get SOC-2 audit ready in weeks, not months. I believe in Secureframe so much that I invested in it, and I recommend it to all my portfolio companies. Sign up for a free demo and mention UPSTREAM during your demo to get 20% off your first year. Secureframe has just released Secureframe Trust, a new product that lets you showcase your organization's security posture to build customer trust.--This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

In this chat, venture capitalist Katherine Boyle dives into American Dynamism, a movement empowering startups to tackle national challenges. She discusses how innovators are reshaping government-tech collaboration, emphasizing the need for a long-term vision in Washington. Katherine highlights the gap between traditional government and modern solutions, revealing how younger leaders are driving this change. She envisions a future where technology bridges critical sectors, restoring the American Dream and fostering national growth.

Topics discussed include the Vibe Shift in ideologies, D.C. vs Silicon Valley perspectives, Lana Del Rey's influence, the value of seriousness in tech reporting, the future of journalism, and advice for young founders.

Katherine Boyle and Mike Solana join Erik, Dan, and Antonio to discuss whether a liberal arts degree is worth it and how to save San Francisco.Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.a16z Podcast: https://future.com/a16z-podcast/The a16z podcast is a lighthouse for current and future founders, breaking down the most important trends in technology.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(04:30) Recapping the first Moment of Zen fight(07:00) Is a Liberal Arts degree worth it?(010:30) The siren song of The Social Network(14:00) Finance vs Tech in the 2010s(15:35) Sponsor: Secureframe(16:40) 4 out of the 5 people on this episode got a liberal arts degree(21:00) Are elite schools still worth it? Are middle tier colleges worth it?(29:00) Are CS degrees necessary?(31:00) Zero sum: college vs vocational school(42:00) Mike Solana’s political future in San Francisco(44:45) How tech failed SF(46:40) How to talk about drug dealers, drug addicts, and recreational drug use(51:30) Wealth in SF, geographically(1:01:00) Housing(1:0400) Fentanyl will be a key issue in the upcoming election(1:08:00) Dangerous memes, aspirations, and not accepting market realitiesLINKS:Season of the Witch by David Talbot: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Witch-Enchantment-Terror-Deliverance/dp/1439108242Base Reality by Mike Solana: https://www.piratewires.com/p/base-reality-an-interview-with-grimes-6b3TWITTER:@KTmBoyle (Katherine)@micsolana (Mike)@MOZ_Podcast@eriktorenberg (Erik)@antoniogm (Antonio)@dwr (Dan)SPONSORS:Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “MOZ” for 20% off your first three monthsShopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial periodShopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzenNetSuite (http://netsuite.com/zen)NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.Secureframe (https://secureframe.com/)Secureframe is the leading all-in-one platform for security and privacy compliance. Get SOC-2 audit ready in weeks, not months. I believe in Secureframe so much that I invested in it, and I recommend it to all my portfolio companies. Sign up for a free demo and mention MOZ during your demo to get 20% off your first year.

Katherine Boyle, a journalist specializing in the intersection of religion and media, dives into how tech advancements have overlooked religious communities. She discusses the rise of digital faith and changing religious affiliations amid polarization. The conversation shifts to journalism, focusing on subscription models and the need for independent voices. Katherine also reflects on how COVID-19 impacted media dynamics and the necessity for diversity in journalism, emphasizing innovation's role in revitalizing both media and religious practices.