The Ben & Marc Show

a16z, AI and Investing in the new era (ft. Packy McCormick) 15.01.2026 56min

a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz join a16z general partner Erik Torenberg and Not Boring founder Packy McCormick for a conversation on how the media and information ecosystem has changed over the past decade. The discussion breaks down the shift toward a more open and decentralized speech environment, the rise of writer- and creator-led platforms like Substack, and the erosion of centralized media gatekeepers. Marc and Ben also tie these dynamics to their investing worldview, outlining how supply-driven markets, major technological step changes, and reputation-driven venture platforms shape outcomes in the AI era.

The Secret Marketing Strategy That Built a16z: From Zero to Legendary VC Firm 26.11.2025 58min

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Margit Wennmachers—the woman who turned two unknown entrepreneurs with $300 million and zero investing track record into the most talked-about firm in venture capital. She unpacks how they weaponized transparency in an industry built on secrecy, why Fortune's cover story triggered a cartel meltdown, and the exact moment a casual lunch conversation became "Software Is Eating the World." This is the origin story of how A16Z broke every unwritten rule, made enemies of every top-tier firm, and permanently rewired what it means to build companies in public.

Why Silicon Valley Turned Against Defense (And How We’re Fixing It) 19.11.2025 1h 14min

Palmer Luckey got fired from Meta for backing the wrong candidate—now he's the hero saving American defense, and that shift tells you everything about how fast the ground moved beneath Silicon Valley's feet. For decades, tech and defense were allies, then came 15 years of hostility so visceral that Google employees revolted over a Pentagon AI contract, and when leadership caved, only three people showed up to hear what border security actually involves. But something broke: COVID exposed our inability to make things, Ukraine revealed wars now iterate in days not decades, and suddenly the Harvard dorm room generation realized the people building satellites and drones weren't just necessary—they were the future, while legacy defense contractors still operate on Soviet-style five-year plans that guarantee cost overruns and obsolescence. Now the question isn't whether Silicon Valley returns to its Cold War roots, but whether America wins by becoming more like China's centralized system or doubles down on the chaotic creativity that built nine of the world's ten most valuable companies in 25 years—and the founders flooding into defense, energy, mining, and manufacturing suggest the second American century is just getting started.

China Has Mass. Can America Catch Up? 29.09.2025 56min

Ben, Marc, and Erik Torenberg are joined by Brian Schimpf, Co-Founder & CEO of Anduril, and Chris Power, Founder & CEO of Hadrian. Together, they dig into America’s defense production gap: why the U.S. can out-innovate but not out-produce—and what it will take to turn that around. They discuss why U.S. war games show we run out of munitions in a week, the myth of “exquisite-only” systems, how to rebuild industrial capacity with software-led automation, financing factories like data centers, and what it takes to create real deterrence in a Taiwan scenario.

New Media: Podcasts, Politics & the Collapse of Trust 25.07.2025 1h 39min

On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Erik Torenberg— General Partner at a16z and founder of the media company Turpentine—to unpack how the internet shattered the old media order and reshaped the way power works in America. What begins as a look at the evolution of media quickly becomes something bigger: a conversation about truth, trust, and the collapse of institutional authority. They explore how social media became both an x-ray and an engine, why authenticity now beats polish, and how the rules of politics, and journalism, have permanently changed.

Adam Neumann: This is How You Build Iconic Companies 12.06.2025 1h 28min

On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Adam Neumann—founder of WeWork and now, Flow—to unpack one of the most unlikely comeback stories in tech. What began as a personal reckoning after a very public fall has become a bold new vision for how we live and belong. Flow isn’t just a real estate company—it’s an operating system for community, built on first-principles software, design, and soul. Joined by a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg, the group goes deep on: - Why Adam’s childhood shaped his obsession with community - Adam’s fall from WeWork—and how he found a new path to redemption - How Flow is re-architecting real estate from scratch - Why loneliness is the greatest design challenge of our time With reflections on dyslexia, the American dream, and the thin line between failure and greatness, this is a candid and wide-ranging conversation about redemption, vision, and building something that matters in this world. We hope you enjoy this deeply human conversation about the future of living.

Rick Rubin: Vibe Coding is the Punk Rock of Software 31.05.2025 1h 15min

On this episode of "The Ben & Marc Show", a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with legendary music producer and bestselling author Rick Rubin to discuss his new creation "The Way of Code"— part book, part tool, part spiritual operating system for the future.

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz: Rewriting the Rules of Venture — Live From the a16z LP Summit 20.05.2025 32min

Recorded live at a16z’s LP Summit in Las Vegas, Marc and Ben unpack how the firm grew from a disruptive newcomer into one of the most ambitious and adaptive forces in VC. They share how a16z broke from industry orthodoxy to build a firm designed to scale with innovation itself—powered by structural agility, a platform model, and a long-term commitment to transformational founders.

How Andreessen Horowitz Disrupted VC & What’s Coming Next 29.04.2025 1h 25min

On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive deep into the unfiltered story behind the founding of Andreessen Horowitz—and how they set out to reinvent venture capital itself.

Las Vegas is Becoming America's Safest City 18.11.2024 1h 12min

In this special episode, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Chief Mike Gennaro and Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD) to discuss how their organization is using advanced technology to become the safest city in America.

Trump is About to Change Everything For Tech Startups 12.11.2024 59min

In this special post-election episode, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz reflect on Trump's dramatic political victory and its potential impact on tech startups—particularly in the areas of AI, crypto, and defense.

New AI Policy Update on Safety, Censorship & Unexpected Risks 06.11.2024 1h 15min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive into the latest AI policy updates, emphasizing the need for informed debate on AI’s risks and benefits, the growing internal conflicts within the AI safety community, and the challenges of regulating powerful tech companies while ensuring entrepreneurial freedom for Little Tech.

U.S. vs. China: AI, Robotics & the New Global Arms Race 30.10.2024 34min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz explore the intensifying competition between the U.S. and China in artificial intelligence and robotics, examine China’s rapid ascent in the automotive sector, and discuss the critical importance of addressing supply chain vulnerabilities to bolster U.S. competitiveness.

How An AI Bot Became a Crypto Millionaire 22.10.2024 37min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz explore the fascinating intersection of AI and crypto, highlighting the rise of Truth Terminal, an autonomous chatbot. Marc's interaction with the bot recently took a surprising turn when he decided to grant it $50,000 in Bitcoin. This funding then inspired the creation of the meme coin “GOAT” by an anonymous developer, which soon skyrocketed to a $300m valuation.

The Little Tech Agenda: Biden vs. Trump 16.07.2024 1h 25min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz compare the policies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden regarding Little Tech, explore the potential futures for blockchain, crypto, and AI, and examine how tax policies could shape the future of startups and venture capital. They also address the recent assassination attempt on President Trump and reveal which candidate they’ll be supporting in the upcoming election.

Marc Andreessen on Building Netscape & the Birth of the Browser 28.06.2024 1h 44min

In this special episode, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive deep into the REAL story behind the creation of Netscape—a web browser co-created by Marc that revolutionized the internet and changed the world. As Ben notes at the top, until today, this story has never been fully told either in its entirety or accurately. The two discuss Marc's early life and how it shaped his journey into technology, the pivotal moments at the University of Illinois that led to the development of Mosaic (a renegade browser that Marc developed as an undergrad), and the fierce competition and legal battles that ensued as Netscape rose to prominence. Ben and Marc also reflect on the lessons learned that still resonate in today's tech landscape (especially with AI).

The Future of the American Dream 20.05.2024 59min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz do a deep dive on the notion of the American Dream. From the material aspects of home ownership, education, and healthcare, to the intangible aspects of community and self-actualization, Ben and Marc explore what it truly means to be American today. They also examine the numerous challenges our nation now faces, as well as reveal how technology will soon revolutionize American life and culture in unprecedented ways.

AI, Robotics & the Future of Manufacturing 16.05.2024 1h 15min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz explore the potential for emerging chip startups, the incorporation of AI in robotics, and what America needs to do to regain its position as world's leading manufacturer.

Build Your Startup With AI 09.05.2024 1h 15min

a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz discuss how small AI startups can compete with Big Tech’s massive compute and data scale advantages, reveal why data is overrated as a sellable asset, and unpack all the ways the AI boom compares to the internet boom.

Startup Building: Challenges & Opportunities 01.05.2024 1h 15min

In this latest episode on company building in the post-Covid world, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz discuss how startups can think differently about organizational design and talent deployment, unpack the lore around layoffs, and even tackle the future of customer service. They also reveal some unexpected benefits of nicotine and Ozempic.