My guest today is Katherine Boyle, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Katherine started her career as a reporter for The Washington Post before moving into VC at General Catalyst. She now leads a practice at a16z called American Dynamism, investing in companies that are solving critical issues in areas like defense, housing, and education. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. The content here is for informational purposes only and 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. ----- This episode is brought to you by Tegus. Tegus streamlines the investment research process so you can get up to speed and find answers to critical questions on companies faster and more efficiently. The Tegus platform surfaces the hard-to-get qualitative insights, gives instant access to critical public financial data through BamSEC, and helps you set up customized expert calls. It’s all done on a single, modern SaaS platform that offers 360-degree insight into any public or private company. As a listener, you can take Tegus for a free test drive by visiting tegus.co/patrick. And until 2023 every Tegus license comes with complimentary access to BamSec by Tegus. ----- Today's episode is brought to you by Brex. Brex is the integrated financial platform trusted by the world's most innovative entrepreneurs and fastest-growing companies. With Brex, you can move money fast for instant impact with high-limit corporate cards, payments, venture debt, and spend management software all in one place. Ready to accelerate your business? Learn more at brex.com/best. ----- Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus Show Notes[00:02:42] - [First question] - The origin and overview of the term American Dynamism [00:05:01] - Why the shift to a move slow and make sure nothing breaks mentality[00:07:31] - What about the American system today feels broken and stale [00:09:48] - Becoming a journalist at The Washington Post [00:11:35] - Describing the power landscape of media as it exists today  [00:12:28] - Major categories of American Dynamism that matter most  [00:14:29] - What matters more or less to her as an investor in these categories [00:17:31] - Whether or not there’s anything fundamentally broken about our government[00:19:36] - The Systems Bible; What excites her about aerospace and defense and what creates opportunity and demand in these sectors[00:26:01] - An overview of how lobbying works and who does it and why[00:33:09] - The biggest problems that currently exist in the K-12 school system [00:37:34] - The role immigration will play in range of outcomes in these main categories [00:39:32] - Key takeaways about housing in light of American Dynamism  [00:42:09] - Her interpretation of the chart that shows inflation in categories over time[00:47:56] - Whether or not expected returns and risk profiles are different in this area [00:49:55] - Overview of the anatomy of a great story  [00:51:30] - The story she tells founders at this stage so establish a partnership [00:52:46] - The kindest thing that anyone has ever done for her

We sit down with a16z General Partner Katherine Boyle to discuss investing in “American Dynamism”, why it’s so important and why now is the right time to pursue it. Katherine has a fascinating background, beginning her career as a reporter at The Washington Post before entering the VC world first at Founders Fund, then General Catalyst and now a16z. Her perspectives don’t fit neatly in any box — political, economic or otherwise — and we have a great conversation exploring them. Tune in!This episode has video! You can watch it on YouTube.Sponsors:ServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acqsnaiagentsHuntress: https://bit.ly/acqhuntressVanta: https://bit.ly/acquiredvantaMore Acquired!:Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2024 ACQ, LLCLinks:Katherine’s post on Building American DynamismMarc Andreessen’s It’s Time to BuildKatherine’s Substack‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and co-founder of the firm’s American Dynamism Practice, shares insights on the evolving landscape of defense tech. She discusses the implications of Bitcoin's surge to over $84,000, linking it to recent political shifts. The conversation shifts to hedge funds suffering losses from shorting Tesla, underscoring trends in investment behavior. Boyle emphasizes the critical need for technological advancements in defense innovation, highlighting its relevance to national security.

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.

Katherine Boyle, a16z Partner, discusses investing in founders supporting national interests like aerospace and defense, exploring cultural shifts in tech. Topics include storytelling, embracing curiosity, startup fundraising challenges, recognizing emerging trends, and diversity in venture capital.