a16z Podcast

a16z

The a16z Podcast discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future – especially as ‘software eats the world’. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices from around the world. This podcast is produced by Andreessen Horowitz (aka “a16z”), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. Multiple episodes are released every week; visit a16z.com for more details and to sign up for our newsletters and other content as well!

  1. The Little Tech Agenda for AI

    21 HR AGO

    The Little Tech Agenda for AI

    Who’s speaking up for startups in Washington, D.C.? In this episode, Matt Perault (Head of AI Policy, a16z) and Collin McCune (Head of Government Affairs, a16z) unpack the “Little Tech Agenda” for AI- why AI rules should regulate harmful use, not model development; how to keep open source open; the roles of the federal government vs states in regulating AI; and how the U.S. can compete globally without shutting out new founders.   Timecodes:  0:00 – Introduction  1:12 – Defining the Little Tech Agenda 4:40 – Challenges for Startups vs. Big Tech 6:37 – Principles of Smart AI Regulation 9:55 – History of AI Policy & Regulatory Fears 19:26 – The Role of Open Source and Global Competition 23:45 – Motivations Behind Policy Approaches 26:40 – Debates on Regulating Use vs. Development 35:15 – Federal vs. State Roles in AI Policy 39:24 – AI Policy and U.S.–China Competition 40:45 – Current Policy Landscape & Action Plans 42:47 – Moratoriums, Preemption, and Political Dynamics 50:00 – Looking Forward: The Future of AI Policy 56:16 – Conclusion & Disclaimers Resources:  Read the Little Tech Agenda: https://a16z.com/the-little-tech-agenda/ Read ‘Regulate AI Use, Not AI Development : https://a16z.com/regulate-ai-use-not-ai-development/ Read Martin’s article ‘Base AI Policy on Evidence, Not Existential Angst: https://a16z.com/base-ai-policy-on-evidence-not-existential-angst/ Read ‘Setting the Agenda for Global AI Leadership’: https://a16z.com/setting-the-agenda-for-global-ai-leadership-assessing-the-roles-of-congress-and-the-states/ Read ‘The Commerce Clause in the Age of AI”:  https://a16z.com/the-commerce-clause-in-the-age-of-ai-guardrails-and-opportunities-for-state-legislatures/ Find Matt on X: https://x.com/MattPerault Find Collin on X: https://x.com/Collin_McCune

    57 min
  2. Building APIs for Developers and AI Agents

    2 DAYS AGO

    Building APIs for Developers and AI Agents

    Stainless founder Alex Rattray joins a16z partner Jennifer Li to talk about the future of APIs, SDKs, and the rise of MCP (Model Context Protocol). Drawing on his experience at Stripe—where he helped redesign API docs and built code-generation systems—Alex explains why the SDK is the API for most developers, and why high-quality, idiomatic libraries are essential not just for humans, but now for AI agents as well. They dive into: The evolution of SDK generation and lessons from building at scale inside Stripe.Why MCP reframes APIs as interfaces for large language models.The challenges of designing tools and docs for both developers and AI agents.How context limits, dynamic tool generation, and documentation shape agent usability.The future of developer platforms in an era where “every company is an API company.”Timecodes:  0:00 – Introduction: APIs as the Dendrites of the Internet 1:49 – Building API Platforms: Lessons from Stripe 3:03 – SDKs: The Developer’s Interface 6:16 – The MCP Model: APIs for AI Agents 9:23 – Designing for LLMs and AI Users 13:08 – Solving Context Window Challenges 16:57 – The Importance of Strongly Typed SDKs 21:07 – The Future of API and Agent Experience 24:45 – Lessons from Leading API Companies 26:14 – Outro and Disclaimers Resources:  Find Alex on X: https://x.com/rattrayalex Find Jennifer on X: https://x.com/JenniferHli Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    27 min

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    How to Be Free: Shaka Senghor, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Horowitz

    Taken from The Oprah Podcast, this special episode brings together Shaka Senghor, a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz, and Oprah Winfrey for a powerful conversation on resilience and transformation. Shaka, a resilience expert, motivational speaker, and bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs, shares his journey from incarceration to redemption along with insights from his new book, How to Be Free. Full of hard-earned wisdom and practical tools, it’s a guide for anyone seeking freedom in their own life. Timecodes:  0:00 Introduction  1:30 Shaka’s Journey: From Prison to Freedom 4:10 The Power of Narrative and Mindset 6:10 Active Journaling & Writing My Wrongs 8:45 Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons 10:00 The Role of Forgiveness 16:40 Healing Family Relationships 21:00 Unconditional Forgiveness & True Freedom 22:40 Resilience as a Spiritual Principle 24:15 Mentorship & Meeting Ben Horowitz 28:55 Lessons on Success and Failure 30:20 The Meaning of a Pardon 31:50 Life After Prison: Finding Joy in Freedom 32:30 Advice for Listeners: How to Begin Your Own Journey 35:15 Closing Thoughts  Resources:  Find Shaka on X: https://x.com/ShakaSengho Find Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz Find Oprah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    37 min
  4. Is Non-Consensus Investing Overrated?

    4 DAYS AGO

    Is Non-Consensus Investing Overrated?

    Is non-consensus investing overrated—or the secret to venture returns? a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg is joined by Martín Casado (General Partner, a16z) and Leo Polovets (General Partner, Humba Ventures) to unpack the debate that lit up venture Twitter/X: should founders and VCs chase consensus, or run from it? They explore what “consensus” really means in practice, how market efficiency shapes venture outcomes, why most companies fail from indigestion, not starvation, and the risks founders face when they’re too far outside consensus.   Timecodes:  00:00 Introduction  01:04 Defining Consensus and Market Efficiency 06:30 The Role of Hot Rounds and Market Signals 10:25 Founder Perspective: Risks of Non-Consensus 13:19 Investor Perspective: Indigestion vs. Starvation 18:28 Market Cycles & Sector Hype 23:55 The Evolution of Venture Market Efficiency 26:29 Case Studies & Personal Anecdotes 33:02 Fund Size, Ownership, and the Impact on Strategy 51:40 The Future of Venture: Multi-Stage vs. Seed Funds   Resources:  Find Leo on X: https://x.com/lpolovets Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    55 min
  5. Jack Altman & Martin Casado on the Future of VC

    5 DAYS AGO

    Jack Altman & Martin Casado on the Future of VC

    Jack Altman sits down with Martin Casado, General Partner at a16z, to unpack the shifting dynamics of venture capital and why media matters more than ever. They cover a16z’s evolution from generalists to specialized platforms, the rise of AI infrastructure, and why today’s fiercest battles are often for talent, not market share. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction 0:27 Importance of Media for VC 3:50 Evolution of a16z 7:00 Specialization 10:32 Value of Distribution 13:16 Staying Power in Infrastructure 19:49 The Conflicts Dynamic 26:32 State of Play in AI 30:48 The Future of Coding 34:58 Significance of Open Source 39:48 Marc Andreessen’s Leadership 44:02 The Only Sin in VC 48:37 Scaling a Lot of Board Seats Resources:  Listen to more from Uncapped: https://linktr.ee/uncappedpod Find Jack on X: https://x.com/jaltma Find Uncapped on X: https://x.com/uncapped_pod Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    53 min
  6. Chris Best of Substack on the Future of Media

    6 DAYS AGO

    Chris Best of Substack on the Future of Media

    What if the future of media isn’t controlled by algorithms or legacy institutions—but by independent voices building directly with their audiences? In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Chris Best, cofounder and CEO of Substack, along with a16z general partners Katherine Boyle and Andrew Chen. We trace the origin story of Substack and its cultural impact, including how it reinvented the business model for independent media. We also explore the evolution of blogging, the rebundling of media, and what the future holds as attention becomes the scarcest resource. Timecodes:  00:00 Introduction 03:50 Origins of Substack 06:29 The Evolution of Blogging & Media Models 09:15 Direct Audience Connection & Platform Independence 10:57 Vision for Substack & The Role of Algorithms 21:06 Business Models: Ads, Subscriptions, and AI 26:10 The Scarcity of Attention & Value of Good Content 27:45 Unbundling, Rebundling, and the Future of Media Companies 37:12 Academia, Books, and Changing Content Formats 44:31 Substack’s Next Phase & Closing Thoughts Resources:  Find Chris on Substack: https://cb.substack.com/ Find Chris on X: https://x.com/cjgbest Find Andrew Chen on Substack: https://andrewchen.substack.com/ Find Andrew on X: https://x.com/andrewchen Find Katherine on X: https://x.com/KTmBoyle Find Katherine on Substack: https://boyle.substack.com/ Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    46 min

  7. 30 AUG

    Katherine Boyle on Shawn Ryan

    Venture capital has powered companies like Facebook and TikTok—but what if that same urgency fueled America’s defense and industrial base? Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and cofounder of the firm’s American Dynamism practice, argues this is the biggest business opportunity of our time. In this conversation from The Shawn Ryan Show, Boyle discusses the rise of defense tech startups, why optimism drives her work, and how a new generation of engineers and founders is rethinking innovation and patriotism in America.   Timecodes:  0:00 Introduction  0:41 Patriotism, Optimism, and American Innovation 4:27 Startups vs. Legacy Primes in Defense 10:08 Venture Capital’s Unique Incentives 17:21 Katherine’s Backstory: Family & Upbringing 21:07 The Decline of Community & Family Pillars 23:23 Polarization, Religion, and Social Fabric 26:16 America’s Birth Rate Crisis 29:46 Cultural Shifts and the Family Structure 42:01 Katherine’s Path: Journalism to Venture Capital 1:06:06 Breaking into Silicon Valley 1:18:06 Investing in Defense: The Anduril Story 1:37:37 The American Dynamism Movement 2:04:27 Manufacturing, Space, and the Future of Defense 2:14:06 Espionage, China, and National Security 2:37:38 The Attack on the American Family 2:48:29 Cultural Change, Suffering, and Purpose 2:55:30 Closing Thoughts   Resources:  Find Katherine on X: https://x.com/KTmBoyle Shawn Ryan Show Links  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=7abec4d61c324b24   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    2h 52m

  8. 28 AUG

    Monopolies vs Oligopolies in AI

    In this interview from the 20VC podcast, Martin Casado (a16z General Partner) joins Harry Stebbings to unpack the state of AI, the rise of coding models, the future of open vs. closed source, and how value is shifting across the stack. Martin offers a candid view of the opportunities and dangers shaping AI and venture capital today.   Resources:  Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado Find Harry on X: https://x.com/harrystebbings More about 20VC: Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@20VC Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3j2KMcZTtgTNBKwtZBMHvl?si=85bc9196860e4466&nd=1&dlsi=d1dbbc6a0d7c4408 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twenty-minute-vc-20vc-venture-capital-startup/id958230465 Visit their Website: https://www.20vc.com Subscribe to their Newsletter: https://www.thetwentyminutevc.com/ Follow 20VC on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/20vchq/# Follow 20VC on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@20vc_tok   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.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.

    1h 17m
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About

The a16z Podcast discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future – especially as ‘software eats the world’. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices from around the world. This podcast is produced by Andreessen Horowitz (aka “a16z”), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. Multiple episodes are released every week; visit a16z.com for more details and to sign up for our newsletters and other content as well!

Information

  • Channel
    a16z
  • Creator
    Andreessen Horowitz
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2025
  • Episodes
    914
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    a16z Podcast

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