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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Marc Andreessen
| name         = Marc Andreessen
| birth_name = Marc Lowell Andreessen
| birth_name   = Marc Lowell Andreessen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|9}}
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|9}}
| birth_place = Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
| birth_place = [[Cedar Falls, Iowa]], U.S.
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| education = University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BS)
| education   = [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]] (BS)
| occupation = Venture capitalist, businessman, software engineer
| occupation   = Venture capitalist, entrepreneur, software engineer
| known_for = Co-creator of Mosaic, co-founder of Netscape, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz
| known_for   = Co-creator of [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]], co-founder of [[Netscape]], co-founder of [[Andreessen Horowitz]]
| awards = Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
| awards       = [[Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering]]
| website =
}}
}}


'''Marc Lowell Andreessen''' (born July 9, 1971) is an American businessman, venture capitalist, and former software engineer who helped shape the commercial internet through a series of consequential software and business ventures beginning in the early 1990s. He is best known as the co-author of [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]], the first widely used web browser capable of displaying inline images, and as the co-founder of [[Netscape|Netscape Communications Corporation]], whose Netscape Navigator browser became the dominant gateway to the World Wide Web during the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Andreessen later co-founded the software company Loudcloud (subsequently renamed Opsware), which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard, and the social networking platform Ning. In 2009, he co-founded [[Andreessen Horowitz]], a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has become one of the most prominent technology investment firms in the world. Over the course of his career, Andreessen has served on the boards of several major technology companies, including Facebook. His 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" articulated a thesis about the centrality of software to the modern economy that has remained influential in technology and business circles.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-13 |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In recent years, Andreessen has emerged as a vocal commentator on artificial intelligence, economic productivity, and technology policy, including serving as an advisor to President Donald Trump beginning in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-05 |title=Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley |work=ProPublica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
'''Marc Lowell Andreessen''' (born July 9, 1971) is an American businessman, venture capitalist, and former software engineer who helped shape the modern internet and the commercial technology landscape. As co-author of [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]], the first widely used web browser capable of displaying inline images, and co-founder of [[Netscape Communications]], Andreessen played a central role in making the [[World Wide Web]] accessible to millions of users in the 1990s. He later co-founded [[Andreessen Horowitz]], one of [[Silicon Valley]]'s most prominent venture capital firms, through which he has invested in and advised a broad range of technology companies. Over the course of his career, Andreessen has also co-founded the software company [[Opsware]] (originally Loudcloud), which was sold to [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[Ning]], a platform for creating social networking websites.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has served on the boards of several major technology companies, including [[Facebook]] (now [[Meta Platforms]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen Joins Facebook Board |url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Andreessen's influence extends beyond his business activities; his 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" became one of the most cited frameworks for understanding the expansion of software into every sector of the economy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-02-13 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He was featured on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine in 1996 and has been recognized by the ''[[MIT Technology Review]]'' as one of the world's top innovators under 35.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=TR35 Profile: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518 |publisher=MIT Technology Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Marc Lowell Andreessen was born on July 9, 1971, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He grew up in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, a small town in the rural Midwest. From an early age, Andreessen demonstrated an interest in computers and technology. As a child, he taught himself BASIC programming using a library book, initially working on a Commodore 64 home computer. This early self-directed education in computing foreshadowed the technical aptitude that would define his career.
Marc Lowell Andreessen was born on July 9, 1971, in [[Cedar Falls, Iowa]], a small city in the northeastern part of the state.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He grew up in a middle-class Midwestern environment. From an early age, Andreessen demonstrated an interest in computers and technology. He taught himself to program as a child, an experience that would set the trajectory for his future career in software engineering and technology entrepreneurship.


Andreessen's upbringing in the Midwest, far from the technology centers of Silicon Valley or the East Coast research universities, gave him an outsider's perspective that he has referenced throughout his career. His interest in computing persisted through his adolescence, and he pursued this interest formally when he enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Andreessen's formative years coincided with the early development of personal computing. The availability of home computers in the 1980s provided him with opportunities to experiment with programming and develop technical skills long before he entered college. His upbringing in Iowa, far from the technology centers of California and the East Coast, would later become a recurring theme in profiles of Andreessen, illustrating how the democratizing nature of technology could enable ambitious individuals regardless of their geographic origins.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Andreessen attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> While a student there, he worked at the university's National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), one of the original centers established by the National Science Foundation's supercomputing initiative. It was at NCSA that Andreessen, together with programmer Eric Bina, developed the Mosaic web browser, a project that would prove foundational to the commercialization of the internet. The work at NCSA placed Andreessen at the intersection of academic research and practical software development at a moment when the World Wide Web, invented by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN, was beginning to expand beyond the scientific community.
Andreessen attended the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], where he earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in computer science.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> While an undergraduate, he worked at the university's [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications]] (NCSA), a federally funded research center that was at the forefront of computing and networking research in the early 1990s.
 
It was at NCSA that Andreessen, working alongside programmer Eric Bina, developed [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]], the first widely distributed web browser to feature a graphical user interface capable of displaying images inline with text.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Released in 1993, Mosaic dramatically lowered the barrier to accessing the World Wide Web, which had until that point been used primarily by scientists and academic researchers through text-based interfaces. The browser's ease of use and visual presentation of web content made it a transformative tool, and it is credited with sparking the rapid growth of web adoption among the general public.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Internet — Chapter 4 |url=http://www.netvalley.com/cgi-bin/intval/net_history.pl?chapter=4 |publisher=NetValley |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Andreessen's work on Mosaic while still a university student would prove to be one of the most consequential developments in the history of the internet.


== Career ==
== Career ==
=== Mosaic and the Birth of the Web Browser ===
In 1993, while working at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, Andreessen and Eric Bina created Mosaic, a graphical web browser that represented a significant advance in making the World Wide Web accessible to non-technical users.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Prior to Mosaic, web browsers were largely text-based and required considerable technical knowledge to operate. Mosaic was the first browser to display images inline with text on the same page, rather than in separate windows, a design decision that made web pages visually coherent and intuitive for mainstream users.<ref>{{cite web |title=Net History |url=http://www.netvalley.com/cgi-bin/intval/net_history.pl?chapter=4 |publisher=Net Valley |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Mosaic was released for multiple operating systems, including Unix, Windows, and Macintosh, which broadened its reach. The browser's user-friendly graphical interface contributed to a rapid expansion in the number of people using the World Wide Web. It is credited with playing a key role in popularizing the internet beyond academic and government circles, helping to launch the era of commercial web activity that followed in the mid-to-late 1990s.


=== Netscape Communications ===
=== Netscape Communications ===


After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1993, Andreessen moved to California, where he was recruited by Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, to start a new company. Together, they co-founded Mosaic Communications Corporation in April 1994, which was later renamed Netscape Communications Corporation to avoid trademark disputes with the University of Illinois and NCSA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
After graduating from the University of Illinois, Andreessen moved to California, where he was recruited by [[Jim Clark]], the founder of [[Silicon Graphics]]. In 1994, Clark and Andreessen co-founded Mosaic Communications Corporation, which was later renamed [[Netscape Communications Corporation]] to avoid trademark disputes with the University of Illinois and NCSA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen {{!}} Biography & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Netscape developed and released Netscape Navigator, a commercial web browser that built upon and improved the concepts Andreessen and his team had pioneered with Mosaic. Navigator quickly captured a dominant share of the web browser market and became the primary means by which millions of people accessed the internet during the mid-1990s. The company's initial public offering (IPO) on August 9, 1995, was one of the most notable events of the early internet era. Netscape's stock price soared on its first day of trading, an event that is often cited as a catalyst for the dot-com boom.
Netscape developed the [[Netscape Navigator]] web browser, which built upon the principles Andreessen had explored with Mosaic but was written from scratch as an entirely new codebase. Navigator quickly became the dominant web browser of the mid-1990s, capturing a commanding share of the browser market. The company's [[initial public offering]] (IPO) on August 9, 1995, became one of the most celebrated events in technology and financial history. On its first day of trading, Netscape's stock price soared, making the company's valuation reach approximately $2.9 billion and signaling the beginning of the [[dot-com bubble]]. Andreessen, then just 24 years old, became a symbol of the new internet economy.


Andreessen, then only 24 years old, appeared on the cover of ''Time'' magazine in February 1996, an indication of the public fascination with both the internet and its young entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He served as Netscape's chief technology officer and later as executive vice president.
The success of Netscape's IPO and Andreessen's youth made him a prominent figure in American popular culture. In February 1996, he appeared barefoot on the cover of ''Time'' magazine, an image that became iconic of the era's techno-optimism.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> ''BusinessWeek'' profiled Andreessen extensively during this period, documenting his role in the rapidly evolving technology industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen Profile |url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/topstory.htm |publisher=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/b3573002.htm |publisher=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Netscape's dominance was challenged by Microsoft, which bundled its Internet Explorer browser with the Windows operating system, sparking what became known as the "browser wars." The competitive pressure from Microsoft contributed to Netscape's declining market share. In 1998, Netscape was acquired by America Online (AOL) in a deal valued at approximately $4.2 billion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netscape-AOL Deal |url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/topstory.htm |work=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Netscape-AOL Coverage |url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/b3573002.htm |work=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Before the acquisition, Netscape had released the source code of its browser under an open-source license, a decision that eventually led to the creation of the Mozilla project and, subsequently, the Firefox browser.
Netscape's dominance was challenged by [[Microsoft]], which bundled its [[Internet Explorer]] browser with the [[Windows]] operating system beginning in 1995, leading to what became known as the [[browser wars]]. The competitive pressure from Microsoft, combined with the fact that Internet Explorer was offered for free, gradually eroded Navigator's market share. In 1998, Netscape was acquired by [[America Online]] (AOL). Before the acquisition, Netscape made the decision to release the source code of its browser, a move that led to the creation of the [[Mozilla]] project, which eventually produced the [[Mozilla Firefox|Firefox]] browser.


=== Loudcloud and Opsware ===
=== Loudcloud and Opsware ===


Following his time at Netscape, Andreessen co-founded Loudcloud in 1999 with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. Loudcloud was a cloud computing and managed services company that provided infrastructure services for internet businesses during the dot-com era. The company went public in 2001, but the collapse of the dot-com bubble severely affected its customer base and business model.
Following the sale of Netscape, Andreessen co-founded [[Loudcloud]] in 1999 with [[Ben Horowitz]], Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. Loudcloud was a cloud computing and managed services company that offered infrastructure services to businesses during the height of the dot-com era. The company went public in 2001 but struggled financially amid the dot-com crash. In 2002, Loudcloud sold its managed services business to [[Electronic Data Systems]] (EDS) and pivoted to become a software company, rebranding as [[Opsware]].


In response to changing market conditions, Loudcloud sold its managed services business to Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and pivoted to become Opsware, an enterprise software company focused on data center automation. Under the leadership of Andreessen and CEO Ben Horowitz, Opsware developed software tools that allowed companies to automate the management of their servers and data centers. In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired Opsware for approximately $1.6 billion, providing a significant return for its investors and founders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen Profile |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=97899&privcapId=35135559&previousCapId=108856&previousTitle=Hewlett-Packard%20Co |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Opsware developed data center automation software designed to help large enterprises manage their IT infrastructure. The transition from a services-based business model to a software-focused one proved successful. In 2007, [[Hewlett-Packard]] acquired Opsware for approximately $1.6 billion, providing a significant return for Andreessen and his co-founders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen — Company Profile |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=97899&privcapId=35135559&previousCapId=108856&previousTitle=Hewlett-Packard%20Co |publisher=BusinessWeek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The experience of building, nearly losing, and ultimately selling Loudcloud/Opsware would later inform the investment philosophy Andreessen and Horowitz brought to their venture capital firm.


=== Ning ===
=== Ning ===


Andreessen co-founded Ning in 2004, a platform that allowed users to create their own custom social networking websites. The service was intended to democratize social networking by enabling anyone to build a niche community site without needing technical expertise. Ning attracted millions of users who created networks around specific interests, organizations, and causes.
In 2004, Andreessen co-founded [[Ning]], a platform that allowed users to create their own customized social networking websites. Unlike existing social networks such as [[MySpace]] and [[Facebook]], which offered a single unified platform, Ning provided tools for individuals and organizations to build independent, topic-specific social networks. The platform attracted millions of users and hosted hundreds of thousands of individual social networks.


In 2011, Ning was merged with Glam Media, an online publishing network, as part of a strategic realignment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Merging Glam and Ning |url=http://blog.pmarca.com/2011/09/20/merging-glam-and-ning/ |publisher=pmarca blog |date=2011-09-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Loudcloud, Social Networks, Online Publishing |url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-20/tech/30179213_1_loudcloud-social-networks-online-publishing |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2011, Ning merged with [[Glam Media]], an online publishing and media company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Merging Glam and Ning |url=http://blog.pmarca.com/2011/09/20/merging-glam-and-ning/ |publisher=pmarca blog |date=2011-09-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ning Merges with Glam Media |url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-20/tech/30179213_1_loudcloud-social-networks-online-publishing |work=Business Insider |date=2011-09-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Andreessen Horowitz ===
=== Andreessen Horowitz ===


In July 2009, Andreessen and Ben Horowitz co-founded Andreessen Horowitz (often abbreviated as "a16z"), a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. The firm was established with the goal of providing not only capital but also operational support and expertise to technology startups. Andreessen Horowitz distinguished itself from traditional venture capital firms by building a large team of operational partners, executives, and subject-matter experts who could assist portfolio companies with recruiting, marketing, business development, and other functions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Series Seed Documents |url=http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100301/series-seed-documents-with-a-big-assist-from-andreessen-horowitz-set-to-launch-to-help-entrepreneurs-with-legal-hairballs/ |publisher=AllThingsD |date=2010-03-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2009, Andreessen co-founded the venture capital firm [[Andreessen Horowitz]] (also known as "a16z") with longtime business partner [[Ben Horowitz]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Horowitz — Alumni Profile |url=http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/visitor-links/alumni-parents-friends/alumni-profiles-1/ben-horowitz-ms-201990 |publisher=UCLA Engineering |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The firm was established with the explicit goal of building a new kind of venture capital firm, one that would provide portfolio companies not only with capital but also with extensive operational support, including assistance with recruiting, marketing, business development, and executive mentoring.


The firm's early investments included stakes in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, GitHub, Airbnb, Lyft, and numerous other technology companies. One of the firm's notable early investments was in Meteor, a web application development platform, as part of a $11.2 million funding round alongside Matrix Partners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Andreessen Horowitz, Matrix Partners invest $11.2 million in Meteor |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/andreessen-horowitz-matrix-partners-invest-112-million-in-meteor-2012-07-25 |work=MarketWatch |date=2012-07-25 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Based in [[Menlo Park, California]], Andreessen Horowitz quickly became one of the most influential venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. The firm made early investments in a number of companies that would grow to become major technology platforms, including [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Airbnb]], [[Lyft]], [[GitHub]], [[Slack (software)|Slack]], and many others. Andreessen Horowitz was also an early investor in [[Meteor (web framework)|Meteor]], a web application framework, participating in a $11.2 million funding round alongside [[Matrix Partners]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Andreessen Horowitz, Matrix Partners invest $11.2 million in Meteor |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/andreessen-horowitz-matrix-partners-invest-112-million-in-meteor-2012-07-25 |publisher=MarketWatch |date=2012-07-25 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Andreessen Horowitz has expanded from its initial focus on software and internet companies into areas including cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, bio-technology, and financial technology. The firm has raised multiple funds totaling billions of dollars. Andreessen has served as general partner of the firm since its founding and has been involved in shaping its investment thesis and public positioning.
The firm distinguished itself through its operating model, which drew on the founders' own experiences as entrepreneurs. Andreessen and Horowitz structured the firm to resemble a talent agency as much as a traditional venture capital fund, building a large team of operating partners and advisors who could provide hands-on support to founders. The firm also became known for its efforts to reform certain aspects of startup financing, including supporting the creation of standardized Series Seed financing documents intended to simplify the legal process for early-stage funding.<ref>{{cite web |title=Series Seed Documents Launch with Assist from Andreessen Horowitz |url=http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100301/series-seed-documents-with-a-big-assist-from-andreessen-horowitz-set-to-launch-to-help-entrepreneurs-with-legal-hairballs/ |publisher=AllThingsD |date=2010-03-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In recent years, the firm's investments and Andreessen's advocacy have extended into the area of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance. Andreessen had expressed early interest in Bitcoin, writing about the digital currency's potential as early as 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen On Why Bitcoin Is Worth Money |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-on-why-bitcoin-is-worth-money-2014-1?op=1&IR=T |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen Horowitz has been active in the [[cryptocurrency]] and [[blockchain]] space. Andreessen has publicly discussed his views on the value proposition of [[Bitcoin]] and other digital currencies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen on Why Bitcoin Is Worth Money |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-on-why-bitcoin-is-worth-money-2014-1?op=1&IR=T |work=Business Insider |date=2014-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The firm has raised dedicated crypto funds and invested in numerous blockchain-related startups and protocols.


According to Reuters, as of late 2025, there was speculation about Andreessen Horowitz potentially pursuing activities in New York related to public markets, reflecting the firm's evolving ambitions beyond traditional venture capital.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-22 |title=Breakingviews - Marc Andreessen will summon NYC swagger for IPO |url=https://www.reuters.com/commentary/breakingviews/marc-andreessen-will-summon-nyc-swagger-ipo-2025-12-23/ |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
By the 2020s, Andreessen Horowitz had expanded beyond its initial technology focus to include investments in bio and healthcare companies, fintech, consumer technology, enterprise software, and cryptocurrency. In December 2025, ''Reuters'' reported on predictions that Andreessen might pursue opportunities related to initial public offerings in New York, reflecting the firm's growing ambitions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Breakingviews - Marc Andreessen will summon NYC swagger for IPO |url=https://www.reuters.com/commentary/breakingviews/marc-andreessen-will-summon-nyc-swagger-ipo-2025-12-23/ |work=Reuters |date=2025-12-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== "Why Software Is Eating the World" ===
=== "Why Software Is Eating the World" ===


On August 20, 2011, Andreessen published an essay titled "Why Software Is Eating the World" in ''The Wall Street Journal''. The essay argued that software companies were poised to take over large swaths of the economy, disrupting industries from entertainment to defense to agriculture. Andreessen contended that the increasing power and ubiquity of computing, combined with widespread internet access, meant that software-driven businesses would replace traditional companies across virtually every sector.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-13 |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On August 20, 2011, Andreessen published an essay titled "Why Software Is Eating the World" in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. In the piece, he argued that software companies were poised to take over large swathes of the economy, disrupting established industries from retail and entertainment to healthcare and defense. The essay became one of the most cited and debated pieces of technology commentary of the 2010s, establishing a framework that many investors, entrepreneurs, and analysts used to understand the ongoing transformation of traditional industries by software-driven companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-02-13 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The essay became one of the most cited and discussed pieces of technology commentary of the decade. Its central thesis — that software would become the dominant medium through which economic value was created and delivered — influenced investment strategies, corporate strategy, and public discourse about technology's role in the economy. As of 2026, observers continued to revisit and reassess the essay's predictions, particularly in light of the rise of artificial intelligence and the potential displacement of software-as-a-service (SaaS) business models by AI-driven alternatives.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-13 |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2026, ''Fortune'' reported that Andreessen's thesis had proven prescient in many respects, though the manner in which software continued to reshape industries—particularly through the rise of [[artificial intelligence]]—had evolved in ways that were not entirely anticipated in 2011. The emergence of AI-driven tools capable of automating tasks previously performed by software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies represented a new phase in the disruption Andreessen had described, sometimes referred to as the "SaaSpocalypse."<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-02-13 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Board Memberships ===
=== Board Memberships ===


Andreessen has served on the boards of directors of several major technology companies. In 2008, he joined the board of Facebook (later renamed Meta Platforms), where he advised CEO Mark Zuckerberg on corporate strategy and growth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen Joins Facebook Board |url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board |work=Alley Insider |date=2008-06 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He served on the Facebook board for several years.
Andreessen has served on the boards of directors of several prominent technology companies. In 2008, he joined the board of [[Facebook]] (now [[Meta Platforms]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Andreessen Joins Facebook Board |url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has also served on the boards of other companies in which Andreessen Horowitz has invested.


=== Artificial Intelligence Advocacy ===
=== Views on Artificial Intelligence ===


In the 2020s, Andreessen became an outspoken advocate for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. In 2023, he published "The Techno-Optimist Manifesto," which argued against what he characterized as excessive caution and regulation of emerging technologies, including AI. He has argued that AI represents a transformative technology comparable to the internet itself.
Andreessen has been an outspoken proponent of [[artificial intelligence]]. In interviews and public appearances during the mid-2020s, he argued that AI is arriving at a critical juncture to offset shrinking workforces and decades of weak productivity growth. In a January 2026 interview covered by ''Business Insider'', Andreessen stated that the more pressing concern was not potential job displacement from AI but rather what would have happened to the economy without AI advancement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen says the real crisis isn't AI job losses — it's what would have happened without AI |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-says-ai-wont-kill-jobs-may-save-economy-2026-1 |work=Business Insider |date=2026-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In early 2026, Andreessen publicly stated that AI was arriving at a critical moment to offset shrinking workforces and decades of weak productivity growth, framing the technology as an economic necessity rather than a threat to employment.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01 |title=Marc Andreessen says the real crisis isn't AI job losses — it's what would have happened without AI |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-says-ai-wont-kill-jobs-may-save-economy-2026-1 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has compared AI to a "philosopher's stone" capable of "transmuting cheap sand into expensive thought," according to commentary on his public remarks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time to Build: Marc Andreessen on a World in Transition |url=https://jakobnielsenphd.substack.com/p/time-to-build |publisher=Jakob Nielsen PhD Substack |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen is also known for his voracious consumption of information. ''Fortune'' reported in January 2026 that he spends approximately three hours per day listening to podcasts and audiobooks, a habit he has described as essential to staying informed across the many sectors in which Andreessen Horowitz invests.<ref>{{cite news |title=Billionaire Marc Andreessen spends 3 hours a day listening to podcasts and audiobooks |url=https://fortune.com/2026/01/20/billionaire-marc-andreessen-reading-listening-to-books-habit-of-high-success-like-bill-gates-mark-cuban/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-01-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Political Activity and Policy Influence ===
=== Political Activities ===


Andreessen historically supported candidates of the Democratic Party. However, beginning in 2024, he shifted his political alignment and became an advisor to Donald Trump's presidential campaign and subsequent administration.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-05 |title=Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley |work=ProPublica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen supported candidates of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] until 2016. By 2024, his political alignment had shifted, and he became an advisor to [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley |work=ProPublica |date=2025-11-05 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> ''ProPublica'' reported in November 2025 that the [[Trump administration]]'s reduction of the [[Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]]'s (CFPB) regulatory activities had benefited venture capitalists such as Andreessen, whose firms had investments in financial technology companies subject to CFPB oversight. The report noted that Andreessen had made a significant political investment in supporting Trump and that the resulting policy changes aligned with the interests of Silicon Valley investors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley |work=ProPublica |date=2025-11-05 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
According to ProPublica, Andreessen's support for Trump aligned with policy outcomes favorable to Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including the gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). ProPublica reported that the Trump administration's actions regarding the CFPB benefited venture capitalists like Andreessen, whose portfolio companies operate in financial technology and other regulated industries.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-05 |title=Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley |work=ProPublica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Andreessen is known as an avid reader and consumer of information. As of 2026, he reported spending approximately three hours per day listening to podcasts and audiobooks, a practice he has described as central to his approach to learning and staying informed.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01-20 |title=Billionaire Marc Andreessen spends 3 hours a day listening to podcasts and audiobooks—that's nearly an entire 24-hour day each week |url=https://fortune.com/2026/01/20/billionaire-marc-andreessen-reading-listening-to-books-habit-of-high-success-like-bill-gates-mark-cuban/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen and his wife, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, have been involved in philanthropic activities. In 2007, they made a pledge to support emergency care at [[Stanford Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pledge for Emergency Care |url=http://stanfordhospital.org/newsEvents/newsReleases/2007/pledgeEmergencyCare.html |publisher=Stanford Hospital |date=2007 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, the daughter of Silicon Valley real estate developer John Arrillaga, is known for her work in philanthropy and teaches at [[Stanford University]].


Andreessen and his wife, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, have made philanthropic contributions to various causes. In 2007, the couple made a pledge to support emergency care at Stanford Hospital.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pledge for Emergency Care |url=http://stanfordhospital.org/newsEvents/newsReleases/2007/pledgeEmergencyCare.html |publisher=Stanford Hospital |date=2007 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen is known for being a prolific reader and consumer of media. He has described spending approximately three hours each day listening to podcasts and audiobooks, a practice he shares with other prominent business figures such as [[Bill Gates]] and [[Mark Cuban]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Billionaire Marc Andreessen spends 3 hours a day listening to podcasts and audiobooks |url=https://fortune.com/2026/01/20/billionaire-marc-andreessen-reading-listening-to-books-habit-of-high-success-like-bill-gates-mark-cuban/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-01-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Andreessen has maintained a significant public presence through blogging, social media, and podcast appearances, making him one of the most visible figures in Silicon Valley's venture capital community.


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Andreessen has received numerous awards and forms of recognition throughout his career. ''Time'' magazine featured him on its cover in February 1996, during the height of the Netscape-driven internet boom.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen has received numerous accolades over the course of his career. In 1996, at the age of 24, he appeared on the cover of ''Time'' magazine, reflecting his status as one of the central figures of the early internet era.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


He was named to the ''MIT Technology Review'' TR100 list (later renamed Innovators Under 35), which recognized him as one of the top young innovators in technology.<ref>{{cite web |title=TR35 Profile: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518 |publisher=MIT Technology Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The ''MIT Technology Review'' named Andreessen to its TR35 list of top innovators under the age of 35, recognizing his contributions to web browser technology and internet commerce.<ref>{{cite web |title=TR35 Profile: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518 |publisher=MIT Technology Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 2012, ''Time'' magazine named Andreessen to its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, acknowledging his impact as both a technologist and an investor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time 100 Most Influential People |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112116,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2011, ''Time'' magazine included Andreessen in its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, acknowledging his growing influence as a venture capitalist and thought leader in the technology industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Time 100: Marc Andreessen |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112116,00.html |publisher=Time Inc. |date=2011 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Andreessen was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, one of the most prestigious international awards in the engineering field, which recognized his contributions to the development of the internet and web browser technology.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering |url=http://qeprize.org/ |publisher=QEPrize Foundation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen was awarded the [[Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering]], one of the most prestigious international awards in the engineering field, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the internet and the World Wide Web.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering |url=http://qeprize.org/ |publisher=QEPrize Foundation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Marc Andreessen's career spans the full arc of the commercial internet, from its emergence in the early 1990s to the current era of artificial intelligence. His creation of Mosaic and Netscape helped catalyze the transformation of the internet from an academic tool into a mass medium that reshaped commerce, communication, and culture globally. The Netscape IPO in 1995 is frequently cited as a pivotal moment in the history of technology entrepreneurship and venture capital.
Marc Andreessen's career spans the full arc of the modern internet era, from its earliest commercial stirrings in the early 1990s to the AI-driven landscape of the 2020s. His co-creation of Mosaic and Netscape Navigator helped transform the World Wide Web from an academic tool into a mass medium, and the Netscape IPO of 1995 is considered a watershed moment in the history of technology finance and the broader internet economy.


Through Andreessen Horowitz, he has influenced the development of the modern venture capital industry, particularly through the firm's model of providing extensive operational support alongside financial investment. The firm's investments have touched many of the most significant technology companies of the 2010s and 2020s.
As a venture capitalist, Andreessen has influenced the development of the technology industry through the investments and operational model of Andreessen Horowitz. The firm's approach—emphasizing operational support alongside capital—has been emulated by other venture capital firms and has shaped the expectations of founders seeking investment.


His 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" provided a framework for understanding the technology industry's expanding influence over the broader economy that has been widely adopted by investors, entrepreneurs, and corporate strategists. As of 2026, the essay continued to generate discussion, particularly as the rise of AI prompted reconsideration of whether software itself might be "eaten" by more advanced forms of automation and intelligence.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-13 |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Andreessen's 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" provided a conceptual framework that has been referenced widely in business, media, and academic contexts. The essay's core thesis—that software-driven companies would subsume traditional industries—has been borne out across sectors including transportation, hospitality, media, and financial services, though the rise of artificial intelligence has introduced new dimensions to this dynamic that continue to unfold.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-02-13 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Andreessen's shift into political engagement and AI advocacy in the 2020s marked a new phase in his public role, positioning him as one of the technology industry's most prominent voices in debates about regulation, innovation policy, and the future of work.
His career trajectory—from a university student in the Midwest to one of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley—illustrates the role that software and the internet have played in reshaping American industry and culture over the past three decades.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni]]
[[Category:American venture capitalists]]
[[Category:American venture capitalists]]
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Revision as of 00:47, 24 February 2026



Marc Andreessen
BornMarc Lowell Andreessen
9 7, 1971
BirthplaceCedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationVenture capitalist, entrepreneur, software engineer
Known forCo-creator of Mosaic, co-founder of Netscape, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz
EducationUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BS)
AwardsQueen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

Marc Lowell Andreessen (born July 9, 1971) is an American businessman, venture capitalist, and former software engineer who helped shape the modern internet and the commercial technology landscape. As co-author of Mosaic, the first widely used web browser capable of displaying inline images, and co-founder of Netscape Communications, Andreessen played a central role in making the World Wide Web accessible to millions of users in the 1990s. He later co-founded Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capital firms, through which he has invested in and advised a broad range of technology companies. Over the course of his career, Andreessen has also co-founded the software company Opsware (originally Loudcloud), which was sold to Hewlett-Packard, and Ning, a platform for creating social networking websites.[1] He has served on the boards of several major technology companies, including Facebook (now Meta Platforms).[2] Andreessen's influence extends beyond his business activities; his 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" became one of the most cited frameworks for understanding the expansion of software into every sector of the economy.[3] He was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1996 and has been recognized by the MIT Technology Review as one of the world's top innovators under 35.[4][5]

Early Life

Marc Lowell Andreessen was born on July 9, 1971, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, a small city in the northeastern part of the state.[6] He grew up in a middle-class Midwestern environment. From an early age, Andreessen demonstrated an interest in computers and technology. He taught himself to program as a child, an experience that would set the trajectory for his future career in software engineering and technology entrepreneurship.

Andreessen's formative years coincided with the early development of personal computing. The availability of home computers in the 1980s provided him with opportunities to experiment with programming and develop technical skills long before he entered college. His upbringing in Iowa, far from the technology centers of California and the East Coast, would later become a recurring theme in profiles of Andreessen, illustrating how the democratizing nature of technology could enable ambitious individuals regardless of their geographic origins.

Education

Andreessen attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.[7] While an undergraduate, he worked at the university's National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), a federally funded research center that was at the forefront of computing and networking research in the early 1990s.

It was at NCSA that Andreessen, working alongside programmer Eric Bina, developed Mosaic, the first widely distributed web browser to feature a graphical user interface capable of displaying images inline with text.[8] Released in 1993, Mosaic dramatically lowered the barrier to accessing the World Wide Web, which had until that point been used primarily by scientists and academic researchers through text-based interfaces. The browser's ease of use and visual presentation of web content made it a transformative tool, and it is credited with sparking the rapid growth of web adoption among the general public.[9] Andreessen's work on Mosaic while still a university student would prove to be one of the most consequential developments in the history of the internet.

Career

Netscape Communications

After graduating from the University of Illinois, Andreessen moved to California, where he was recruited by Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics. In 1994, Clark and Andreessen co-founded Mosaic Communications Corporation, which was later renamed Netscape Communications Corporation to avoid trademark disputes with the University of Illinois and NCSA.[10]

Netscape developed the Netscape Navigator web browser, which built upon the principles Andreessen had explored with Mosaic but was written from scratch as an entirely new codebase. Navigator quickly became the dominant web browser of the mid-1990s, capturing a commanding share of the browser market. The company's initial public offering (IPO) on August 9, 1995, became one of the most celebrated events in technology and financial history. On its first day of trading, Netscape's stock price soared, making the company's valuation reach approximately $2.9 billion and signaling the beginning of the dot-com bubble. Andreessen, then just 24 years old, became a symbol of the new internet economy.

The success of Netscape's IPO and Andreessen's youth made him a prominent figure in American popular culture. In February 1996, he appeared barefoot on the cover of Time magazine, an image that became iconic of the era's techno-optimism.[11] BusinessWeek profiled Andreessen extensively during this period, documenting his role in the rapidly evolving technology industry.[12][13]

Netscape's dominance was challenged by Microsoft, which bundled its Internet Explorer browser with the Windows operating system beginning in 1995, leading to what became known as the browser wars. The competitive pressure from Microsoft, combined with the fact that Internet Explorer was offered for free, gradually eroded Navigator's market share. In 1998, Netscape was acquired by America Online (AOL). Before the acquisition, Netscape made the decision to release the source code of its browser, a move that led to the creation of the Mozilla project, which eventually produced the Firefox browser.

Loudcloud and Opsware

Following the sale of Netscape, Andreessen co-founded Loudcloud in 1999 with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. Loudcloud was a cloud computing and managed services company that offered infrastructure services to businesses during the height of the dot-com era. The company went public in 2001 but struggled financially amid the dot-com crash. In 2002, Loudcloud sold its managed services business to Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and pivoted to become a software company, rebranding as Opsware.

Opsware developed data center automation software designed to help large enterprises manage their IT infrastructure. The transition from a services-based business model to a software-focused one proved successful. In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired Opsware for approximately $1.6 billion, providing a significant return for Andreessen and his co-founders.[14] The experience of building, nearly losing, and ultimately selling Loudcloud/Opsware would later inform the investment philosophy Andreessen and Horowitz brought to their venture capital firm.

Ning

In 2004, Andreessen co-founded Ning, a platform that allowed users to create their own customized social networking websites. Unlike existing social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, which offered a single unified platform, Ning provided tools for individuals and organizations to build independent, topic-specific social networks. The platform attracted millions of users and hosted hundreds of thousands of individual social networks.

In 2011, Ning merged with Glam Media, an online publishing and media company.[15][16]

Andreessen Horowitz

In 2009, Andreessen co-founded the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (also known as "a16z") with longtime business partner Ben Horowitz.[17] The firm was established with the explicit goal of building a new kind of venture capital firm, one that would provide portfolio companies not only with capital but also with extensive operational support, including assistance with recruiting, marketing, business development, and executive mentoring.

Based in Menlo Park, California, Andreessen Horowitz quickly became one of the most influential venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. The firm made early investments in a number of companies that would grow to become major technology platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, Lyft, GitHub, Slack, and many others. Andreessen Horowitz was also an early investor in Meteor, a web application framework, participating in a $11.2 million funding round alongside Matrix Partners.[18]

The firm distinguished itself through its operating model, which drew on the founders' own experiences as entrepreneurs. Andreessen and Horowitz structured the firm to resemble a talent agency as much as a traditional venture capital fund, building a large team of operating partners and advisors who could provide hands-on support to founders. The firm also became known for its efforts to reform certain aspects of startup financing, including supporting the creation of standardized Series Seed financing documents intended to simplify the legal process for early-stage funding.[19]

Andreessen Horowitz has been active in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. Andreessen has publicly discussed his views on the value proposition of Bitcoin and other digital currencies.[20] The firm has raised dedicated crypto funds and invested in numerous blockchain-related startups and protocols.

By the 2020s, Andreessen Horowitz had expanded beyond its initial technology focus to include investments in bio and healthcare companies, fintech, consumer technology, enterprise software, and cryptocurrency. In December 2025, Reuters reported on predictions that Andreessen might pursue opportunities related to initial public offerings in New York, reflecting the firm's growing ambitions.[21]

"Why Software Is Eating the World"

On August 20, 2011, Andreessen published an essay titled "Why Software Is Eating the World" in The Wall Street Journal. In the piece, he argued that software companies were poised to take over large swathes of the economy, disrupting established industries from retail and entertainment to healthcare and defense. The essay became one of the most cited and debated pieces of technology commentary of the 2010s, establishing a framework that many investors, entrepreneurs, and analysts used to understand the ongoing transformation of traditional industries by software-driven companies.[22]

In 2026, Fortune reported that Andreessen's thesis had proven prescient in many respects, though the manner in which software continued to reshape industries—particularly through the rise of artificial intelligence—had evolved in ways that were not entirely anticipated in 2011. The emergence of AI-driven tools capable of automating tasks previously performed by software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies represented a new phase in the disruption Andreessen had described, sometimes referred to as the "SaaSpocalypse."[23]

Board Memberships

Andreessen has served on the boards of directors of several prominent technology companies. In 2008, he joined the board of Facebook (now Meta Platforms).[24] He has also served on the boards of other companies in which Andreessen Horowitz has invested.

Views on Artificial Intelligence

Andreessen has been an outspoken proponent of artificial intelligence. In interviews and public appearances during the mid-2020s, he argued that AI is arriving at a critical juncture to offset shrinking workforces and decades of weak productivity growth. In a January 2026 interview covered by Business Insider, Andreessen stated that the more pressing concern was not potential job displacement from AI but rather what would have happened to the economy without AI advancement.[25]

Andreessen is also known for his voracious consumption of information. Fortune reported in January 2026 that he spends approximately three hours per day listening to podcasts and audiobooks, a habit he has described as essential to staying informed across the many sectors in which Andreessen Horowitz invests.[26]

Political Activities

Andreessen supported candidates of the Democratic Party until 2016. By 2024, his political alignment had shifted, and he became an advisor to Donald Trump.[27] ProPublica reported in November 2025 that the Trump administration's reduction of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) regulatory activities had benefited venture capitalists such as Andreessen, whose firms had investments in financial technology companies subject to CFPB oversight. The report noted that Andreessen had made a significant political investment in supporting Trump and that the resulting policy changes aligned with the interests of Silicon Valley investors.[28]

Personal Life

Andreessen and his wife, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, have been involved in philanthropic activities. In 2007, they made a pledge to support emergency care at Stanford Hospital.[29] Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, the daughter of Silicon Valley real estate developer John Arrillaga, is known for her work in philanthropy and teaches at Stanford University.

Andreessen is known for being a prolific reader and consumer of media. He has described spending approximately three hours each day listening to podcasts and audiobooks, a practice he shares with other prominent business figures such as Bill Gates and Mark Cuban.[30]

Recognition

Andreessen has received numerous accolades over the course of his career. In 1996, at the age of 24, he appeared on the cover of Time magazine, reflecting his status as one of the central figures of the early internet era.[31]

The MIT Technology Review named Andreessen to its TR35 list of top innovators under the age of 35, recognizing his contributions to web browser technology and internet commerce.[32]

In 2011, Time magazine included Andreessen in its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, acknowledging his growing influence as a venture capitalist and thought leader in the technology industry.[33]

Andreessen was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, one of the most prestigious international awards in the engineering field, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the internet and the World Wide Web.[34]

Legacy

Marc Andreessen's career spans the full arc of the modern internet era, from its earliest commercial stirrings in the early 1990s to the AI-driven landscape of the 2020s. His co-creation of Mosaic and Netscape Navigator helped transform the World Wide Web from an academic tool into a mass medium, and the Netscape IPO of 1995 is considered a watershed moment in the history of technology finance and the broader internet economy.

As a venture capitalist, Andreessen has influenced the development of the technology industry through the investments and operational model of Andreessen Horowitz. The firm's approach—emphasizing operational support alongside capital—has been emulated by other venture capital firms and has shaped the expectations of founders seeking investment.

Andreessen's 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" provided a conceptual framework that has been referenced widely in business, media, and academic contexts. The essay's core thesis—that software-driven companies would subsume traditional industries—has been borne out across sectors including transportation, hospitality, media, and financial services, though the rise of artificial intelligence has introduced new dimensions to this dynamic that continue to unfold.[35]

His career trajectory—from a university student in the Midwest to one of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley—illustrates the role that software and the internet have played in reshaping American industry and culture over the past three decades.

References

  1. ↑ "Marc Andreessen | Biography & Facts".Encyclopædia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ "Marc Andreessen Joins Facebook Board".Business Insider.http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined".Fortune.2026-02-13.https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen".Time Inc..http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "TR35 Profile: Marc Andreessen".MIT Technology Review.http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Marc Andreessen | Biography & Facts".Encyclopædia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Marc Andreessen | Biography & Facts".Encyclopædia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Marc Andreessen | Biography & Facts".Encyclopædia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "History of the Internet — Chapter 4".NetValley.http://www.netvalley.com/cgi-bin/intval/net_history.pl?chapter=4.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Marc Andreessen | Biography & Facts".Encyclopædia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marc-Andreessen.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen".Time Inc..http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Marc Andreessen Profile".BusinessWeek.http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/topstory.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Marc Andreessen".BusinessWeek.http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/b3573002.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Marc Andreessen — Company Profile".BusinessWeek.http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=97899&privcapId=35135559&previousCapId=108856&previousTitle=Hewlett-Packard%20Co.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Merging Glam and Ning".pmarca blog.2011-09-20.http://blog.pmarca.com/2011/09/20/merging-glam-and-ning/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Ning Merges with Glam Media".Business Insider.2011-09-20.http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-20/tech/30179213_1_loudcloud-social-networks-online-publishing.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Ben Horowitz — Alumni Profile".UCLA Engineering.http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/visitor-links/alumni-parents-friends/alumni-profiles-1/ben-horowitz-ms-201990.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Andreessen Horowitz, Matrix Partners invest $11.2 million in Meteor".MarketWatch.2012-07-25.http://www.marketwatch.com/story/andreessen-horowitz-matrix-partners-invest-112-million-in-meteor-2012-07-25.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Series Seed Documents Launch with Assist from Andreessen Horowitz".AllThingsD.2010-03-01.http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100301/series-seed-documents-with-a-big-assist-from-andreessen-horowitz-set-to-launch-to-help-entrepreneurs-with-legal-hairballs/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Marc Andreessen on Why Bitcoin Is Worth Money".Business Insider.2014-01.http://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-on-why-bitcoin-is-worth-money-2014-1?op=1&IR=T.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Breakingviews - Marc Andreessen will summon NYC swagger for IPO".Reuters.2025-12-22.https://www.reuters.com/commentary/breakingviews/marc-andreessen-will-summon-nyc-swagger-ipo-2025-12-23/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined".Fortune.2026-02-13.https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined".Fortune.2026-02-13.https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Marc Andreessen Joins Facebook Board".Business Insider.http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ "Marc Andreessen says the real crisis isn't AI job losses — it's what would have happened without AI".Business Insider.2026-01.https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-says-ai-wont-kill-jobs-may-save-economy-2026-1.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  26. ↑ "Billionaire Marc Andreessen spends 3 hours a day listening to podcasts and audiobooks".Fortune.2026-01-20.https://fortune.com/2026/01/20/billionaire-marc-andreessen-reading-listening-to-books-habit-of-high-success-like-bill-gates-mark-cuban/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  27. ↑ "Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley.".ProPublica.2025-11-05.https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  28. ↑ "Tech Billionaire Marc Andreessen Bet Big on Trump. It's Paying Off for Silicon Valley.".ProPublica.2025-11-05.https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cfpb-marc-andreessen-silicon-valley.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  29. ↑ "Pledge for Emergency Care".Stanford Hospital.2007.http://stanfordhospital.org/newsEvents/newsReleases/2007/pledgeEmergencyCare.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  30. ↑ "Billionaire Marc Andreessen spends 3 hours a day listening to podcasts and audiobooks".Fortune.2026-01-20.https://fortune.com/2026/01/20/billionaire-marc-andreessen-reading-listening-to-books-habit-of-high-success-like-bill-gates-mark-cuban/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  31. ↑ "Time Magazine Cover: Marc Andreessen".Time Inc..http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  32. ↑ "TR35 Profile: Marc Andreessen".MIT Technology Review.http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  33. ↑ "Time 100: Marc Andreessen".Time Inc..2011.http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112116,00.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  34. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering".QEPrize Foundation.http://qeprize.org/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  35. ↑ "Marc Andreessen made a dire software prediction 15 years ago. Now it's happening in a way nobody imagined".Fortune.2026-02-13.https://fortune.com/2026/02/13/marc-andreessen-software-eating-the-world-saaspocalypse-morgan-stanley-gut-check-displaced-labor/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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