Marc Andreessen

Marc Andreessen
Born	Marc Lowell Andreessen 9 7, 1971
Birthplace	Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Venture capitalist, businessman, former software engineer
Known for	Co-creator of Mosaic, co-founder of Netscape, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz
Education	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BS)
Awards	Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

Marc Lowell Andreessen (born July 9, 1971) is an American businessman, venture capitalist, and former software engineer who played a pivotal role in the early development of the World Wide Web. As the co-author of Mosaic, the first widely used web browser capable of displaying inline images alongside text, Andreessen helped transform the internet from a text-based academic tool into a visual, accessible medium that would reshape global commerce and communication. He subsequently co-founded Netscape Communications Corporation, whose Netscape Navigator browser became the dominant gateway to the web in the mid-1990s and whose initial public offering in 1995 is widely credited with igniting the dot-com bubble. After Netscape's acquisition by AOL, Andreessen co-founded the enterprise software company Loudcloud, later renamed Opsware, which was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2007. He also co-founded the social networking platform Ning. In 2009, Andreessen and longtime business partner Ben Horowitz established the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (also known as "a16z"), which has grown into one of the most prominent investment firms in Silicon Valley. Andreessen has served on the boards of several major technology companies, including Facebook. A prolific commentator on technology and its economic implications, he authored the influential 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World," which argued that software companies were poised to disrupt and dominate large sectors of the global economy.

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. He grew up in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, in a middle-class family. His father worked as a seed salesman and his mother worked for Lands' End. Andreessen developed an early interest in computing, teaching himself BASIC programming from a library book when he was in elementary school. He used the family's first computer to write rudimentary programs and explore the capabilities of early personal computing technology.

Andreessen's upbringing in the rural Midwest shaped his perspective on technology's potential to connect people and broaden access to information. He has spoken in interviews about the contrast between his small-town origins and the global impact of the technologies he later helped create. His early fascination with computers led him to pursue studies in computer science, a decision that would place him at the center of one of the most transformative technological developments of the twentieth century.

Education

Andreessen enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied computer science. During his undergraduate studies, he worked at the university's National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), a federally funded research center that was at the forefront of high-performance computing and networking research. It was at the NCSA that Andreessen, together with programmer Eric Bina, developed the Mosaic web browser in 1993. Mosaic was not the first web browser — Tim Berners-Lee had created the original browser at CERN — but it was the first to combine a user-friendly graphical interface with the ability to display images inline with text on the same page, rather than in separate windows. This innovation made the web accessible to non-technical users for the first time and contributed to the rapid growth of internet adoption. Andreessen graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 1993.

Career

Mosaic and the Birth of the Web Browser

The development of Mosaic at the NCSA in 1992–1993 represented a turning point in the history of the internet. Before Mosaic, web browsing was largely a text-based experience accessible primarily to researchers and technologists. Andreessen and Bina created a browser that could render graphics alongside text, providing a visual experience that made the web intuitive and appealing to a mass audience. Mosaic was released in several versions for different operating systems and quickly gained millions of users. The browser's popularity demonstrated the commercial potential of the World Wide Web and attracted the attention of entrepreneurs and investors.

Andreessen's work on Mosaic earned him significant recognition. Time magazine featured him on its cover in February 1996, reflecting the cultural impact of his contributions to web technology. He was also named to MIT Technology Review's TR35 list of top innovators under the age of 35.

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. Clark, who recognized the commercial potential of Mosaic, proposed that the two start a company to build a commercial web browser. They founded Mosaic Communications Corporation in April 1994, which was later renamed Netscape Communications Corporation after the University of Illinois objected to the use of the Mosaic name.

Netscape developed Netscape Navigator, a commercial web browser that built on the innovations of Mosaic but with substantial improvements in speed, stability, and features. Navigator quickly captured a dominant share of the browser market, reaching an estimated 70 to 80 percent market share at its peak. The company's initial public offering on August 9, 1995, became one of the most celebrated events in the history of Wall Street technology investing. Netscape's stock price soared on its first day of trading, and the IPO is frequently cited as the event that launched the dot-com era.

The rise of Netscape precipitated the browser wars of the late 1990s, as Microsoft entered the market with Internet Explorer and bundled it with the Windows operating system. Microsoft's aggressive competitive tactics eventually eroded Netscape's market share. In 1998, Netscape was acquired by AOL in a deal valued at approximately $4.2 billion. The browser wars and the antitrust litigation that followed, culminating in the United States v. Microsoft Corp. case, had lasting implications for technology industry regulation.

Loudcloud and Opsware

Following the AOL acquisition of Netscape, Andreessen and business partner Ben Horowitz co-founded Loudcloud in 1999, a company that provided cloud computing infrastructure services to enterprises during the early days of internet-based business operations. Loudcloud went public in 2001, though it faced significant challenges during the dot-com bust. In 2002, the company sold its managed services business to Electronic Data Systems and refocused its remaining software assets under the new name Opsware.

Opsware developed data center automation software that helped enterprises manage their server infrastructure more efficiently. In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired Opsware for approximately $1.6 billion, providing a significant financial return for Andreessen and other investors. The experience of building and navigating Loudcloud through the dot-com collapse and then successfully pivoting and selling Opsware informed Andreessen's later philosophy as a venture capitalist, particularly regarding the resilience required of technology entrepreneurs.

Ning

Andreessen also co-founded Ning in 2005, a platform that allowed users to create their own customized social networking websites. Ning provided tools for building online communities around specific interests, causes, or organizations without requiring technical expertise. The platform attracted millions of users and thousands of active social networks at its peak. In 2011, Ning merged with Glam Media, an online publishing company, as part of a consolidation of digital media properties.

Andreessen Horowitz

In 2009, Andreessen and Ben Horowitz founded Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. The firm, often referred to by its abbreviated name "a16z," was established with the goal of providing not only capital but also operational support and strategic advice to technology startups. Andreessen and Horowitz drew on their experiences as entrepreneurs — including the difficulties they encountered building their own companies — to create a firm model that offered portfolio companies access to recruiting, marketing, business development, and executive coaching services in addition to funding.

Andreessen Horowitz has invested in a wide range of technology companies across sectors including social media, enterprise software, cryptocurrency, and biotechnology. Early investments included notable companies such as Facebook, Twitter, GitHub, Airbnb, Lyft, and Coinbase. The firm's investment in Facebook was facilitated in part by Andreessen's position on Facebook's board of directors, which he joined in 2008.

The firm has raised multiple funds, each larger than the last, and has become one of the most recognized names in venture capital. It has been credited with helping to establish a model of "founder-friendly" venture investing, in which the firm prioritizes supporting entrepreneurs rather than seeking to replace management teams. Andreessen Horowitz also played a role in standardizing legal documents for early-stage investments, launching the "Series Seed" documents to simplify the fundraising process for entrepreneurs.

"Why Software Is Eating the World"

In August 2011, Andreessen published an essay titled "Why Software Is Eating the World" in The Wall Street Journal. The essay argued that software companies were in the process of fundamentally disrupting traditional industries — from retail and entertainment to healthcare and defense — and that this trend would accelerate as more economic activity moved online. Andreessen contended that many established companies underestimated the threat posed by software-driven competitors and that the economy was undergoing a structural transformation led by technology firms.

The essay became one of the most cited and discussed pieces of technology commentary of the 2010s. Its central thesis — that software would become the primary driver of value creation across the global economy — proved influential in shaping investment strategies and corporate planning. More than a decade later, commentators have revisited the essay's predictions in the context of developments including the rise of artificial intelligence and the displacement of traditional software-as-a-service business models by AI-driven alternatives.

Views on Artificial Intelligence

Andreessen has been a prominent advocate for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. In public statements and essays, he has argued that AI represents a generational technological opportunity and has pushed back against concerns about AI-driven job displacement. In early 2026, Andreessen stated that AI was arriving at a critical moment to offset shrinking workforces and decades of weak productivity growth, framing the technology as a potential solution to demographic and economic challenges rather than a cause of unemployment.

Views on Cryptocurrency

Andreessen has been a vocal proponent of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies. He has argued publicly that Bitcoin has real value as a technology and payment system, drawing parallels to earlier technological innovations that were initially dismissed by mainstream observers. Andreessen Horowitz has made significant investments in cryptocurrency and blockchain companies, including Coinbase, which went public in 2021.

Political Engagement

Andreessen supported candidates of the Democratic Party until 2016. In 2024, he became an adviser to Donald Trump. According to reporting by ProPublica, the Trump administration's approach to regulatory agencies, including the gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has been characterized as favorable to the interests of venture capitalists like Andreessen. His political shift reflected a broader trend among some technology executives who grew dissatisfied with what they perceived as excessive regulation of the technology and financial sectors under previous administrations.

Personal Life

Andreessen is known for his avid reading and information consumption habits. He has stated that he spends 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 about developments across a wide range of fields.

Andreessen and his wife, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, have been involved in philanthropic activities. In 2007, the couple made a pledge to support emergency care at Stanford Hospital. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen is the daughter of Silicon Valley real estate developer John Arrillaga and has been active in the field of philanthropy and social impact.

Andreessen has maintained an active public presence through social media, blogging, and podcast appearances. His blog, pmarca.com, and his posts on social media platforms have been widely followed in technology and investment communities. He is known for his outspoken commentary on technology, economics, politics, and culture.

Recognition

Andreessen has received recognition from a number of institutions for his contributions to technology and entrepreneurship. Time magazine placed him on its cover in February 1996, during the peak of Netscape's influence on the emerging web. He was named to the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world, acknowledging his impact on the technology industry and broader economy.

He was selected for MIT Technology Review's TR35 list, which recognizes top innovators under the age of 35. In addition, Andreessen was among the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, an international prize that recognizes engineers whose work has been of global benefit. The prize recognized the team of engineers responsible for the development of the World Wide Web and browser technology, including Andreessen's contributions to Mosaic and Netscape.

His 2011 essay "Why Software Is Eating the World" has been described by commentators as one of the defining pieces of technology strategy writing of its era, and its thesis has been revisited and debated extensively in the years following its publication.

Legacy

Marc Andreessen's career spans the development of the graphical web browser, the commercialization of the internet, the rise of cloud computing, the growth of social networking, and the emergence of venture capital as a dominant force in the technology industry. His co-creation of Mosaic and co-founding of Netscape placed him at the center of the internet's transformation from an academic and government network into a commercial and cultural phenomenon.

As a venture capitalist, Andreessen has influenced the direction of the technology industry through the investments made by Andreessen Horowitz. The firm's approach — combining capital with operational support and a founder-centric philosophy — has been adopted and emulated by other venture capital firms. The firm's early investments in companies such as Facebook, Airbnb, and Coinbase have shaped the landscape of social media, the sharing economy, and cryptocurrency markets.

Andreessen's public writings and statements have contributed to broader debates about the role of technology in society. His 2011 essay on software's disruption of traditional industries articulated a framework that has been used by entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate strategists to understand and anticipate the effects of digital transformation. His more recent advocacy for artificial intelligence as a solution to demographic and productivity challenges represents a continuation of his longstanding argument that technology, when widely deployed, creates more economic value than it destroys.

His career trajectory — from a student programmer at a midwestern university to one of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley — illustrates the capacity of software innovation to generate outsized economic and cultural impact. Through his work as an engineer, entrepreneur, investor, and public commentator, Andreessen has been a central figure in the technology industry for more than three decades.