Ben & Marc: Why Everything Is About to Get 10x Bigger

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.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction 00:46 How the media ecosystem is changing 4:20 Why a16z invested in Substack 6:28 Supply-driven markets and new content creation 8:07 Why writers felt trapped by media companies 10:09 Databricks and the 10x cloud multiplier 13:58 Long-form podcasting proves demand 15:40 What the new fund signals about the future 16:24 AI as a universal problem solver 18:49 Why market sizing is broken 20:45 Go-to-market, policy, and platform power 22:37 Turning inventors into confident CEOs 25:58 Borrowing power to scale faster 27:29 Building dreamers, not killing dreams 30:46 Reputation as a core competitive advantage 35:57 Taking arrows in public 38:56 Avoiding big company failure modes 40:39 Autonomous teams inside a16z 41:54 Venture capital as the last job 46:01 Why intangibles matter more than ever 48:17 Original thinkers with charisma 50:06 Why Zoomers are different

Resources:

https://www.notboring.co/p/a16z-the-power-brokers

https://www.a16z.news/p/firm-fund

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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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Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube

Find a16z on X

Find a16z on LinkedIn

Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify

Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.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.

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