a16z Podcast: Coding as Literacy

You might recognize the name Mark Pincus but we almost guarantee you recognize the game Farmville. Mark Pincus is the founder and longtime CEO of Zynga, known for its massive global franchise of games, including those household names like Farmville and Words with Friends. Zynga was also at the forefront of the transition to mobile and the use of large platforms like Facebook for distribution.In this episode Mark joins Josh Lu from the a16z Games team for a fireside chat. They discuss navigating major tech waves and recognizing "true signal" opportunities, and explore a wide range of topics, from the strategic insights that propelled Zynga to success, the future of the Metaverse, and the philosophy behind minimum viable products. This conversation offers invaluable insights for both gaming industry insiders and enthusiasts looking to understand the dynamics of tech innovation and entrepreneurship.Topics Covered:00:00 - How Zynga Spotted the Mobile Wave02:47 - Challenges of Starting Zynga05:24 - Zynga's Early Workforce and Learning HTML07:40 - Preparing for Tech Waves11:29 - The Importance of Being Too Early15:42 - The attribute of great founders18:33 - Hiring Philosophy 22:02 - ‘Everyone is  a CEO’24:20 - Fast Iteration and Learning from Failures31:06 - Personal Gaming Preferences32:52 - Advice on Reevaluating Projects and True Signal35:50 - AI's Role in Consumer Adoption and Gaming40:17 - Community as a Core Element43:31 - UGC Gaming Space and Future Computing ParadigmsResources: Find Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/markpincFind Josh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshluLearn more about SPEEDRUN 3.0: https://a16z.com/speedrun3Learn more about SPEEDRUN: ttps://a16z.com/speedrun-your-gaming-startupStay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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.

27 Feb 202448min

In early 2024, the notion of high fidelity, believable AI-generated video seemed a distant future to many. Yet, a mere few weeks into the year, OpenAI unveiled Sora, its new state of the art text-to-video model producing videos of up to 60 seconds. The output shattered expectations – even for other builders and researchers within generative AI – sparking widespread speculation and awe.How does Sora achieve such realism? And are explicit 3D modeling techniques or game engines at play?In this episode of the a16z Podcast, a16z General Partner Anjney Midha connects with Stefano Ermon, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford and key figure at the lab behind the diffusion models now used in Sora, ChatGPT, and Midjourney. Together, they delve into the challenges of video generation, the cutting-edge mechanics of Sora, and what this all could mean for the road ahead.Resources: Find Stefano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stefanoermonFind Anjney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anjneymidhaLearn more about Stefano’s Deep Generative Models course: :https://deepgenerativemodels.github.ioStay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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.

24 Feb 202434min

The electric grid needs an update. In this explainer, a16z Partner Ryan McEntush discusses the escalating complexity of the grid, unveils its vulnerabilities, and traces the evolutionary path that has led us to this point. From the surging demands of AI to outdated infrastructure, we delve into the potential roles of cutting-edge technologies such as solar batteries, natural gas, and nuclear power in shaping the grid's future.Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(02:28) - The Need for Grid Modernization(04:43) - Understanding the Grid's Operation and Challenges(06:47) - The Complexity of Grid Management(08:31) - Increasing Outages and Volatility(11:49) - The Role of New Technologies(17:53) - The Potential and Limitations of Renewable Energy Sources(19:08) - Energy Storage Solutions(24:57) - The Future of Natural Gas and Nuclear Power(29:46) - The Impact of Policy on the Grid(31:47) - The Concept of a Smart Grid(34:04) - Decentralization of the Grid(36:57) - The Role of the Free Market in Grid ReliabilityResources: Find Ryan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmcentushRead Ryan’s latest articles: https://a16z.com/author/ryan-mcentushStay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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.

15 Feb 202442min

"The Ben & Marc Show" features a16z's co-founders Ben Horowitz & Marc Andreessen. In this episode, Marc and Ben continue their in-depth exploration of the current education system. While Part I of their discussion unpacked the crisis facing higher education, Part II presents solutions to overhaul the modern university.In this one-on-one conversation, Ben and Marc delve into actions that existing institutions can take to improve their current and future situations. This includes exploring new methods for talent recruitment, providing a more individualized education experience for students, and reducing administrative bloat. They also apply an entrepreneurial lens to each university function, revealing startup opportunities poised to emerge – including the building of brand new institutions, nonprofits, and research entities. Enjoy!Resources:*Watch Part I: https://youtu.be/7J2_G4oHRQ0*Watch Part II: https://youtu.be/EeIdalo2huIMarc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarcaMarc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz“South Park” episode mentioned in this discussion: – Eps 1505 (stream on Max): https://bit.ly/3HrZQg0Stay Updated:Find us on X: https://twitter.com/a16zFind us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

8 Feb 20241h 59min

with @cdixon @rhhackettWelcome to the web3 with a16z crypto podcast. I'm Robert Hackett, an editor here at a16z crypto, and I'm here with Chris Dixon, founding partner of a16z crypto and author of the new book Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet.  I had the privilege of editing Chris throughout the book writing process, and I'm thrilled now to talk to you about what went on behind the scenes, the big themes of the book, the challenges, and also about the crypto industry at large as well as what we can expect from it in the future.Learn more at https://readwriteown.com/.Resources for references in this episode:Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas TalebThe Tipping Point by Malcolm GladwellSpider-Man: Across the Spider-verse"'It's a canon event' TikTok trend, explained"Chris Dixon's blog at cdixon.org"Come for the tool, stay for the network""The next big thing starts out looking like a toy""Can't be evil"The Cold Start Problem by Andrew ChenOn Andrew Chen's writing habitsOn investing in Coinbase in 2013Guidance from the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission in 2019: "Framework for 'Investment Contract' Analysis of Digital Assets"On blockchains as "a programmable computer that lives in the sky" via a16z crypto head of research Tim RoughgardenGödel Escher Bach by Douglas Hofstader"How Aristotle Created the Computer" by Chris Dixon for The Atlantic"A Symbolic Analysis of Relay and Switching Circuits" by Claude ShannonPrincipia Mathematica by Bertrand Russell and Alfred North WhiteheadAn Investigation of the Laws of Thought by George BooleThe End of Education by Neil Postman"Inside out vs. outside in: The adoption of new technologies" by Chris Dixon"The Inevitable Showdown Between Twitter and Twitter Apps" by Chris Dixon"Elon Musk says X is discouraging links in posts" by Sara Fischer"Make Ethereum Cypherpunk Again" by Vitalik Buterin"What Will Happen in 2024" by Fred Wilson"A Logical Calculus of the Ideas Immanent in Nervous Activity" by McCullough and PittsCrossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. MooreOn "thesis, antithesis, and synthesis" and Hegel's DialecticsAs a reminder, none of the following should be taken as business, legal, tax, or investment advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.

2 Feb 20241h 19min

In 2022 and 2023, US IPOs hit decade lows after the record high of 2021. Now, in 2024, will the IPO window reopen?In this episode, we revisit a conversation with Jeff Jordan, former CEO of OpenTable, and J.D. Moriarty, the former Head Managing Director and Head of Equity Capital Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.Joined by Sonal Choksi, the pair takes you behind the scenes to unravel the complexities surrounding IPOs, including pricing, allocations, and the elusive "pop." They also discuss OpenTable’s IPO, which occurred immediately following the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and weigh in on the question: Can you time an IPO in an unpredictable year? Resources:Find Jeff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeff_jordanFind J.D on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdmoriartyFind Sonal on Twitter: https://twitter.com/smc90 Stay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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.

29 Jan 202434min

(00:00) - The Future of Jobs(03:15) - Job growth over the last 80 years(05:06) - The shelf-life of jobs(09:11) - Education trends(12:25) - The importance of learning the foundations(17:18) - Regional access to education(20:19) - How companies are hiring and looking at strategic priorities(22:58) - The economic mobility and economic stability of degrees (25:59) - Job and training trends at Grow with Google(28:11) - Do companies train or hire for skills?(29:23) - The future of the traditional degree(31:10) - The employer and educator ecosystem (35:36) - How to approach upskilling  In a world where technology is moving at an unprecedented pace, what will the jobs of the future look like?Kai Roemmelt, CEO of the online learning platform Udacity, and Lisa Gevelber, a key figure at Google responsible for building the Grow with Google program, unpack the seismic changes reshaping the tech and education realms.From disrupting hiring norms to redefining how we acquire degrees and engage globally, this episode poses the question: How can you skillfully navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities awaiting in this evolving landscape?Resources: Find Kai on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-roemmeltFind Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagevelberLearn more about Udacity: https://www.udacity.comLearn more about Grow with Google: https://grow.googleStay Updated: Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithioPlease 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.

24 Jan 202440min

Big news from a16z: Bio Eats World, our sibling show from a16z Bio+Health, is now Raising Health!We’re excited to share Raising Health’s first episode here where Sean Duffy, cofounder and CEO of Omada Health, joins Vijay Pande, founding general partner of Bio + Health.Sean and Vijay discuss the building and growth of Omada, from the early days to now. As the cofounder of one of the original digital health companies, Sean has unique insight into the growth of both the digital health field and the changing venture capital environment. They also talk about the future of AI, how Omada is leveraging AI, and the challenges that might arise with using a technology in a caregiving environment.You can listen to more episodes of Raising Health here: https://link.chtbl.com/IqBoJ2By?sid=a16z11824

18 Jan 202434min