Importance of Industry Associations in Tech

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Industry associations play a vital role in policy advocacy and agenda setting for various sectors, but the tech industry lacks a unified front in this regard. Unlike other industries with strong associations and lobbying powers, tech startups struggle to find common ground on policy issues. The failure of initiatives like TechNet to unite startup founders and tech companies highlights the industry's challenges in forming a cohesive voice. Despite agreeing on issues like stock option expensing and venture capital tax treatment, startups face difficulties in establishing a unified platform for advocacy.

“If America is going to be America in the next one hundred years, we have to get this right.” - Ben Horowitz

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen. In this latest episode, Marc and Ben take on one of the most hot button issues facing technology today: tech regulation and policy.

In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc delve into why the political interests of “Big Tech” conflict with a positive technological future, the necessity of decentralized AI, and how the future of American innovation is at its most critical point. They also answer YOUR questions from X (formerly Twitter). That and much more. Enjoy!

Watch full episode: https://youtu.be/dX7d6bRJI9k

Resources:

Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca

Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz

* Ben’s Article: “Politics and the Future” bit.ly/3PGKrgw

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