Shows
AI Podcast Summaries from Transcripted.ai (VIDEO)a16z Podcast: Why Town’s AI Pivot Beat a $1M Startup BetA startup that looked promising on paper turned out to be the wrong bet once AI changed the rules. In this condensed recap of the a16z Podcast, Alex Rampell talks with Jean-Denis Greze, CEO and founder of Town, about why his SMB tax idea couldn’t become venture-scale and how he pivoted to an AI product built around email, calendars, and everyday knowledge work. In this shorter version of the full conversation, listeners will learn why timing, distribution, and unit economics matter as much as product quality in AI startups. The episode also explores how consumer expectations are reshaping en...
2026-10-1903 min
The a16z ShowWhat Happens When Al Agents Can Spend Your Money?Why hasn't AI transformed everyday work as quickly as coding? Town CEO Jean-Denis Greze argues the bottleneck isn't intelligence, but making AI useful to people who don't have the time or technical skills to build their own automations.Jean-Denis joins a16z General Partner Alex Rampell to share why he pivoted Town from tax software to a personal AI assistant built around email, calendars, and the workflows that run businesses. They discuss why consumer-grade experiences may win in enterprise AI, how Town discovers and automates tasks users wouldn't think to delegate, and why model neutrality and data...
2026-10-191h 02The a16z ShowWhen AI Agents Start Spending Your Money | Alex Rampell & Terry Angelosa16z General Partner Alex Rampell sits down with VGS Executive Board Member, Terry Angelos, to unpack what happens to payments when AI agents go from recommending what to buy to actually making the purchase.Terry explains the infrastructure required to safely give agents access to payment credentials, why wallets like PayPal, Shop Pay, and Link are competing to become the default payment layer for agents, and how new agentic tokens could preserve the chargebacks, identity checks, and merchant relationships that make today's payment networks work. VGS, which already secures payment credentials across a significant share of...
2026-10-1551 min
Forged in AmericaE60: a16z's Alex Rampell: Why the Best Founders Are SociopathsAlex Rampell: AI, Billion-Dollar Founders, and the Future of American CapitalismWhat happens when artificial intelligence can outperform the smartest people in the room? And why does America keep producing the world's most valuable companies while other countries struggle to replicate Silicon Valley?This week on Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Alex Rampell, serial entrepreneur, co-founder of Affirm, and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of the world's most influential venture capital firms.Rampell started coding at age 10, built and sold multiple companies, and now...
2026-10-141h 05
Summation with Auren HoffmanAlex Rampell on why the best companies have hostages, not customersAlex Rampell is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads the firm’s $2.7 billion Apps practice and has driven much of the firm's fintech investing, including Plaid, Mercury, and Opendoor. Before a16z, Alex co-founded multiple companies including Affirm (NASDAQ:AFRM), FraudEliminator (acquired by McAfee in 2006), Point, TrialPay (acquired by Visa in 2015), TXN (acquired by Envestnet in 2019), and Yub (acquired by Coupons.com in 2013).In this episode of Summation, Alex and Auren discuss:Why Visa is the purest network effect business in the world and why it's still a duopolyThe reverse Robin Hood hidden in...
2026-09-221h 02
AI Podcast Summaries from Transcripted.ai (VIDEO)a16z Podcast: Why Enterprise Software’s Future Won’t Look Like SalesforceEnterprise software is being rebuilt around AI, and the old CRM playbook may be the first thing to break. In this condensed recap of the a16z Podcast, hosts Joe Schmidt and Alex Rampell speak with Keith Peiris, CEO of Lightfield, about why the next generation of business software could look nothing like Salesforce. Instead of a stale system of record, Lightfield is building a “business world model” that turns emails, calls, and meetings into a canonical log AI agents can reason over. This summary covers Lightfield’s pivot from a viral GPT-3 presentation product, its unusual “negative pricing” go-to-market, and the sh...
2026-09-1603 minThe a16z ShowThe AI-Native CRMa16z’s Alex Rampell and Joe Schmidt sit down with Lightfield co-founder and CEO Keith Peiris to discuss what it takes to rethink the CRM for an AI-native world, and the unusual pivot that got him there.Keith previously built Tome to 25 million users, but eventually walked away from the product after concluding that the underlying technology couldn’t capture enough context about a presenter, their audience, and the relationship between them. Starting again, his team followed customers from AI presentations into sales workflows and eventually found a harder problem: making sense of the fragmented and ofte...
2026-09-1652 min
AI Podcast Summaries from Transcripted.ai (VIDEO)a16z Podcast: AI Agents, Affirm, and the Future of Credit CardsWhen payments, identity, and AI converge, the credit card’s role starts to look surprisingly negotiable. This condensed a16z Podcast recap turns the full conversation into a minutes-long summary, so you can get the key ideas fast. Alex Rampell and Max Levchin trace how consumer payments evolved from PayPal and Affirm’s early “pajama problem” to modern buy now, pay later, merchant conversion gains, and honest 0% financing. They also unpack why behavior change in payments is so hard, how identity-based checkout can reduce friction, and why machine learning is replacing blunt tools like FICO for underwriting. Most intriguingly, they explain...
2026-09-0303 minThe a16z ShowThe $100B Niches Hiding Inside PaymentsErik Torenberg is joined by a16z General Partner Alex Rampell and Affirm Co-Founder and CEO Max Levchin for a conversation on 25 years of fintech, from the early days of digital payments to the origins of Affirm and the next generation of agentic commerce.Max and Alex revisit what surprised them most about how payments evolved, why the card interface has been so difficult to displace, and why even the smallest corners of payments can become enormous markets. They also trace the early idea maze behind Affirm, from "pay with your identity" and the pajama problem to...
2026-09-031h 00
Money, Power, Politics with Stephanie RuhleIt's a toss-up for Senate in Texas.September 2nd, 9am: The race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton tightens, and now Republicans are calling for help from President Trump. Then, while we wait for the economic D-Day, the U.S. returns to a hot war with Iran, trading heavy strikes for the second time in three days. Plus, high inflation and mounting debt intensify the global bond sell-off, sending yields here in the U.S. soaring. What this means for your wallet. Luke Broadwater, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Mychael Schnell, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, John Harwood, Catherine Rampell and Alex Bores join Money Power Politics this morning.
2026-09-0241 min
The Moment with Katy TurMichigan Hit by Trump's TariffsAugust 31st, 2026 3PM: On "The Moment with Katy Tur," Alex Wagner, MS NOW Senior Political Analyst and host of Runaway Country on Crooked; Catherine Rampell, MS NOW Analyst and Economics Editor at The Bulwark; and Molly-Jong Fast, MS NOW Political Analyst and host of the "Fast Politics" Podcast, join Katy to discuss how Michigan has been hit the hardest by Trump's trade war with Canada. Plus, how Wyoming Governor Mike Gordon is concerned by "aggressive" election observers sent by the Trump administration.
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2026-08-3140 minThe a16z ShowAI for America's Small Businesses | LassieAlex Rampell and Olivia Moore speak with Lassie cofounders Steijn Pelle and Frédéric Renken about bringing AI to one of the most overlooked parts of the economy: small businesses.
Inspired by time spent working inside dental practices, Pelle and Renken set out to automate the administrative work that keeps healthcare providers away from patients. They discuss how AI agents are changing billing, insurance claims, patient payments, and other operational workflows, allowing practices to spend less time on paperwork and more time delivering care.
The conversation explores AI agents, software that performs work rather th...
2026-07-3058 minMoney, Power, Politics with Stephanie RuhleTrump and Zelensky at NATOJuly 8th, 2026; 9am: The President says the ceasefire is over, as the U.S. resumes strikes on Iran. Breaking news starts us off as Trump speaks at the NATO Summit. Plus, oil prices rise after Iran retaliates by striking U.S. bases in the Middle East. And, new allegations against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner as pressure grows for him to drop out of the race. Luke Broadwater, Susan Page, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Alex Ward, Justin Wolfers, Catherine Rampell join Money Power Politics this morning.
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2026-07-0849 min
Raiser's EdgeTrust is a Long Game with Tushar GargTushar Garg raised over $200M for Flyhomes — one round closed in 30 minutes, another nearly collapsed while his co-founder was hospitalized after being hit by a drunk driver.Tushar is the co-founder and CEO of Flyhomes, a proptech company that pioneered cash-backed offers for homebuyers. In this episode he traces a full decade of fundraising — from a 30-minute seed term sheet through a $150M Series C he didn't plan for, to a near-death survival round raised in a frozen market after cutting more than 80% of the company. Every round traces back to a relationship he had been quietly buil...
2026-05-2627 min
AI + a16zBen Horowitz on AI Infrastructure, Economics and The New Laws of SoftwareRecorded live at the a16z Fintech Connect conference in Deer Valley, Alex Rampell speaks with Ben Horowitz, cofounder and general partner at a16z, about how AI has rewritten the fundamental rules of software competition, why crypto infrastructure will become essential in an AI-dominated world, and what the future holds for venture capital.
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Check out everything a16z is doing with artificial intelligence here, including articles, projects, and more podcasts.
2026-05-1929 min
The 11th Hour with Ali VelshiIs the war in Iran over? Depends which administration official is speaking.Marco Rubio says the war in Iran is “over” as Trump pauses 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz. Then, what problems with trade and supply chain could mean for the economy. Plus, what the results in Indiana's primaries reveal about Trump’s grip on the GOP. Alex Ward, Sam Stein, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, Catherine Rampell, Scott Lincicome, Dave Weigel, and Laura Barron-Lopez join The 11th Hour this Tuesday night.
To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Sim...
2026-05-0642 min
Beyond the Exit 聊聊創投的數字與故事2: 為什麼創投基金越來越大？節目一開始，我們先從一個有趣但常被忽略的現象談起：單一創辦人（solo founder）的比例正在上升，但創投對這類公司的投資偏好其實沒有明顯改變。在 AI 工具逐漸成為「虛擬共同創辦人」的情況下，這個趨勢是否會進一步改變創投的決策邏輯？接著，我們進入本集的核心主題：大型創投基金（mega fund）的崛起。我們會先從數字出發，從近年幾家知名創投的募資金額聊起，讓你更直觀感受到這些基金規模已經成長到什麼程度。同時，我們也會討論背後幾個關鍵原因，包括新創公司上市時間延長、創投需要持續加碼避免股權被稀釋，以及 AI 時代對資本規模的全新需求。但基金變大並不只是數字上的變化。我們也會談到，當創投逐漸演變為大型資產管理機構，甚至提供從招募、行銷到算力資源等「全方位服務」時，這對創業者與投資人各自意味著什麼。最後，我們也會帶到不同觀點的拉扯：像 Benchmark 這類強調小而精、專注選案能力的創投，為什麼會對 mega fund 持批判態度？而對創業者來說，拿大型創投的錢，真的一定是最好的選擇嗎？在下一集，我們會進一步討論：當創投基金變得越來越大之後，他們實際「在做的事情」到底發生了哪些改變？歡迎各位聽眾訂閱收聽。如果你喜歡我們的節目，記得按下訂閱按鈕，或是在你收聽的平台留下評價，你也可以手動把我們節目的 RSS 加入你習慣的 podcast 播放器。我們的節目有提供章節設計，歡迎聽眾朋友多加利用。最後，別忘記訂閱我們的電子報《Beyond the Exit》，我們下一集見！相關連結State of Startups 2025 | Carta Data Insights（需填寫資料才能免費下載報告）《矽谷創投啟示錄：一場由離經叛道的金融家所發起的瘋狂投資遊戲，如何徹底顛覆你我的生活、工作與娛樂方式》Ben Horowitz on How a16z Built a Venture Machine | Ep. 38 - YouTubeAlex Rampell: The Best Founders Materialise Capital, Customers & Labour | The Future of Venture - YouTubeBill Gurley doesn’t think these giant new funds are such a great idea | TechCrunchSoftBank uses ‘capital as a weapon,’ Benchmark VC Bill Gurley says* 投資有風險，本節目為資訊整理，並非投資建議。請自行評估並詳閱基金公開說明書。 Powered by Firstory Hosting
2026-05-0636 minThe a16z ShowBen Horowitz on AI Infrastructure, Economics and The New Laws of SoftwareRecorded live at the a16z Fintech Connect conference in Deer Valley, Alex Rampell speaks with Ben Horowitz, cofounder and general partner at a16z, about how AI has rewritten the fundamental rules of software competition, why crypto infrastructure will become essential in an AI-dominated world, and what the future holds for venture capital.
Resources:
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2026-04-1429 min
AI Dispatcha16z's Alex Rampell: "That revenue stream is 100% going to zero" — His Dire Warning for Zendesk and All Per-Seat SaaS Models.Episode Introduction:
In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into a16z partner Alex Rampell’s urgent analysis of how AI-driven automation is poised to upend traditional SaaS pricing models—especially those charging per-seat fees like Zendesk. Rampell reveals the “Locksmith Paradox,” a fundamental economic flaw in per-seat SaaS pricing, arguing that as AI replaces human labor in tasks such as customer support, entire revenue streams are at risk of collapsing. Alongside insights from Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes, this conversation also challenges long-standing software design assumptions and explores why AI won’t easily replace complex enterprise systems despite the hype around low-code a...
2026-03-0808 min
Wenbin Fang's Podcast PlaylistAtlassian CEO on the SaaS Apocalypse, AI Agents & What Comes Next Podcast: The a16z Show (LS 63 · TOP 0.1% what is this?)Episode: Atlassian CEO on the SaaS Apocalypse, AI Agents & What Comes NextPub date: 2026-03-06Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationAlex Rampell and Erik Torenberg speak with Mike Cannon-Brookes, cofounder and CEO of Atlassian, about how to make sense of the SaaS selloff, why not all software companies face the same AI-driven risks, and how Atlassian is thinking about the shift from records to processes. They also examine the real design challenge of get...
2026-03-0755 minThe a16z ShowAtlassian CEO on the SaaS Apocalypse, AI Agents & What Comes NextAlex Rampell and Erik Torenberg speak with Mike Cannon-Brookes, cofounder and CEO of Atlassian, about how to make sense of the SaaS selloff, why not all software companies face the same AI-driven risks, and how Atlassian is thinking about the shift from records to processes. They also examine the real design challenge of getting everyday users to trust and benefit from AI agents in enterprise workflows.
Resources:
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2026-03-0655 min
Cheeky PintRamp founder Eric Glyman on the many ways AI is changing corporate spendingEric Glyman is the cofounder and CEO of Ramp, the finance automation platform that now powers over 2% of all corporate spend in the US. He sits down with John and co-host Alex Rampell to discuss how Ramp scaled to over $1 billion in revenue in just seven years, and why the future of fintech is "selling time, not money." They cover the "SaaS apocalypse" (and why lines of code are becoming a liability), how Ramp uses AI agents to review 100,000 expenses a day with 99% accuracy, and why their internal data suggests the US economy is much stronger than the Census...
2026-02-171h 11
Bulwark TakesSarah Longwell: They Support Gun Rights—But Only for RepublicansThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.comFresh off MSNOW's The Weekend with Catherine Rampell, Sarah Longwell explains why the killing of Alex Pretti is breaking through with voters—and why government lies and Second Amendment hypocrisy aren’t holding up.Watch The Weekend on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/the-weekendAs always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members.Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the left s...
2026-01-2604 minThe a16z ShowThe AI Opportunity That Goes Beyond ModelsThe a16z AI Apps team outlines how they are thinking about the AI application cycle and why they believe it represents the largest and fastest product shift in software to date. The conversation places AI in the context of prior platform waves, from PCs to cloud to mobile, and examines where adoption is already translating into real enterprise usage and revenue. They walk through three core investment themes: existing software categories becoming AI-native, new categories where software directly replaces labor, and applications built around proprietary data and closed-loop workflows. Using portfolio examples, the discussion shows how these models...
2026-01-191h 10The a16z ShowAlex Rampell on TBPN: Revenge, Redemption, and Founder Drivea16z General Partner Alex Rampell joined the Technology Brothers Podcast Network following the announcement of Andreessen Horowitz’s new fund to discuss what drives founders to build enduring companies. Drawing on his journey from early software entrepreneur to leading a16z’s apps fund, Alex shared how high agency, deep historical understanding, and the ability to attract talent, capital, and customers separate great founders from the rest. He reflected on motivation beyond money, explaining why “revenge or redemption” often fuels the resilience required to push through the hardest moments of company building. Resources:Follow...
2026-01-1417 minThe a16z ShowAlex Rampell on Venture at Scale and Founder IncentivesThis episode is a special feed drop from The Twenty Minute VC, featuring a conversation between Harry Stebbings and a16z General Partner Alex Rampell.Alex shares how he thinks about investing at scale, including why ownership and incentives matter, how venture changes as funds get larger, and what it really takes to win the best deals. He walks through his core founder framework of backing people who can materialize talent, capital, and customers, and explains why the strongest companies often have “hostages,” not just customers.The discussion also covers pricing risk, secondaries, moral hazard in p...
2026-01-121h 11
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch20VC: a16z's $15BN Fundraise with Alex Rampell | The Best Companies Have Hostages Not Customers | The Best Founders Materialise Capital, Customers and Labour | Mid-Sized Funds with Die and The Future of Venture CapitalAlex Rampell is a General Partner at Andressen Horowitz, where he leads their $1.7BN apps fund. Just last week, a16z announced they had raised $15BN for their latest funds, over 20% of all capital raised by venture firms. At a16z, Alex has led deals into Plaid, Mercury and OpenDoor to name a few. AGENDA: 04:55 How to Do 5x on a $15BN Fund Pool? 09:21 What Two Groups of Funds Will Win the Next Decade in VC? 14:39 What Three Things Are the Best Founders Able to Do? 19:22 The Best Companies Hav...
2026-01-121h 17
TBPNa16z’s $15B Raise, Tim Cook Exit Rumors, Meta Goes Nuclear | Ben Horowitz, David George, Alex Rampell, Jen Kha, Jeremie EliahouSign up for TBPN’s daily newsletter at TBPN.com(02:19) - Tim Cook's Retirement Rumors
(09:11) - AI Needs a (Steve) Jobs
(24:54) - Meta Announces Nuclear Partnerships
(29:45) - Can AI Solve the Recycling Crisis?
(37:51) - a16z's $15B Raise
(45:14) - 𝕏 Timeline Reactions
(01:07:25) - WSJ Mansion Section
(01:28:29) - Jeremie Eliahou is a technology analyst at Semianalysis, where he focuses on semiconductors, AI hardware, and datacenter infrastructure. His work is known for deep technical rigor and clear analysis of GPU roadmaps, compute economics, and industry supply chains.
(02:01:29) - Jen Kha, Operating Partner and Head of Investor Relat...
2026-01-093h 04The a16z ShowWhy AI Moats Still Matter (And How They've Changed)a16z General Partners David Haber, Alex Rampell, and Erik Torenberg discuss why 19 out of 20 AI startups building the same thing will die - and why the survivor might charge $20,000 for what used to cost $20.They expose the "janitorial services paradox" (why the most boring software is most defensible), explain why OpenAI won't compete with your orthodontic clinic software despite having 800 million weekly users, and reveal how non-lawyers are building the most successful legal AI companies. Plus: the brutal truth about why momentum isn't a moat, but without it, you're already dead. Resources:
2025-12-0351 minThe a16z ShowThe $700 Billion AI Productivity Problem No One's Talking AboutRuss Fradin sold his first company for $300M. He’s back in the arena with Larridin, helping companies measure just how successful their AI actually is.In this episode, Russ sits down with a16z General Partner Alex Rampell to reveal why the measurement infrastructure that unlocked internet advertising's trillion-dollar boom is exactly what's missing from AI, why your most productive employees are hiding their AI usage from management, and the uncomfortable truth that companies desperately buying AI tools have no idea whether anyone's actually using them. The same playbook that built comScore into a bil...
2025-12-0158 min
最新技術を楽しく学ぼうテスラジオ（TESRADIO）米大物VCが提唱『Software is Eating Labor』を徹底解説a16zのAlex Rampellが語る、AIによる労働市場革命。従来のシート課金モデルが崩壊し、AIがエンドツーエンドで業務を実行する時代へ。米国単独で13兆ドルの労働市場を狙うスタートアップの戦略を徹底解説。00:00 - オープニング・Software is Eating Laborとは03:08 - 本日話す3つのポイント03:50 - 「Software is Eating World」の前提05:10 - 労働市場13兆ドルの巨大さ06:10 - マルクス資本論とAI時代の意外な関係08:02 - 古いSaaSビジネスモデルの限界11:22 - シート課金モデルはなぜ崩壊するのか14:41 - AIが人間より優れている4つの理由19:10 - 眼科受付の例：AIが切り拓く新市場24:20 - まとめ：次の巨大企業が狙う市場とは出典:https://youtu.be/dhyhR4Bzc0IYouTube:https://youtu.be/jlv1-Tr0ED0
2025-11-2826 minThe a16z ShowRobinhood CEO: Making Everyone An OwnerVlad Tenev built Robinhood by breaking every rule Wall Street wrote: zero commissions when competitors charged $10, mobile-first when "serious" investors demanded desktop, a brand that made finance feel like rebellion instead of a club you'd never join.By 2021 they'd forced every major brokerage to slash fees and attracted millions who'd never owned a stock, but then GameStop happened: trading restrictions during the meme stock frenzy triggered congressional hearings, user fury, and a two-year brand crisis that nearly buried them despite the real culprit being antiquated clearing mechanics no one understood. Now Tenev's pushing an even m...
2025-11-211h 05The a16z ShowRocket Companies CEO: Here’s How to Fix the Housing CrisisThe Empire State Building took 110 days to build—today, changing a window would take two years. Alex Rampell (a16z) and Varun Krishna (Rocket CEO) expose how asset inflation turned housing from the American Dream into a wealth transfer machine where the median homebuyer age jumped from 30 to 38 in just fourteen years. While Silicon Valley burns billions on products people use daily but never pay for, Rocket quietly assembled a $10 billion profit engine and is now buying up the entire housing funnel—from Redfin's 50 million monthly searchers to one in six US mortgages—betting they can crack the cod...
2025-11-1255 minThe a16z ShowReid Hoffman on AI, Consciousness, and the Future of HumanityReid Hoffman has been at the center of every major tech shift, from co-founding LinkedIn and helping build PayPal to investing early in OpenAI. In this conversation, he looks ahead to the next transformation: how artificial intelligence will reshape work, science, and what it means to be human.In this episode, Reid joins Erik Torenberg and Alex Rampell to talk about what AI means for human progress, where Silicon Valley’s blind spots lie, and why the biggest breakthroughs will come from outside the obvious productivity apps. They discuss why reasoning still limits today’s AI, whether cons...
2025-10-2053 min
硬地骇客EP115 我们是不是在新时代还在做老软件？本期探讨了 A16z 合伙人 Alex Rampell 提出的 “软件吞噬劳动力市场” 的观点。我们一起分析了 AI 时代软件如何从工具转变为数字员工，替代部分人力工作，并讨论了软件为结果负责的可能性。节目中还提到了 AI 对就业市场的影响，尤其对中间学历人群的冲击，以及传统 SaaS 公司在 AI 时代的挑战。此外，我们还以 Shein 和美团外卖为例，探讨了软件公司不自己下场做业务的原因，并讨论了新软件的特征，包括新的交互方式和可能带来的财富不均衡问题。本期亮点： Alex Rampell 认为 SaaS 软件不应只盯着 3000 亿美元的既有市场，而应着眼于美国一年 13 万亿美元的劳动力市场，通过交付价值来代替人工。 传统 SaaS 主要优势在于对人脑的补充和提升组织协同效率，而 AI 倾向于直接交付结果，替代中间环节。 新的 AI 原生软件主体应是一个或多个 agent 的感知、计划执行、复盘调整过程，人工在关键节点介入，将人变成自动驾驶的安全观察员。 传统 SaaS 公司更关注过程和记录，而新的 AI 软件更关注结果交付，应该销售像人的能力，而不是工具。本shownotes由 castwise.ai 制作Podwise - Podcast Knowledge at 10x Speed!podwise.aiApple Store 下载👉🏻 apps.apple.com硬地笔记 00:00:04软件吞噬劳动力市场：AI 时代的新视角 00:07:04软件提效与企业核心竞争力 00:12:25快时尚案例分析：Shein 与美团的启示 00:17:26SaaS 软件公司的挑战与 AI 时代的转型 00:24:00AI 交付结果：从 Photoshop 到医疗记录 00:28:31AI 在编程领域的颠覆与社会影响 00:36:02新软件的特征与未来展望扩展笔记：castwise.ai欢迎关注我们 知识星球:t.zsxq.com 官网: hardhacker.com 小手册: book.hardhacker.com 用爱发电不容易，请我们喝咖啡☕️: afdian.net 公众号/小红书: 硬地骇客 商务合作: hardhackerlabs@gmail.com 另外，现在加入「硬地骇客」会员服务，即可在会员专属的微信群与其他朋友一起畅所欲言，成为会员也是对我们持续更新最大的鼓励！在小宇宙查看该单集文稿
2025-10-1644 min
Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | GrowthInside Google's AI turnaround: The rise of AI Mode, strategy behind AI Overviews, and their vision for AI-powered search | Robby Stein (VP of Product, Google Search)Robby Stein is VP of Product at Google, where he oversees the core products of Google Search—including the new AI Overviews, AI Mode, search ranking, Google Lens, and more. Previously, he led consumer products at Instagram, where he and his teams built Stories, Reels, Close Friends, and other key features now used by billions.—What you’ll learn:Why Google’s AI products are suddenly taking off after years of perceived stagnation How AI is expanding Search rather than replacing it, contrary to what many predicted The three core produ...
2025-10-111h 21
Our Big Dumb MouthOBDM1334 - American Sasquatch | Alien DNA | National Guard | Strange NewsWhen an Eminent Scientist Says Magic Is Real—Pay Attention https://mitchhorowitz.substack.com/p/when-an-eminent-scientist-says-magic 00:00:00 – Cold Open & "Hey yo, Crypto!" Loose banter to kick off the show—traffic stories, neighborhood oddities, and warming up the mics with goofy "hey yo, Crypto" riffs. 00:04:51 – Alex Jones Clip Week (Set-up) Wednesday means AJ clip roundup: shock jock non-sequiturs, late-night "after hours" imagery, and the crew joking through it before the real topics. 00:09:41 – Sparkle Shine Story Time More outrageous AJ pulls (MLK jokes, "story time" bits), production/computer gripe gags, and the pivot promise: Bigfoot, alien DNA, and a...
2025-10-092h 14
The a16z ShowHow to Build a Real Estate Marketplace - Kaz Nejatian, Opendoor CEOOpendoor is trying to make it easier to buy a home. Kaz Nejatian just joined as CEO to help them succeed.In this episode, a16z General Partners Alex Rampell and Erik Torenberg sit down with Kaz to cover all things real estate and marketplaces. They cover Kaz’s vision for Opendoor, the problem with copying the hedge fund model, how to build through economic downturns, and the importance of ambition and long-term thinking. Resources:Follow Kaz on X: https://x.com/CanadaKazFollow Alex on X: https://x.com...
2025-10-0755 min
The a16z ShowSoftware is Eating LaborSoftware has fundamentally changed the way we record, store, and share information. Its next act is to fundamentally change the nature of our economy, capturing trillions of dollars of value in the process.In this talk from the 2025 a16z LP Summit, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell discusses the history of filing cabinets and databases, how SaaS pricing moved from seats to outcomes, and how AI agents will accelerate the trend of the last 70 years of software progress. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction0:58 The Scale of the Labor Market vs. SaaS
2025-10-0326 min
The a16z ShowThe Death of Search: How Shopping Will Work In The Age of AIThe web is unhealthy, and AI agents are about to rewrite how we shop.In this episode, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell and Partner Justine Moore explore how AI agents will change commerce and the implications for Google’s business model, affiliate marketing, online shopping, and more. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction 0:12 The Role of AI Agents in Commerce1:28 Affiliate Marketing & Impulse Buys4:02 Observing Consumer Behavior & AI6:08 Dynamic Pricing & E-commerce Trends7:20 Online vs. Offline Shopping Behaviors10:09 The Challenge of Attribution in Comme...
2025-09-1745 min
Retailgentic | Consumer Behavior & Retail TrendAI Shopping Agents & the Future of Commerce | Alex Rampell, Andreessen HorowitzWhat happens when more than half of online shopping traffic comes from AI agents, not humans?In this episode of the Retailgentic Podcast, Scot Wingo sits down with Alex Rampell, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to unpack the seismic shift happening at the intersection of AI, commerce, and payments.We cover:Is Google really screwed? (and why AI threatens its business model)The future of agentic commerce & attribution warsLessons from TrialPay, Affirm, and affiliate marketingHow platforms like ChatGPT could become checkout destinationsWhy “optimization” may be the killer feature of AI shopping agentsIf you’...
2025-08-2631 min
Cartografía Sonora#2. CARTOGRAFÍA SONORA: Conexiones.Prepara tus oídos para trazar nuevas rutas en el mapa de la buena música. Esto es Cartografía Sonora, un recorrido personal por esos sonidos que nos definen y nos inspiran. Soy Alex Molins y te doy la bienvenida al segundo programa de este viaje sonoro.
En esta ruta, Chris Cornell reinterpreta a Michael Jackson, recordamos a un genio del bajo camerunés en un festival de Jaén, y descubrimos la increíble colaboración entre Portishead y Tom Jones. También viajamos de Suecia a Cataluña con cantautores que nos llegan al alma. Una banda sonora de...
2025-08-1249 min
Motion BlurRide or DieAI or die?What’s the latest with AI? Is it really AI or Die?A bunch of people are telling us to pay more attention to what’s happening, so Grant and Hammad decided to dive into the meta discussion of how to handle periods of profound change. We discuss everything from Formula One race strategies to v2 companies and how these changes will impact the software + hardware playbooks.This is a wide-ranging conversation that touches a bit of everything. We conclude with Hammad’s excitement for the opportunity in healthcare and Grant’...
2025-02-2048 min
The a16z ShowDeepSeek: America’s Sputnik Moment for AI?Two words have caught the Internet by storm. DeepSeek. The Chinese reasoning model r1 is rivaling others at the frontier with an open-source MIT license, methods that some claim may be 45x more efficient, an alleged $5.6m cost, the release of reasoning traces, a follow-on image model, and the fact that all of this was released by a hedge fund China.Many are already referring to this as a Sputnik moment. If that’s true, how should we – whether founder, researcher, policy maker – not just react, but act? Joining us to tease out the signal from th...
2025-02-0643 min
跨国串门儿计划人工智能如何改变劳动力市场【A16Z播客中文版】Did you know the U.S. nurse labor market is over $600 billion annually, but the dedicated software market for nurses is almost zero?您知道美国护士劳动力市场年收入超过 6000 亿美元，但专门针对护士的软件市场几乎为零吗？In this episode General Partners Alex Rampell, David Haber, and Angela Strange discuss how AI is revolutionizing labor by automating tasks traditionally done by humans.本集节目中，普通合伙人 Alex Rampell、David Haber 和 Angela Strange 讨论了人工智能如何通过自动化原本由人类完成的任务来彻底改变劳动力。They’ll trace the evolution of cloud eras — from the original to financial services-enabled to the current AI-enabled outcomes era — showcasing how AI is creating unprecedented opportunities, allowing startups to outpace incumbents. They also explore how this shift will reshape industries, where we are in the adoption curve and what companies need to succeed, and the gaps where the a16z Enterprise team would love to see more innovation.他们将...
2024-12-2538 min
The a16z ShowHow AI is Transforming Labor MarketsDid you know the U.S. nurse labor market is over $600 billion annually, but the dedicated software market for nurses is almost zero?In this episode General Partners Alex Rampell, David Haber, and Angela Strange discuss how AI is revolutionizing labor by automating tasks traditionally done by humans.They’ll trace the evolution of cloud eras — from the original to financial services-enabled to the current AI-enabled outcomes era — showcasing how AI is creating unprecedented opportunities, allowing startups to outpace incumbents. They also explore how this shift will reshape industries, where we are in the adoption curve...
2024-12-1144 min
The a16z ShowThe Story of Apple Pay with Jennifer BaileyIn 2024, marking 10 years since its launch, Apple Pay now boasts hundreds of millions of consumers in 78 markets, at checkout on millions of websites and apps, in tens of millions of stores worldwide, and is supported by more than 11,000 bank and network partners.In this episode, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell sits down with Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, to explore how Apple has transformed digital payments. Jennifer reveals how Apple Pay and Apple Wallet have grown beyond payments to include transit cards, car keys, and more. They also discuss the c...
2024-10-2231 min
The IO Podcast: Investor + OperatorFrom TrialPay, Affirm and a16z | Alex Rampell on Investing & Entrepreneurship | Ep. 7 IO PodcastAndreessen Horowitz General Partner Alex Rampell may be the most true version of an investor-operator. Alex's first entrepreneurial endeavor started as a child when he built and sold shareware out of his parent's house. Eventually he added more businesses to his portfolio before launching the payment platform TrialPay after college and eventually Affirm. Today, Alex invests in some of the largest companies at Andreessen Horowitz and he shares with Tyler and Sterling what he looks for in entrepreneurs and shares tactical advice from his days building. Chapters: (00:03:00) How Alex Started His First Company in Middle...
2024-02-131h 08
Day One®Elaine Stead discusses bravery, diversity, and changing the investing ecosystemWin $2,000 in credits with the Day One Network — take our 2-minute audience survey before 30 June: dayone.fm/surveySummary:Elaine Stead joins the podcast to discuss bravery and courage in the investing world, particularly as a woman in the Australian ecosystem. She shares her journey as an investor and highlights the importance of investing in education and building networks.Elaine also challenges the notion of being a contrarian investor and emphasizes the need for a high tolerance for risk. She discusses portfolio construction and the importance of managing risk and diversification....
2023-12-1746 minFirst Cheque with Cheryl Mack & Maxine MinterElaine Stead discusses bravery, diversity, and changing the investing ecosystemWin $2,000 in credits with the Day One Network — take our 2-minute audience survey before 30 June: dayone.fm/surveySummary:Elaine Stead joins the podcast to discuss bravery and courage in the investing world, particularly as a woman in the Australian ecosystem. She shares her journey as an investor and highlights the importance of investing in education and building networks.Elaine also challenges the notion of being a contrarian investor and emphasizes the need for a high tolerance for risk. She discusses portfolio construction and the importance of managing risk and diversification....
2023-12-1746 min
Truth and ConsequencesThis Week In Sub-Optimal Hostage TakingI’m Michael A. Cohen, and this is Truth and Consequences: A no-holds-barred look at the absurdities, hypocrisies, and surreality of American politics. If you were sent this email or are a free subscriber and would like to subscribe, you can sign up here.In case you missed my conversation with Dahlia Scheindlin on the latest doings in Israeli politics, you can check it out above. Besides being one of my oldest friends, Dahlia is one of the most thoughtful observers of Israeli politics. There were tons of fascinating insights from her in this conversation. So please giv...
2023-01-2652 min
Future of FintechFintech VCs on Fundraising in 2022Discussing impact from public market valuations, fed rate changes, learnings from 2021, trends for 2022, & much more. Guests include Alex Rampell (a16z), Sheel Mohnot (Better Tomorrow Ventures), Frank Rotman (QED Investors), & Immad Akhund (Mercury).
2022-03-181h 00The a16z ShowPrinciples for Work and LifeIn the face of great uncertainty, how do you make decisions? Can you really apply the lessons of the past to the present and the future, to navigate seemingly new situations and get what you want out of business and life? By deeply understanding cause-effect relationships -- clearly expressed, shared with others, overlaid with data, back-tested, modified -- you can build a set of principles for dealing with the realities of whatever situation you're in, observes Ray Dalio, in this episode from 2018 and in conversation with a16z's Alex Rampell and Sonal Chokshi, Dalio's book Principles: Life an...
2022-03-1650 min
Walker WebcastAlex Rampell, General Partner of top venture capital firm Andreessen HorowitzWe are on the verge of massive change where innovations in mobile, digital money and machine learning are changing how we move money and manage our finances. An expert on these technologies is Alex Rampell, who plays a significant role in building the future of financial services. A General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Alex also serves on the board of Branch, Brightside, Descript, Divvy, Earnin, FlyHomes, Loft, Mercury, PeerStreet, Point, Propel, Sentilink, Super Evil Mega Corp, Transferwise, and Very Good Security. Alex additionally led the firm's investments in OpenDoor ($OPEN), Plaid, Quantopian (acquired by Robinhood), and Rival (acquired by...
2022-02-1957 min
Boundaryless Conversations PodcastS3 Ep. 3 Ivan Draganov – What‘s next for marketplaces: Fintech, B2B and moreToday we are joined by Ivan Draganov, Lead Online Marketplaces Analyst at Dealroom.co, to share his latest insights on how fintech-enabled marketplaces are creating more value than either marketplaces and financial services alone. Ivan is leading Dealroom.co's intelligence efforts on Online marketplaces.
Dealroom.co is a global provider of data and intelligence on startups and tech ecosystems. They work with many of the world's most prominent investors, entrepreneurs and government organizations to provide transparency, analysis and insights on venture capital activity. Their mission is to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation through data for governments, corporates, VCs and founders.
A fu...
2021-12-0746 min
16 Minutes News by a16zInside the GameStop Drama; The U.S. Constitution, AuctionedWelcome to 16 Minutes, our show on the a16z podcast network where we talk about tech trends that are dominating news headlines, industry buzz, and where we are on the long arc of innovation. Today’s episode actually features a look back at the GameStop saga — the stock market drama that some headlines described as a “David-and-Goliath battle” that quote “upended Wall Street.” For quick basic context, here’s what happened: A group of Reddit users mass-purchased and drove up prices of stock in the video game retailer GameStop, forcing short sellers including hedge funds and institutiona...
2021-12-0321 min
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'ShaughnessyAlex Rampell - Investing in Operating Systems - [Invest Like the Best, EP. 248]My guest today is Alex Rampell, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Alex has a long history in fintech, having co-founded six companies in his career, including Affirm and TrialPay. During our conversation, we cover Alex’s framework for positive selection in investing, why the best investments are often operating systems or systems of record, and Alex’s views on the future of fintech. For those that have listened to our Business Breakdown on Visa with Alex - you know the intellectual horsepower he brings to every discussion. This conversation is no exception. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the...
2021-10-261h 18
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'ShaughnessyAlex Rampell - Investing in Operating SystemsMy guest today is Alex Rampell, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Alex has a long history in fintech, having co-founded six companies in his career, including Affirm and TrialPay. During our conversation, we cover Alex’s framework for positive selection in investing, why the best investments are often operating systems or systems of record, and Alex’s views on the future of fintech. For those that have listened to our Business Breakdown on Visa with Alex - you know the intellectual horsepower he brings to every discussion. This conversation is no exception. For the full show n...
2021-10-261h 20
SALT TalksAlex Rampell of a16z: The Future of FinTech | SALT Talks #223Alex Rampell is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) where he focuses on financial services. He serves on the board of Branch, Brightside, Descript, Divvy, Earnin, FlyHomes, Loft, Mercury, PeerStreet, Point, Propel, Sentilink, Super Evil Mega Corp, Transferwise, and Very Good Security. Alex additionally led the firm's investments in OpenDoor ($OPEN), Plaid, Quantopian (acquired by Robinhood), and Rival (acquired by LiveNation).Prior to joining the firm, Alex co-founded multiple fintech companies including Affirm ($AFRM), which he co-founded with Max Levchin, FraudEliminator (acquired by McAfee in 2006), Point, TrialPay (acquired by Visa in 2015), TXN (acquired by Envestnest in 2...
2021-06-0951 min
Business BreakdownsVisa: The Original Protocol BusinessToday we will be diving into Visa. Starting in 1958 as a BankAmericard credit card program in Fresno, California, it then became a non-profit consortium of banks that operated the Visa network. Over the first few decades of its existence, Visa became the protocol layer that allowed essentially all the banks in the world to communicate with one another. In 2007, Visa completed a corporate restructuring that took it public and now boasts a larger market cap than all of the banks that previously owned it as part of the consortium. In this Br...
2021-05-0557 minFuture of FintechThe Future of Retail InvestingWelcome to the Future of Fintech, hosted by Immad Akhund and Sheel Mohnot.
This week we're covering the future of retail investing. Our guests are:
- Alex Rampell, a VC at Andreessen Horowitz
- Leif Abraham, cofounder and Co-CEO at Public.com
- Julie Young, a writer and investor, former product at Snap
- David McDonough, cofounder of Commonstock
- Howard Lindzon, cofounder of Stocktwits
- Aditi Maliwal, a GP at Upfront Ventures
2021-04-091h 13
a16z LiveShutdowns, Stimulus Measures, & Small Businessesa16z general partner Alex Rampell and Post House Capital CEO Jackie Reses (formerly of Square Capital) discuss COVID shutdowns and their impact on small business owners.
2021-03-0356 minDailypodThe PPP Omnibus: Eminent Domain, Fraud, and Fintech Podcast: The a16z Show (LS 63 · TOP 0.1% what is this?)Episode: The PPP Omnibus: Eminent Domain, Fraud, and FintechPub date: 2020-12-14Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationThis episode features two relevant but previously recorded episodes, discussing the relevance of the Paycheck Protection Program (or PPP) from the Small Business Administration and the role of government stimulus/ pandemic relief for the economy as well as where tech comes in. It combines 2 separate episodes, beginning with one recorded much earlier this year (on o...
2020-12-2059 minThe a16z ShowThe PPP Omnibus: Eminent Domain, Fraud, and FintechThis episode features two relevant but previously recorded episodes, discussing the relevance of the Paycheck Protection Program (or PPP) from the Small Business Administration and the role of government stimulus/ pandemic relief for the economy as well as where tech comes in. It combines 2 separate episodes, beginning with one recorded much earlier this year (on our show 16 Minutes), which outlines a useful analogy of "eminent domain" for government-mandated shutdowns of certain businesses and technology considerations; and then is followed by an episode (recorded later this year) on preventing fraud and the role of fintech. Both ep...
2020-12-1459 min
The a16z ShowPandemic Relief and Fraud: Willful Deceit or Design Defect?This episode examines the potential for misuse and fraud among those applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—and how fintech and software provide overlooked tools to stop it. On March 27th, the government enacted a $2.2 trillion dollar stimulus package called the CARES Act, the largest aid measure in history. The act provides more than $500 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, a low-interest, forgivable loan program designed to help small businesses and self-employed individuals retain workers and stay afloat during the pandemic. Since March, the Small Business Administration has approved billions of dollars in PPP loan...
2020-09-0440 min
The a16z ShowReal Estate in a Pandemic: Homeowners and Buyers (Part 1)This episode is the first in a two-part series that examines the pandemic’s impact on real estate. Part 1 focuses on prospective home buyers, sellers, and existing homeowners. Part 2 (streaming on 6/17) addresses renters and landlords.How has social distancing shaken up the market to buy? What’s the ripple effect of eviction freezes and a record number of homes in forbearance? And how can tech streamline the inefficient process of renting, buying, and selling a home?Led by host Lauren Murrow, the conversation features a16z general partner Alex Rampell, who has invested in a numb...
2020-06-1624 min
Out of BetaWater on My MillPeter builds trust with two hosts ready to distribute Branch. Matt's inner manager ekes out a partnership call while his maker begins the descent from peak effort. The two discuss the dangers of distributing a weak product.Insight by a16z Partner Alex RampellBranchSummitMatt on TwitterPeter on Twitter
2020-05-2757 min
16 Minutes News by a16zThe Economic Virus - Monetary Policy, Fiscal Policy, and Small BusinessThe U.S. Federal Reserve recently made a range of moves -- from cutting interest rates to near zero (which it also did in the 2008 financial crisis) and using other tools -- to support "the flow of credit to households and businesses, thereby promote its maximum employment and price stability goals" during this current pandemic and public health crisis.However... what does this mean for small businesses, which may be most impacted? What's the difference between monetary and fiscal policy here; where does rhetoric (such as around buybacks vs. dividends) confuse; how does adjudication and disbursement work...
2020-03-2218 min16 Minutes News by a16zGaming & Chrome OS/Steam; Going Cashless; Coronavirus LatestThis episode of 16 Minutes on the news covers:Google could bring Steam support to Chrome OS, according to an earlier unconfirmed report, and what that could mean for the broader gaming ecosystem, developers as well as devices -- with a16z general partner Andrew Chen and Jonathan Lai on the consumer team;New York restaurants and retail establishments can no longer reject cash payments under legislation that was passed by the City Council there; what this says about the banking system more broadly, why it's a regressive tax on the poor and therefore a progressive move -- at 8:57...
2020-03-0819 min16 Minutes News by a16zRegulating AI; Negative Interest Rates (#19)In this 19th episode of our news show, where we cover recent headlines from our vantage point in tech, we cover the following news items (in conversation with Sonal Chokshi):recent moves to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) software including the White House's recent guidance (and op-ed from the U.S. CTO) on AI in general, as well as limits to exports of specific AI software that went into effect this week -- with operating partner Frank Chen (whose talk was cited in an earlier White House report);recent activity on the topic of negative interest rates as well...
2020-01-1321 min16 Minutes News by a16zAlternative Data for Credit; Retail Shopping Shifts (#15)This is the 15th episode of 16 Minutes, our news show where we cover the top headlines, the a16z Podcast way: what’s real / what’s hype; what's interesting from our vantage point in tech. This week (after a brief hiatus for our annual innovation event and November holidays), we cover the following news... in conversation with Sonal Chokshi:use of alternative data in credit underwriting -- Five federal regulatory agencies (the Federal Reserve Board, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Controller of the Currency, and the National Credit Union Admi...
2019-12-1619 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: Fintech for Startups and IncumbentsIn this episode of the a16z Podcast -- which originally aired as a video on YouTube -- general partner Alex Rampell (and former fintech entrepreneur as the CEO and co-founder of TrialPay) talks with operating partner Frank Chen about the quickly changing fintech landscape and, even more importantly, why the landscape is changing now.
Should the incumbents be nervous? About what, exactly? And most importantly, what should big companies do about all of this change? But the conversation from both sides of the table begins from the perspective of the hungry and fast fintech startup sharing...
2019-04-0550 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: B2B2CWhen it comes to B2B2C business models -- which combine both business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) -- who really "owns" the customer? That question might not matter as much in more symbiotic, mutually beneficial marketplaces and other platform contexts, but can be a problem in other contexts or if not done right. For example, if it gives entrepreneurs the illusion that they don't have to work to acquire customers, invest in direct sales, or provides a (false) sense of optionality for a second product/ business that "will work later someday".
G...
2018-05-1929 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: The Oral History Of TrialPay — Obstacles and Opportunities in PaymentsIn this hallway-style conversation (originally recorded as a video), a16z general partner Alex Rampell and Terry Angelos, SVP of Commerce Solutions at Visa, discuss the trials and tribulations of their time as co-founders of TrialPay, an e-commerce payment and promotions platform. The story begins with their serendipitous initial meeting twelve years ago; tracks the obstacles overcome, rise, and eventual acquisition of TrialPay (by Visa in 2015); and ends with reflections on the future landscape and potential of payments. How can a third party increase profits for all parties involved? And how can a payments startup make a splash in an...
2018-05-1046 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: Principles and Algorithms for Work and Lifewith Ray Dalio (@raydalio), Alex Rampell (@arampell), and Sonal Chokshi (@smc90)
Can one really apply the lessons of history and of the past to the present and the future, as a way to get what they want out of life? By deeply understanding cause-effect relationships -- clearly expressed, shared with others, overlaid with data, back-tested, modified -- you can build a set of principles/algorithms/recipes for dealing with the realities of your life, observes Ray Dalio in this episode of the a16z Podcast (in conversation with a16z general partner Alex Rampell and Sonal Chokshi...
2018-04-2249 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: The Evolution of PaymentsThe battle between every startup and incumbent comes down to whether the startup gets distribution before the incumbent gets innovation, oft observes a16z general partner Alex Rampell. But how does this play out when most of the players, big and small, think the innovation has already happened in a particular space? What if there are unmanifested and untapped opportunities in a space? This episode of the a16z Podcast explores these questions through the case study of Stripe.
Based on a conversation that took place with Rampell and Stripe co-founder John Collison at our most recent Sum...
2018-02-1119 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: What Technology Wants, Needs, DoesTurnabout is fair play: That's true in politics, and it's true at Andreessen Horowitz given our internal (and very opinionated!) culture of debate -- where we often agree to disagree, or more often, disagree to agree. So in this special "turnabout" episode of the a16z Podcast, co-founder Marc Andreessen (who is most often in the hot seat being interviewed), got the chance to instead grill fellow partners Frank Chen (who covers AI and much more), Vijay Pande (who covers healthcare for the bio fund), and Alex Rampell (who covers all things fintech).
None of the partners...
2017-05-2335 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: Technology, Mobility, and the American DreamThe irony of our systems working so well -- technological, corporate, and yes, even political -- is that we've become too comfortable: matching to others just like us, producing less, taking fewer risks. But isn't the very point of technology to make our lives more comfortable? Yes... until "we" -- whether an entire class, generation, ethnic group, or country like the U.S. -- become a little too complacent. Or so argues Tyler Cowen in his new book, The Complacent Class: The Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream.
We've even outsourced our mobility to immigrants, observes Cowen...
2017-03-0137 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: Real Estate -- Ownership, Asset, EconomyThe largest asset class in the United States is owner-occupied real estate, yet options for homeowners accessing this are very binary right now: either own 100% of your home (with a mortgage), or own nothing. And when people do “own”, that ownership is often skewed by debt. Of course, debt works out great for some, given their risk profiles and potential upside (if the house keeps appreciating); but the downside risk and costs are disproportionately borne by the homeowner. And millennials can’t even enter the housing market in the first place.
So how can technology help address a syst...
2017-01-1329 minThe a16z Showa16z Podcast: The Movement of MoneyAs companies expand out from the internet into the rest of the economy — the proverbial bits to atoms — “the business models are becoming more complicated, more interesting, more payment based”, observes Patrick Collison, CEO and co-founder of payments platform Stripe, which enables apps/websites to programmatically move money around.
But as such companies become “the operating platform for commerce”, we also have an interesting paradigm where people, not governments, are controlling the commerce supply — so “It’s not the money supply. It’s the commerce supply,” argues a16z general partner Alex Rampell. This is especially true as payments become eas...
2016-12-3127 min
Ecommerce ConversationsTrialPay CEO Alex RampellPat Callahan is joined by Alex Rampell. The two discuss the details of TrialPay, a unique payment platform, which allows customers to pay for one item by trying or buying something else.
2014-05-1514 min