a16z Podcast

Stacy Brown-Philpot, COO of TaskRabbit and newly appointed board member at HP Inc, shares her journey in securing a board seat after her tenure at Google. She reveals the unique nature of board interviews, contrasting them with job interviews, and the importance of preparation. Stacy discusses factors to consider for board service, the dynamics of public vs. private company boards, and the value of diversity in governance. She also offers insights on the operational challenges COOs face and the significance of leveraging personal networks for board opportunities.

Andrew Mason, former Groupon CEO and advocate for 'progressive equity,' dives into the pressing issue of unfair wealth distribution in startups. He discusses how traditional equity systems reward founders disproportionately, leaving many employees with minimal financial gain. Mason introduces innovative solutions to create a fairer landscape, ensuring all contributors share in a company's success. Alongside Ben Horowitz, he explores the complexities of equity allocation and how political diversity within teams can impact the implementation of equitable practices.

Shannon Schiltz, Head of People Practice at a16z, and Than Nguyen, a compensation expert, dive into the intricate world of employee compensation. They explore how a well-defined compensation strategy is crucial for startups looking to attract and retain top talent. The discussion highlights the importance of consistency, transparency, and effective communication in pay structures. Additionally, they compare equity grants and their impact on talent retention, emphasizing that salary alone isn't enough to keep employees engaged and valued.

Brian Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, shares his insights on Bitcoin's transformative potential in the wake of financial crises, like Greece's recent struggles. He discusses how Bitcoin can serve those unbanked, shifting from a speculative investment to a practical payment solution. Armstrong emphasizes the need for better education on digital currencies and user-friendly interfaces to foster adoption. He also highlights the role of sidechains in enhancing Bitcoin's capabilities, hinting at a future where digital currency is a mainstream means of exchange.

Benedict Evans, a Venture Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and an industry expert on mobile technology, discusses the smartphone's dominance in the tech world. He compares smartphones to the sun, asserting that emerging technologies orbit around them. The conversation highlights the shifting power dynamics among tech giants, the evolving role of Xbox amidst mobile innovation, and the universal challenges of software security in Android. Evans also delves into mapping technologies' significance for self-driving cars, illustrating the automotive industry's transition to a software-centric future.

In this discussion, experts AnnaLee Saxenian, Dean at UC Berkeley, Brad Feld, VC and author, and Christopher Schroeder, entrepreneur and investor, dive into the dynamics of global innovation ecosystems. They explore why many attempts to replicate Silicon Valley fail, emphasizing local cultural attitudes towards entrepreneurship. The guests highlight the unique challenges and advantages in regions like Iran and China, discussing how grassroots movements and regulatory frameworks can shape innovation. Their insights reveal the intricate dance between local adaptation and global competition.

Four high school hackers from Nigeria, Brazil, and India share their inspiring journeys in a coding competition. They reveal the innovative mobile apps they created to address community issues, from water conservation to job accessibility for people with disabilities. The discussion highlights the unique coding cultures in their home countries and the challenges faced by young female coders. With plans for public campaigns, they aim to empower more girls to pursue tech careers and continue building impactful software solutions.

It’s not just the likes of Google, Facebook, and Amazon that lean on a massive and growing corpus of data, today every company is a data-driven company. In this world, access to data -- and how you manage it -- is what matters, says Ash Ashutosh, founder and CEO of Actifio. In this segment of the pod, we get in the weeds with Ashutosh and a16z’s Peter Levine on how this data-driven world is changing the technology infrastructure that is the engine behind it, and the companies that use it. Ashutosh and Levine also discuss ramping sales teams, going international, and what’s driving the timing of IPOs – or really the lack of IPOs. Finally, Ashutosh offers his four-legged response to being referred to as a “unicorn.” Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please 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. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this engaging discussion, Vijay Pande, a Stanford professor and entrepreneur, teams up with Chris Dixon, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to explore how computational advancements are revolutionizing biology. They delve into the booming realm of bio startups, emphasizing the impact of affordable sensors and cloud computing. Pande highlights exciting trends like digital therapeutics and computational biomedicine. They tackle the complexities of reproducibility in research and the transformative potential of AI in enhancing medical solutions.

In this engaging discussion, Prat Moghe, CEO and Founder of Cazena, emphasizes the shift of big data from data scientists to widespread organizational use. Peter Levine, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, adds insights on how this democratization fosters better collaboration and quicker decision-making across diverse sectors. They delve into the complexities of migrating data to the cloud, the transformation in consumer marketing strategies, and the future landscape that empowers even smaller enterprises to harness big data.