a16z Podcast

Karthik Rau, founder of SignalFx, and Alex Solomon, founder of PagerDuty, delve into the evolution of IT operations shaped by modern cloud applications. They discuss the transition from traditional software development to continuous release cycles, emphasizing the importance of reversibility in processes. The conversation highlights the challenges posed by customer expectations for uptime and rapid issue resolution. They also explore the significance of real-time visibility in operations and the shift toward application-centric IT in a cloud-dominated landscape.

Prat Moghe, CEO of Cazena, Gaurav Dhillon, founder of SnapLogic, and Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, dive deep into data management challenges. They discuss the evolution of big data and the critical role of agility in analytics. Transforming data into meaningful business solutions is emphasized, alongside the need for user-friendly analytics tools. The conversation highlights the divide between Excel users and non-users, the impact of cloud technology, and the necessity for organizations to adapt quickly to ever-changing data landscapes.

Jeff Lawson, CEO and co-founder of Twilio, joins fellow tech leaders Chris Wanstrath and Ben Uretsky to discuss the evolving landscape of software development. They reveal how the shift from hardware to software has made developer tools critical in today's business environment. The conversation highlights the necessity for agile communications and effective community engagement. They also touch on the changing nature of developer roles, emphasizing innovation while leaving maintenance tasks to specialized teams. It's a deep dive into the future of tech and its impact on companies.

In a lively discussion, Roger Dickey, CEO of Gigster, Bill Macaitis, CMO of Slack, Matthew McCullough from GitHub, and Joel Spolsky, co-founder of Stack Overflow, tackle the evolving landscape of software development. They explore the demand-supply gap in skilled developers and the pivotal role of open-source software. The panel also emphasizes the shift towards project-based learning for programmers and the significance of community contributions in hiring. They highlight how platforms can connect vetted developers with businesses, ensuring quality and innovation in tech.

Chris Milk, a filmmaker and founder of Vrse, discusses the transformative power of virtual reality, calling it the "ultimate empathy machine." He explores how VR can create deep emotional connections and transport viewers to new experiences. Milk dives into the psychological impact of VR, revealing how it can evoke instinctive human reactions. He also examines the future of storytelling in VR, emphasizing its potential for immersive narratives and shared experiences that redefine traditional cinema. Get ready to see storytelling in a whole new light!

Andre Iguodala, an NBA star with a keen interest in technology and business, shares his journey from the court to Silicon Valley. He discusses the synergy of passions with tech investments, emphasizing how athletes can strategically partner with tech companies. Iguodala also highlights the innovative grooming solutions for people of color and the use of data analytics in enhancing basketball performance. Finally, he navigates the balance between traditional scouting methods and modern analytics in the NBA, shedding light on how technology is reshaping the sport.

Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, dives into the depths of investing with Ben Horowitz. They discuss the importance of patience in investment strategies, illustrated by a turtle logo symbolizing long-term thinking. Hobson shares her unique insights on navigating market dynamics while emphasizing the significance of mentorship in career growth. Of course, they can't resist touching on Star Wars, with Hobson's insider view on the franchise's filmmaking journey, blending creativity with strategic decision-making.

Benedict Evans, a renowned analyst specializing in mobile tech, shares insights on the past year's mobile landscape. He analyzes Apple's continued dominance in the high-end market while discussing Android's expansion into budget segments. The conversation highlights mobile's central role as a tech ecosystem hub, the challenges of search and user intent, and the ongoing evolution of VR and AR technologies. Evans emphasizes the absence of a major breakthrough in these areas and explores future opportunities for emerging tech companies.

Our virtual reality-enabled future is arriving, but it’s hard to know -- as it is with every new technology platform -- how quickly we’ll all make the transition to VR and what it will ultimately look like. For example, beyond gaming and entertainment what applications does it seem like VR is best suited for, and will we all be wearing full VR-enabled body suits some day? When will the Matrix become real? a16z’s virtual reality-obsessed Kyle Russell and Sakunthala Pandit are joined by perceptual and computational neuroscience expert Beau Cronin, to offer their informed opinions on the present state and future of VR. They give the rationale for travel, shopping, and education getting the VR treatment, and why software developers would kill for a VR-enabled dev environment. So strap your “face toy” on and dive into virtual reality. The views expressed here are those of the individual AH Capital Management, L.L.C. (“a16z”) personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources, including from portfolio companies of funds managed by a16z. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, a16z has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. 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 fund managed by a16z. (An offering to invest in an a16z fund will be made only by the private placement memorandum, subscription agreement, and other relevant documentation of any such fund and should be read in their entirety.) Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described are not representative of all investments in vehicles managed by a16z, 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 funds managed by Andreessen Horowitz (excluding investments and certain publicly traded cryptocurrencies/ digital assets for which the issuer has not provided permission for a16z to disclose publicly) is available at https://a16z.com/investments/. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see https://a16z.com/disclosures for additional important information.

Connie Chan and Anu Hariharan, partners at Andreessen Horowitz, dive into the tech ecosystems of India and China. They discuss how local startups navigate intense competition against global giants. E-commerce strategies differ significantly, with India facing unique payment challenges. They explore mobile innovations transforming business models and analyze venture capital dynamics, shedding light on cultural perceptions of mobility. The conversation also touches on the balance between innovation and imitation, revealing the entrepreneurial spirit of both nations.