The a16z Show

Latest Episodes:

What Is an AI Agent? May 22, 2025

Show notes

What exactly is an AI agent — and does anyone actually agree?

In this episode, taken from of AI + a16z, General Partner Guido Appenzeller and partners Matt Bornstein and Yoko Li break down one of the most hyped- and most hotly debated 0 concepts in AI right now: agents.

Are agents just clever wrappers around LLMs? Tools that can reason and act? Or simply a fresh label for familiar tech?

Whether you're building, investing, or just trying to make sense of the buzz, this episode is for you.

Resources:
Find Guido on X: https://x.com/appenz

Find Yoko on X: https://x.com/stuffyokodraws

Find Matt on X: https://x.com/BornsteinMatt

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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.

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The Evolution of the Firm — with Ben and Marc May 20, 2025

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Recorded live at the 2025 a16z LP Summit, this episode is a candid conversation between a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz—hosted by general partner Erik Torenberg.

They cover the evolution of a16z from startup firm to multi-practice platform, how the media landscape is shaped by meme-speed narratives, why reorgs—not just returns—determine who wins, and what it takes to build an enduring venture franchise.

They also share thoughts on the changing policy landscape for AI and crypto, the firm’s bipartisan approach to Washington—and why Marc personally screens social media profiles before anyone joins the team.

Resources:

Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca

Find Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz

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Unbundling the BPO: How AI Is Disrupting Outsourced Work May 17, 2025

Show notes

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a $300 billion industry powering the back- and front-office operations of the world’s largest companies.

In her article, "Unbundling the BPO: How AI Will Disrupt Outsourced Work," Kimberly Tan (Partner, a16z) explores how the rise of AI is challenging the status quo.

In this episode, Kimberly unpacks the shift—from call centers and invoice processing to cross-system automation and coding agents. They explore how AI is redefining the economics of scale, unlocking new markets, and expanding the reach of automation beyond the Fortune 500. For founders and operators alike, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at the playbook for building in this newly addressable space.

Resources:

Read the article: https://a16z.com/unbundling-the-bpo-how-ai-will-disrupt-outsourced-work/

Find Kimberly on X: https://x.com/kimberlywtan

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Marc Andreessen: Deep Vs. Broad Founders, AI in America, & the New Face of a16z May 16, 2025

Show notes

Today on the a16z Podcast, we’re sharing Marc Andreessen’s recent appearance on TBPN.

Marc—cofounder and general partner at a16z—joins hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays for a wide-ranging conversation, recorded live at the a16z’s 2025 LP Conference in Las Vegas.

They cover the rise of AI, the future of open source models, and how tech is transforming every corner of the economy—from education and defense to healthcare and housing.

Marc also shares his thoughts on the evolution of venture capital, the firm’s new branding, and what it takes to build enduring companies in a rapidly changing world.

Resources:

Watch more from TBPN: https://www.tbpn.com/

Find TBPN on X: https://x.com/tbpn

Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca

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What Super Agers Reveal About Preventing Disease May 14, 2025

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American healthcare is in crisis—but what if we could change the system by preventing disease before it starts?

In this episode of the a16z Podcast, general partner Vijay Pande sits down with Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute and one of the most cited researchers in medicine, to explore the cutting edge of preventive healthcare and longevity science.

Drawing from his new book Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Path to Longevity, Topol breaks down why understanding the biology of aging—not reversing it—is the key to preventing the “Big Three” age-related diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative conditions. The conversation spans AI-powered risk prediction, organ clocks, polygenic risk scores, GLP-1s, and the cultural and economic shifts required to move from a “sick care” system to one rooted in precision prevention and extended healthspan.

If you’ve ever wondered how data, personalized medicine, and AI can add seven healthy years to your life—and what it will take to bring those benefits to everyone—this episode is for you.

Resources:

Find Eric on X: https://x.com/erictopol

Find Vijay on X: https://x.com/vijaypande

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Startups & Defense: Katherine Boyle on TBPN May 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of th a16z Podcast, we’re sharing Katherine Boyle’s recent interview on TBPN.

Katherine—General Partner at a16z and the architect of the American Dynamism thesis—joins hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays to discuss the state of the movement today. They cover the Department of Defense’s sweeping reform efforts, the role of startups in national security, and why American Dynamism is just getting started.

From procurement reform to reindustrialization, this wide-ranging conversation explores how founders and investors are reshaping the future in service of the national interest.

Resources:

Watch more from TBPN: https://www.tbpn.com/

Find TBPN on X: https://x.com/tbpn

Find Katherine on X: https://x.com/KTmBoyle

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Do You Really Know Your ICP? Why It Matters and How to Find Out May 07, 2025

Show notes

Your ideal customer profile (ICP) is the north star for your entire company: it determines who you’re building for and selling to. Though most growth-stage founders think they know who their ICP is, very few know how to update and refine it to keep the company focused as they grow—which can lead to a lot of headaches down the road.

In this debut episode of a16z Growth’s new company scaling podcast, the a16z Guide to Growth, a16z's Joe Morrissey (General Partner, a16z Growth), Michael King (Partner, Go-to-Market Network), and Mark Regan (Partner, a16z Growth) break down why ICP misalignment is often the hidden cause of common problems across the entire company, from pipeline gaps and bloated marketing spend to stalled product roadmaps—and dive deep on how to fix it.

They offer tactical advice for defining (and refining!) your ICP as you scale, explain why getting it right requires company-wide alignment, and how to navigate the “precision paradox” when implementing it. Plus, why ICPs matter even more in the AI era, and how a well-executed ICP shows up across the business when it's working.

Resources:

Read more on sales and go-to-market on our Growth Content Compendium

Find Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morrisseyjoe/

Find Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mregan178/

Find Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-king-62258/

Find Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmajanaskie/

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The Software Crisis Behind America's Infrastructure Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Today’s critical infrastructure—air traffic, logistics, defense—is powered by legacy software. And that’s a problem.

In this episode, recorded live at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, a16z partner Leila Hay sits down with Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Air Space Intelligence, and Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski (Ret.), ASI’s Chief Strategy Officer and former Director for Logistics on the Joint Staff for the Pentagon.

They explore why software is now a weapon system, how dual-use tech can harden both civilian and military infrastructure, and what happens if we don’t modernize fast enough.

Resources:

Find Phillip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipbuckendorf/?locale=en_US

Find Lieutenant General Leonard J Kosinsk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljkosinski/

Find Leila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilahay/

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What Comes After Mobile? Meta’s Andrew Bosworth on AI and Consumer Tech Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Are we nearing the end of the smartphone era?

In this episode, a16z Growth General Partner David George talks with Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth about what comes after apps and touchscreens. From smart glasses to AR headsets, Boz shares how AI is powering a new wave of computing—one that’s ambient, agentic, and driven by human intent.

They explore what it takes to build for this future, the risks of changing interaction models, and why the next big platform shift may already be in motion.

This episode is part of our AI Revolution series, where we explore how industry leaders are leveraging generative AI to steer innovation and navigate the next major platform shift. Discover more insights and content from the AI Revolution series at a16z.com/AIRevolution.

Resources:

Find Boz on X: https://x.com/boztank

Find David on X: https://x.com/davidgeorge8

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The Dual-Use Founder: Vets Now Building For America Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

In today’s world, the battlefield extends far beyond war zones—it’s embedded in our tech stacks, supply chains, and airspace security systems. So who better to solve these modern challenges than those who’ve served on the front lines?

Recorded live at the third annual American Dynamism Summit in Washington D.C., this episode features a16z’s Matt Shortal—a veteran himself—moderating a conversation with three founders who transitioned from military service to building cutting-edge defense startups:

John Doyle, founder & CEO of Cape
David Tuttle, cofounder & CEO of Rune
Grant Jordan, founder & CEO of SkySafe

The panel covers their journeys from service to startups, how their time in uniform shaped what they chose to build, and whether veterans should go straight into entrepreneurship—or stop first at places like Palantir or Anduril. They also discuss how Ukraine changed the game, how dual-use tech is shifting the innovation landscape, and how to instill trust and culture in mission-driven companies.

The big question: how do we win the next war—the asymmetric, fast-moving, tech-enabled kind—and build the industrial base we need to do it?

Resources:

See more from The American Dynamism Summit 2025: www. a16z.com/american-dynamism-summit

Find John of LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-doyle-48633227/

Find David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtuttle1/

Find Grant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantjordansd/

Find Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-shortal/

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