tech

Welcome back to "The Ben & Marc Show," featuring a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. In this new episode – the second in a 2 part series – Marc and Ben address a new round of questions regarding the "State of AI" in relation to company building. 

In light of recent developments at Boeing, Marc and Ben commence the episode with a discussion on the real criteria boards utilize to select a CEO. Returning to the topic of AI, they explore the potential for emerging chip startups, the incorporation of AI in robotics, and what America will need to do in order to regain its position as world's leading manufacturer.

Watch on Youtube:

*Part 1: https://youtu.be/XyrBJ0gk-is

*Part 2: https://youtu.be/QyyWsr1NMt8

Article mentioned: 

- "Ones and Twos" by Ben Horowitz https://a16z.com/ones-and-twos/ 

Book mentioned: 

- "Elon Musk" by Walter Isaacson https://amzn.to/3wyGOmo 

Resources: 

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

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

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

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z 

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z 

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome back to "The Ben & Marc Show," featuring a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. In this new episode – the first of two parts – Marc and Ben answer YOUR questions on the “State of AI” as it relates to company building. 

In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc discuss how small AI startups can compete with Big Tech’s massive compute and data scale advantages, unpack the reasons why data is overrated as a sellable asset, and uncover all the ways the AI boom compares to the internet boom. That and much more. Enjoy!

*Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/XyrBJ0gk-is

Connect with Ben & Marc: 

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

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

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

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z 

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z 

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to "The Ben & Marc Show" featuring a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. In this first episode of a two-part series, Marc and Ben visit the Twittersphere (or X-sphere) to answer YOUR questions about startup building in this post-COVID world.

In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc discuss the biggest tech disruptions of the past four years, dive into the major problems facing American cities – including crime and a commercial real estate crisis – and question the future of our 40-hour work week.  That and much more.  Enjoy!

Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-zzrGs5Z1yk

Resources:

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

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

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

Book mentioned in this episode: 

- “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair amzn.to/3Ue2snA

Films mentioned in this episode: 

- “The Graduate” (1967; Dir. Mike Nichols) amzn.to/44a7BSi

- “The Hunt for Red October”  (1990; Dir. John McTiernan) amzn.to/3UvYc4j

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

“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

Stay Updated:

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z’s co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen.  This week, Marc and Ben are joined by guest Chris Dixon to discuss his recent NY Times bestselling book “Read Write Own”, as well as the future of crypto, blockchain and Web3.

Chris Dixon has been a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz since 2012. He founded and leads a16z crypto, which invests in web3 technologies through four dedicated funds with more than $7 billion under management. Previously, Chris was the cofounder and CEO of two startups, SiteAdvisor (acquired by McAfee in 2006) and Hunch (acquired by eBay in 2011).

In this wide-ranging conversation, the three discuss the evolution of the internet, the current relationship between AI and cryptocurrencies, and how the Web3 movement could inspire a new political ideology. They also take questions from X. Enjoy!

Watch the Full Video: https://youtu.be/u95r025U9K8

Resources:

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

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

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

Chris Dixon on X: https://twitter.com/cdixon

More info on Chris Dixon’s book “Read Write Own”: https://readwriteown.com/

Book referenced on this episode:

“Fully Automated Luxury Communism” by Aaron Bastani bit.ly/3Td7HVw

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen.  In this latest episode -- the final in a three part series on the current crisis in higher education -- Marc and Ben answer YOUR questions from X (formerly Twitter).

In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc unpack the merits of a Harvard undergrad education versus a Thiel Fellowship, discuss the benefits of trade school, and determine what universities are going to look like ten years from now. That and much more!  Please enjoy.

Resources:

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

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

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

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen.  In this latest episode, Marc and Ben tackle the university system – a hot topic that’s been dominating the news over the past few months.

As Marc states at the top of the episode, universities matter tremendously to our world, but they’re currently in a state of crisis.  In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc take a “structural” look at higher education, delving deep into the twelve functions of the modern university.  They also unpack the numerous challenges that universities face today – the student debt and the replication crisis, among them.  

As colleges face an existential dilemma that could have long lasting repercussions, how can we find ways to improve these institutions, while being open to new entrepreneurial opportunities in education? Enjoy!

Resources:

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

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

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

Books mentioned on this podcast:

– “The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money” by Bryan Kaplan https://amzn.to/47HOSOO

– “Public Opinion” by Walter Lippmann amzn.to/48uY3m5

Article mentioned on this podcast:

– “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False” by John Ioannidis bit.ly/3RZnqWa

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Welcome to “The Ben & Marc Show”, featuring a16z’s co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen.  In this week’s episode, Marc and Ben are joined by special guest Tony Robbins to discuss the future of longevity.  

Tony Robbins is an entrepreneur, #1 NY Times bestselling author, philanthropist, and the nation’s #1 life & business strategist.  For over four and a half decades, Tony has empowered more than 50 million people from 100 countries around the world through his audio programs, educational videos, and live seminars. He’s also the author of six international bestsellers, including “Money: Master the Game” (2014), “Unshakable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook” (2017) and “Life Force: How New Breakthroughs in Precision Medicine Can Transform the Quality of Your Life and Those You Love” (2022).

Joined by a16z’s own Dr. Vijay Pande, PhD – General Partner since 2014, and founder and leader of a16z Bio + Health – the group discusses new breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, AI, biohacking, gene editing, mindset and confirms why this might be the best time to be alive. Enjoy!

Watch the full video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/V8h11baC_ok

Resources:

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

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

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

Dr. Vijay Pande on X: https://twitter.com/vijaypande

Learn more about Tony Robbins https://tonyrobbins.com

Tony’s Time to Rise Summit (Jan 25-27, 2024): https://timetorisesummit.com/join-now  

Pre-order Tony’s upcoming book “The Holy Grail of Investing” (Feb 2024): http://theholygrailofinvesting.com

Stay Updated: 

Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

Everyday we're hearing more and more about the benefits - and risks - of AI. It seems like it's either going to transform the world, or destroy it. So what's the truth? Is AI really as dangerous as some people think? In this episode I sit down with big data expert Kenneth Cukier. Kenneth has written multiple books about tech and AI, and he's currently an executive editor at The Economist. In this conversation we talk all about how AI really works, how we can protect ourselves from it, and the many benefits humans have in comparison to their computer counterparts. We also chat about the moral problems of the modern world and how to be come a more well-rounded thinker. Kenneth is such an intelligent and thoughtful man - I learned so much from him I'm sure you will do too. Enjoy!

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📚Check out my New York Times Bestselling book Feel-Good Productivity!
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Season 7 Episode 9

(0:00) Intro
(01:45) Ken's background in AI and big data
(06:54) The possibilities of big data in medicine 
(14:01) Kenneth's book - Big Data
(23:43) The basics of AI
(39:28) How computers learn
(53:28) The benefits of AI
(59:47) The difference between AI and humans
(1:07:27) Are there existential risks from AI?
(1:12:04) The moral problems of the modern world
(1:23:04) Will AI take our jobs?
(1:26:30) What advantages do humans have over AI?
(1:29:03) Working at The Economist
(1:36:29) Becoming well-read

🔗 CONNECT WITH KENNETH
💻 Website
🐦 Twitter
👥 Linkedin

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI
📲 Join My Telegram Community
🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 Twitter
📸 Instagram
💻 Website
👥 Linkedin

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Big Data by Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and Kenneth Cukier
Framers by Kenneth Cukier, Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and Francis de Vericourt
The Intelligence Podcast 

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

Deep Dive is the podcast that delves into the minds of entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people to uncover the philosophies, strategies and tools that help us live happier, healthier and more productive lives.

Want to start your own podcast? We use Transistor! https://go.aliabdaal.com/transistor

If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please do leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts - even one line helps! You can also Tweet @AliAbdaal with any feedback, thoughts from the lessons you've learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏

Check out the episode on the Deep Dive YouTube Channel.

See privacy policy at https://transistor.fm/privacy

Last week, Marc Andreessen released his new vision for the future – “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” (https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/). In an article that has sparked widespread conversation across the media and social media, Marc challenges the pessimistic narrative surrounding technology today, and instead celebrates technology as a liberating force that can lead to growth, progress and abundance for all.

In this one-on-one conversation based on YOUR questions from X (formerly Twitter), Ben Horowitz and Marc discuss how technological advancements can improve the quality of human life, uplift marginalized communities, and even encourage us to answer the bigger questions of the universe.

We hope you’ll be inspired to join us in this Techno-Optimist movement. Enjoy!

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/HCfwKBwxLYk?si=c5HaDwI-_nlKxRsb 

Resources:

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

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

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

Book mentioned on this podcast:

– “When Reason Goes on Holiday: Philosophers in Politics” by Neven Sesardic https://amzn.to/455zYRv

– “The Ultimate Resource” by Julian Lincoln Simon https://amzn.to/3Ft2MIi

Stay Updated: 

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. 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 a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

With recent landmark legislation being passed around salary transparency, many companies are playing catch up as they interpret and implement changes.

In this episode, members of the a16z People Operations team,  Shannon Schiltz and Brandon Cherry explore how companies can best prepare themselves to not just survive, but thrive in this new environment.

Topics Covered:

00:00 - Salary transparency legislation

01:52 - The culture around pay transparency 

03:39 - What is the legislation?

07:01 - How are companies reacting?

11:03 - Structuring a compensation philosophy 

12:30 - Pay ranges

15:35 - Exceptions to the pay range

18:17 - Leveling staff

22:30 - Ranges and roles and company growth

28:24 - Location based pay

30:05 - What should employees look for when applying for work?

32:19 - Job postings

35:05 - Reviewing compensation ranges 

35:42 - At what stage do you hire help?

Stay Updated: 

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://twitter.com/stephsmithio

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.

Demand for electric cars is booming. More than 10 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2022, and consumer behavior is changing as more people embrace alternative and sustainable modes of mobility.

While the electrification movement is a critical element of climate action, it also presents new challenges - from the sky to the sea.

In this episode, industry experts Gregory Davis, CEO of Eviation Planes, Mitch Lee, co-founder and CEO of Arc Boats, and Duncan McIntyre, founder and CEO of Highland Electric Fleets, dive into how the electrification movement is shaping the future of transport and technology.

Topics Covered:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 03:29 - The sustainable aviation industry
• 04:47 - Electric school, municipal and government vehicles
• 07:57 - Electric boats
• 10:49 - What can be transferred from the EV car market?
• 14:06 - Battery challenges and architecture
• 19:06 - Providing grid services 
• 22:55 - Building a multimodal business
• 33:19 - Gaps in the market
• 46:16 - Do you make, buy, or borrow?
• 57:26 - What does the future look like for each industry?

Resources:

Learn more about Arc Boats: https://arcboats.com

Learn more about Highland Electric Fleets: https://highlandfleets.com

Learn more about Eviation: https://www.eviation.com

Stay Updated: 

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://twitter.com/stephsmithio

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.

Generative AI tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion have taken the world by storm in recent months, wowing the masses with their uncanny ability to produce images via text prompts. 

In this interview, we’ll chat with Karen Cheng about how she’s leveraged these tools among others, with a focus on how this new paradigm is reshaping the creator landscape. You’ll get to hear the behind the scenes of many of her viral works, including a video of her becoming a lawnmower, her AI-generated Cosmo magazine cover, her DALL-E fashion show, her transforming iconic art into 3D museums to explore, and much, much more. By the end of this episode, listeners should have a better understanding of the new tools at their fingertips (literally!), how AI can indeed enhance the creative process, and the second-order effects of these innovations, like how creators are paid.

Since we’re just at the beginning of the AI era, this is just the beginning of our coverage as well.

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Intro

02:59 - Karen’s journey to content creator

06:32 - Creative unlocks for viral content

09:28 - The changing social media landscape

12:08 - Innovating with AI

14:59 - Unique AI tools available today

17:52 - How AI tools might differentiate

21:04 - Cosmo’s first AI-generated magazine cover

24:19 - Inpainting, outpainting, and the fungibility of artists

31:54 - AI enhancing the creative process

32:39 - The virality of optimism vs pessimism

38:19 - Turning attention into business

43:13 - IP and ownership in the age of AI

46:18 - The downward pricing pressure of AI

47:21 - Is generative AI still a gimmick?

53:32 - The adaptiveness of humans

58:26 - The importance of AI ethics

Resources:

Karen’s TED Talk

Karen’s Instagram account

Karen’s website

Cosmo magazine cover and tutorial

DALL-E fashion show and tutorial

DALL-E outpainting announcement

I spent $15 in DALL·E 2 credits creating this AI image

Stay Updated: 

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.com/podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

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. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

With much coverage of technology lined with pessimism, the a16z Podcast returns to highlight the bright side of technology, alongside the founders building it. But before featuring the solutions in progress, we wanted to explore why building the future is still so important.

And who better to traverse this ground than a16z’s own cofounder Marc Andreessen, who has built and invested in the future time and time again, especially when it wasn't the obvious thing to do.

Together with Marc, this episode explores technology through the lens of history – including the three stages of human psychology as we encounter new technologies, how that process often manifests in regulation, when to change your mind, the Cambrian explosion of opportunity coming from distributed work, the importance of founder-led companies, and perhaps most importantly, we examine why there's still much reason for optimism.

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Welcome back!

02:19 - The importance of tech today

05:25 - Historical negativity toward technology

9:40 - The invention of the bicycle

13:16 - Innovation vs status in society

20:45 - Automobile moral panic and red flag laws

24:52 - Balaji’s arc on social networking

27:44 - Surfacing signal from noise

34:06 - The role of timing in innovation

37:39 - Today’s major unlocks

44:59 - Remote work and society reshuffling

49:49 - Changing your mind

54:06 - Retaining a lens of optimism

1:04:25 - What Marc’s excited about

1:08:41 - Bourgeois vs managerial capitalism

1:17:32 - Reform vs starting anew

Resources:

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

Pessimist’s Archive: https://pessimistsarchive.org/

Stay Updated: 

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.com/podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

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. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

The long-standing (and chart-topping) a16z Podcast returns to cover the most important topics within the world of technology. Brought to you by the minds at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and hosted by Steph Smith, each episode goes beyond headlines, giving listeners insider access to the edge of innovation.

Subscribe to be the first to receive upcoming episodes featuring industry leaders like Steve Wozniak, Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, and Neal Stephenson, and covering a range of topics, from AI to space to the metaverse to genomics, and beyond.

Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.com/podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

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. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

In this special episode from a16z’s Bio Eats World podcast, general partners Vijay Pande and Jon Lai join bio editorial lead Olivia Webb to discuss the intersection of games and health, including:  what constitutes a game, the “healthy dessert” problem, and the challenge of building a game that’s both fun and therapeutic.

You can subscribe to Bio Eats World wherever you get your podcasts. 

a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz talk  tech trends, company building, and more live on Clubhouse every Monday, 7pm PT. 

In this conversation:

• What does return to work look like for a16z portfolio companies (including exclusive survey data)
• How the re-distribution of the workforce might affect rural America
• The potential for social networks to replace networking in cities 
• Generalists vs specialists in a startup
• How to think about celebrity investors and executives (like Prince Harry)
• The growing distrust of institutions in America
• The technology that could still be with us in 500 years
• Books of the week! Marc on "Medici Money" by Tim Parks and Ben on "Lenin" by Victor Sebestyen

In the tech world, marketplaces are a hot topic. That term—marketplace—encompasses a huge swath of services we use every day, from grocery delivery to online shopping to remote learning. How have marketplace dynamics changed since pre-pandemic, and what COVID-propelled consumer behaviors will persist into 2021 and beyond?  

In this episode, we discuss the most promising marketplace companies and categories on the rise, based on data from the Marketplace 100, a ranking of the largest and fastest-growing consumer-facing marketplace startups and private companies.

The report provides rich fodder for looking ahead at the future of marketplaces: Which companies are on a tear and which are locked in close competition? Which marketplace categories are poised for growth, and which may make a comeback? Host Lauren Murrow is joined by a16z consumer team partners Connie Chan, D’Arcy Coolican, Jeff Jordan, and Sriram Krishnan.

Disinformation researchers have been fighting two battles over the last decade: one to combat and contain harmful information, and one to convince the world that these manipulations have an offline impact that requires complex, nuanced solutions. Camille François, Chief Information Officer at the cybersecurity company Graphika and an affiliate of the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, believes that our common understanding of the problem has recently reached a new level. In this interview, she catalogues the key changes she observed between studying Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and helping convene and operate the Election Integrity Partnership watchdog group before, during and after the 2020 election. “I'm optimistic, because I think that things that have taken quite a long time to land are finally landing, and because I think that we do have a diverse set of expertise at the table,” she says. Camille and Tristan Harris dissect the challenges and talk about the path forward to a healthy information ecosystem.

Topics covered this week include:

• How to handle politics in the workplace
• How to avoid hiring talent just like your own
• How to have a prepared mind and  the "why now" question for startups
• Nuclear power and the future of energy
• Tech literacy and elected officials
• How has their definition of success changed over time
• The lessons marriage has taught them about partnerships and vice versa
• Science fiction and other book recommendations