a16z Podcast

Oprah Winfrey, a legendary talk show host and philanthropist, sits down with Resham Thakkar, a featured guest from her 'Belief' series. They explore the profound impact of storytelling on faith and personal journeys, revealing how shared narratives foster connection. Discussion highlights include the universal principles of love across religions and the courage required to express one’s beliefs. They emphasize the importance of understanding diverse perspectives while celebrating the rituals and stories that unite humanity.

We just witnessed the largest acquisition in tech history, and before Dell made it happen, it would have been hard to imagine. Not so much that the two companies would come together, but that the much smaller Dell would be buying its larger peer EMC. If he imagined anyone doing the acquisition it would have been EMC, says a16z’s Peter Levine, but the realities of being a public company and the pressure of activist shareholders are what made this an “upside down acquisition.” “Dell was able to do this deal because they were a private company and had no activists,” Levine says. “EMC could only do this deal because they had activists.” Levine is joined on this segment of the a16z podcast by Actifio Founder and CEO Ash Ashutosh, and Cumulus Networks Co-founder and CEO JR Rivers in a conversation examining the Dell/EMC deal. What were the technological forces that brought these two companies together, and what does that say about the future of enterprise technology and the people who buy it? Finally, what role did the public and private markets play in this deal, and what will Michael Dell need to do to pull it off? 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.

Michael Franklin, co-founder of AMPLab at UC Berkeley, and Haoyuan Li, founder of Tachyon Nexus, share insights on the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship. They delve into how AMPLab fosters innovation through open source projects like Apache Spark. Li recounts his journey from student to startup founder, discussing the challenges and triumphs of commercializing research ideas. The duo also explores the evolution of data storage solutions and the importance of a collaborative ecosystem in nurturing groundbreaking technology.

Marc Andreessen reflects on how losing NSF funding spurred the creation of Netscape. The discussion highlights academia's evolving role in the startup scene, focusing on collaborations between universities like Stanford and Berkeley and industry. The integration of computer science with liberal arts is explored to foster innovation. New graduates are merging tech skills with biology, paving the way for advancements in healthcare. Practical experiences for students, alongside the nuances of venture capital and patent licensing, are emphasized as crucial for navigating the startup landscape.

Elizabeth Weil, a member of a16z's market development team, dives into how big corporations can tap into Silicon Valley's innovative spirit. She discusses why Fortune 500 companies are eager to explore this landscape, emphasizing the urgency posed by agile startups. Elizabeth shares insights on effective collaboration strategies that prioritize preparation and experimentation. She also highlights the evolving dynamics of corporate-startup relationships and the challenges startups face in integrating with large firms, advocating for clear communication and cultural understanding.

Patrick Byrne, founder and CEO of Overstock.com, wears the title 'most hated man on Wall Street' with pride. He reflects on Overstock's evolution from low-quality products to luxury retail and how early adoption of Bitcoin put the company ahead of its time. Byrne discusses the lessons learned from navigating venture capital challenges and highlights the urgent need for cloud integration in business. He boldly critiques Wall Street's practices and predicts that the impact of blockchain technology will revolutionize traditional systems, reshaping our economic landscape.

Roman Mars, renowned for his design podcast "99% Invisible," joins forces with Ryan Hoover, co-founder of Product Hunt. They dive into the podcast renaissance, exploring how technology shapes listening habits. The pair discuss the shifting landscape of podcast consumption and the thrill of discovering niche gems. They also examine the unique intimacy of the format, and how brands can strike a balance in storytelling while maintaining listener trust. Insights on building community and fostering genuine connections are revealed through their engaging conversation.

Alex Rampell, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz with a focus on fintech, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey in financial services. He discusses the overdue need for an overhaul in finance and how software can revolutionize lending and underwriting risk. Rampell recounts his experiences with early internet businesses and the shareware movement, emphasizing innovations in payment systems. The conversation also tackles the pitfalls of traditional banking, the importance of transparency in credit scoring, and the challenges consumers face in switching financial providers.

The discussion kicks off with the impact of ad blockers in iOS 9, revealing a clash of opinions on their effect on advertising. The challenges of relying solely on ads for revenue are explored, alongside the promise of micropayments as a viable alternative. Historical pitfalls in internet payment systems highlight the need for innovation. The conversation also delves into the evolution of advertising, especially native ads, which aim to enhance user engagement. Lastly, the future looks bright for quality media as traditional models face disruption.

Peter Levine, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, and Alex Roetter, SVP of Engineering at Twitter, discuss the rising trend of technical advisory boards and their unique advantages for companies. They reveal how these boards can shape long-term strategic planning and attract top talent. The guests share best practices for structuring impactful meetings and the essential traits of effective board members. They also highlight the importance of mentoring and the need for clarity and transparency in advisory relationships.