MA
Marc Andreessen
Andreessen Horowitz · Netscape · b. 1971
Born July 9, 1971
Software engineer, entrepreneur, and investor. Marc Andreessen (born 1971 in Cedar Falls, Iowa) co-created Mosaic, the first widely used web browser, while a student at the University of Illinois. In 1994 he co-founded Netscape with Jim Clark, taking the company public in 1995 and selling it to AOL for $4.2 billion in 1999. He later co-founded Loudcloud and Opsware with Ben Horowitz, and in 2009 the two founded the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which backed Airbnb, Facebook, Instagram, and many others. He is one of the most cited public thinkers on technology and market strategy.
Career highlights
- 1971Born 9 July in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
- 1993Earned a BS in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he co-created Mosaic.
- 1994Co-founded Netscape Communications with Jim Clark; Andreessen was one of about a dozen people Jim Clark approached, and the only one who said yes.
- 1995Netscape went public in August, a landmark IPO that helped ignite the internet boom.
- 1999AOL acquired Netscape for $4.2 billion.
- 1999Co-founded Loudcloud with Ben Horowitz, which became Opsware and was sold to Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion in 2007.
- 2009Co-founded the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz with Ben Horowitz.
- 2011Published 'Software Is Eating the World' in the Wall Street Journal, one of the most influential essays of the era.
Lessons for founders
- Market matters more than team or product. Andreessen's core thesis, developed in his Pmarca blog archive, is that in a great market the market pulls the product out of the startup, while in a terrible market even the best team and product fail. 'Markets that don't exist don't care how smart you are.'
- The only thing that matters is getting to product/market fit. Andreessen argues that most startups fail not because they run out of money but because they never reach product/market fit. Everything else — hiring, fundraising, strategy — is secondary to finding the market where the product is pulled forward.
- Don't plan your career; pursue opportunities. Andreessen's first rule of career planning is not to plan your career at all. Opportunities present themselves when you're in the right place at the right time, and they come and go quickly — those who jump on them shoot up like rockets, while those who pass do not.
- Software is eating the world. Andreessen's famous thesis is that software is disruptive not just in tech but across every industry, and that companies which treat themselves as software companies win. The most important companies of the future will be built by software-eating incumbents' industries.
- Startup greatness is an emotional rollercoaster. Andreessen describes startups as producing only two emotions — euphoria and terror — often at whiplash speed. Founders must be ready for the emotional whiplash and, crucially, not let the lows of a bad week define the outcome.
- Be a quadruple threat. Andreessen argues that successful CEOs are never the best at any single thing — not the best product visionary, salesperson, or marketer — but are top 25% in several skills, and that combination is what qualifies them to run something important.
- Learn how to sell. Andreessen means learning to convince people that something is in their best interest, even when they don't realize it up front. Selling is a core skill for every founder, not just the sales team.
In their own words1
Andreessen's collected blog posts from the famous Pmarca blog, covering startups, product/market fit, and career strategy. The basis of Founders episode #50. source ↗
What they recommend95
Recommended on X/Twitter"The True Believer by Eric Hoffer — a brilliant book on the nature of mass movements and collective psychology." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two of Thomas Sowell's many brilliant books on how our current politics and culture came to be: A Conflict of Visions." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two of Thomas Sowell's many brilliant books... The Vision of the Anointed." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Interesting book! 'Chronicles the experience of a UFO cult that believed the end of the world was at hand...'" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter source ↗
Recommended as a founder's book source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter source ↗
Provided the foreword; recommended source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"The Ancient City by Numa Denis Fustel De Coulanges -- the single best book I have found on who we are and how we got here." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"The Machiavellians, and The Managerial Revolution, by James Burnham -- together, the best explanation for the current structure of our society and politics." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"The Machiavellians, and The Managerial Revolution, by James Burnham -- together, the best explanation for the current structure of our society and politics." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Four books on the Spanish Civil War, which was the trial run for the hundred years of Western history that followed." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Four books on the Spanish Civil War, which was the trial run for the hundred years of Western history that followed." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Four books on the Spanish Civil War, which was the trial run for the hundred years of Western history that followed." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Four books on the Spanish Civil War, which was the trial run for the hundred years of Western history that followed." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two books on fascism and anti-fascism, titled Fascism and Anti-Fascism respectively, both by Paul Gottfried." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two books on fascism and anti-fascism, titled Fascism and Anti-Fascism respectively, both by Paul Gottfried." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"The Captive Mind by Czeslaw Milosz -- the definitive work on intellectual life under totalitarianism." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"The Power of the Powerless by Vaclav Havel -- the definitive work on practical life under totalitarianism." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two books on the evolution of modern culture and civic religion, both by John Murray Cuddihy." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two books on the evolution of modern culture and civic religion, both by John Murray Cuddihy." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two more books on who we are and how we got here, one on culture, the other on genetics." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two more books on who we are and how we got here, one on culture, the other on genetics." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Public Choice Theory and the Illusion of Grand Strategy by Richard Hanania -- a sobering reexamination of how democratic governments actually make decisions." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"History Has Begun: The Birth of a New America by Bruno Macaes -- on the country and culture the United States is evolving into, not necessarily decline, but something very different." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two books on the nature of the public intellectuals who lead our society." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Two books on the nature of the public intellectuals who lead our society." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"The Sovereign Individual – Written 20 years ago, this is the most thought-provoking book on the unfolding nature of the 21st century that I've yet read. It's packed with ideas on every page, many that are now fast becoming conventional wisdom, and many that are still heretical." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"Two related books to read are The Twilight of Sovereignty and Cryptonomicon." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"Two related books to read are The Twilight of Sovereignty and Cryptonomicon." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"The Baroque Cycle – A work of rigorously researched historical fiction with only the slightest overlay of science fiction, this book tells the story of the emergence of the modern world and its systems (democracy, the scientific method, financial markets, etc.) in a way that is wholly fresh. These novels make me think about what a Neal Stephenson of 2300 may write about our times and us." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"The Innovator's Dilemma, The Lean Startup and Zero to One are the defining trilogy of intellectual thought on the art and science of modern technology startups. Virtually every page of each is open to debate, and yet, as a whole, they provide intellectual scaffolding for our endeavours that I wish had existed when I started in 1994." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"The Innovator's Dilemma, The Lean Startup and Zero to One are the defining trilogy of intellectual thought on the art and science of modern technology startups. Virtually every page of each is open to debate, and yet, as a whole, they provide intellectual scaffolding for our endeavours that I wish had existed when I started in 1994." source ↗
Recommended in the Stripe Atlas AMA"The book I am most looking forward to is The Square and the Tower, on the rise and fall and rise of networks and the eternal battle between networks and hierarchies at all levels of human life." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Is the future knowable, and by whom? All pundits and commentators should publish their prediction track records, yet don't. What to pay attention to and what to ignore." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale?" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"'Billions'-esque saga of global financial market manipulation, at mind-boggling scale and hiding in plain sight, by a small cabal of bankers in London." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Best (?) walk through the ancient/current philosophy of Stoicism. You can't control other people but you can control yourself, so do that." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Inside story of how Britain decided to exit the EU. Economic self-destruction or national liberation?" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"'Wall Street'-esque battle between Bill Ackman and Carl Icahn over unlikely target Herbalife. Sip a delicious Herbal Aloe Shake while reading." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Wide-ranging meditation on how to think about the reality that we're probably wrong about most things we believe. Hard to read and not emerge humbled." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Best book on the 2016 campaign so far?" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"One perspective on the politics of immgiration in Europe, playing out in real time... Confusing on multiple levels from US perspective." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Certainly the story is well known, but given author's propensity to post photos of himself wearing running shoes in Iowa, potentially relevant again starting next year?" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Startlingly deep cultural history of conspiracies, examined through the lens of the brutally effective Gawker takedown, with full access to the main players." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Ideal counterpart to @PTetlock's Expert Political Judgment." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"A bracing disassembly and reconstruction of a theory of individual progress in the modern world. Fascinating compare and contrast with The Courage To Be Disliked." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Spellbinding creative and business history of the incredibly imaginative comic book industry in the decades before it ate Hollywood." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Visceral, raw, you-are-there recounting of living through the hack attacks and resulting meltdown of the DNC in 2016." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"The founding and growth of military contractor Blackwater as told by its founder and CEO; newly relevant due to the Mueller investigation." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Startling walk through a series of domains where peak human performance is rising at remarkable rates due to 'flow state'. Thought provoking and then some." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Best (?) book so far on the Republican side of the 2016 race, and a deep dive into the intellectual origins of Bannonism and to some extent Trumpism." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Best (?) book so far on the Democratic side of the 2016 race, most provocatively on the impact of the press coverage of the email hacks." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"What's it like to train with a Navy SEAL in winter in New York for a whole month? Featuring the truly remarkable American hero @davidgoggins." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"The median American is a moderate national socialist – statist to the core on both economic and social policy. Given public opinion, the policies of First World democracies are surprisingly libertarian." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"The astonishing story of the Litvinenko and Perepilichnyy assassinations in the UK; reads like a Lee Child thriller." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"The film was fine but the book is unreal; incredibly vivid story of superlative American heroes." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"'How to get along with people, how to deal with violence, how to adjust to losing someone you love—All versions of a bigger question: How do you live?'" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"True, chilling saga of straight up, profoundly deep treason and betrayal. Sociopaths in high positions of power and influence. Hair curling." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"Sparkling explanation of how the economy evolves, producing the glorious cornucopia of goods and services available all around us. How to feel good about the future even in dark times." source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"How cities drive the development of civilization, by putting people together. Highly relevant to the future of the Internet!" source ↗
From his July 2018 'Books I've recently read and recommend' thread"I hand out more copies of this book than any other. How to take responsibility for yourself and for those around you. Modern Stoicism, as applied in the military, business, and life." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on why even environmentalists should be pro building, pro cities, pro nuclear, and pro genetic engineering." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on how modern technological economies can build more outputs with less inputs, and why we need all economies to be modern and technological." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on how technology-driven productivity growth improves human welfare and creates more jobs and higher wages." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on how economic systems that encourage aggressive entrepreneurship build the most for the benefit of the most." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on how four great builders of the 19th century built the world we live in today." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on perhaps the greatest American builder of all, the builder who brought electricity to us all, Thomas Edison." source ↗
From his 'It's Time to Build' companion-book thread, April 2020"on why we can't build in great American cities like San Francisco today and what we need to do about it." source ↗
Recommended on X/Twitter"Back when the world and I were young, information was scarce, hence valuable... A curious thing happens to sources of information under conditions of scarcity. They become authoritative." source ↗
Similar taste
Founders who share the most book recommendations with Marc:
Sources5
- Marc Andreessen — Wikipedia
- Marc Andreessen's Blog Archive (Founders #50) — Founders Podcast
- Marc Andreessen — ReadThisTwice — ReadThisTwice
- Reading list thread (@pmarca, Oct 4, 2022) — X/Twitter
- Open Library — Internet Archive