Marc Andreessen

Andreessen was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and raised in New Lisbon, Wisconsin.Simone Payment, Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark: The Founders of Netscape, The Rosen Publishing Group, 2006, p. 15. {{ISBN|978-1-4042-0719-6}}. He is the son of Patricia and Lowell Andreessen, who worked for a seed company.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zyIvOn7sKCsC&pg=PA15 |title=Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark: The Founders of Netscape|first=Simone|last=Payment|via=Google Books|date= August 15, 2006|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |access-date=July 9, 2013|isbn=9781404207196}} In December 1993, he received his bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC).{{cite web|title=MARC L. ANDREESSEN|url=http://engineering.illinois.edu/engage/distinguished-alumni-and-friends/hall-of-fame/2010/marc-andreessen|website=ENGINEERING AT ILLINOIS|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|access-date=March 31, 2017}} As an undergraduate, he interned twice at IBM in Austin, Texas.{{cite web| url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/01/27/marc-andreessen-on-the-future-of-the-enterprise/|title=Marc Andreessen On The Future Of Enterprise |author=Alexia Tsotsis|publisher=TechCrunch|date=January 28, 2013}} He worked in the AIX graphics software development group responsible for the MIT X implementation and ports of the 3D language APIs: SGI's Graphics Language (GL) and PHIGS.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} He also worked at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois, where he became familiar with Tim Berners-Lee's open standards for the World Wide Web. After being shown the ViolaWWW graphic web browser in late 1992, Andreessen and full-time salaried co-worker Eric Bina worked on creating a browser with integrated graphics that could be ported to a wide range of computers, including Windows. The result was the Mosaic web browser released in 1993.{{Cite magazine |last=Calore |first=Michael |title=April 22, 1993: Mosaic Browser Lights Up Web With Color, Creativity |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/04/0422mosaic-web-browser/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=April 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424075919/https://www.wired.com/2010/04/0422mosaic-web-browser/?mbid=social_twitter_onsiteshare |url-status=live }}

{{blockquote|In the Web's first generation, Tim Berners-Lee launched the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and HTML standards with prototype Unix-based servers and browsers. A few people noticed that the Web might be better than Gopher. In the second generation, Marc Andreessen and Eric Bina developed NCSA Mosaic at the University of Illinois. Several million then suddenly noticed that the Web might be better than sex.| Bob Metcalfe, InfoWorld, August 21, 1995, Vol. 17, Issue 34.[http://www.netvalley.com/cgi-bin/intval/net_history.pl?chapter=4 Roads and Crossroads of Internet History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206040430/http://www.netvalley.com/cgi-bin/intval/net_history.pl?chapter=4 |date=February 6, 2015 }} Chapter 4: Birth of the Web}}

File:Marc Andreeson (153327663).jpg

Andreessen has worked at Netscape, Opsware, founded Andreessen Horowitz, and invested in many successful companies including Facebook, Foursquare, GitHub, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter.{{C-SPAN|49641}}

After graduating from UIUC in 1993, Andreessen moved to California to work at Enterprise Integration Technologies. Andreessen then met with Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, who had recently exited the firm. Clark believed the Mosaic browser had great commercial possibilities and suggested starting an Internet software company. Soon, Mosaic Communications Corporation was in business in Mountain View, California, with Andreessen as co-founder and vice president of technology. The University of Illinois was unhappy with the company's use of the Mosaic name, so Mosaic Communications changed its name to Netscape Communications, and its flagship Web browser was the Netscape Navigator.{{cite web| url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/1789/Marc-Andreessen/|title=Marc Andreessen|publisher=Centre for Computing History |access-date=February 13, 2019}}

Netscape's IPO in 1995 put Andreessen in the public eye. He was on the cover of Time{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217183351/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101960219,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2005|title=Netscape's Marc Andreessen|date=February 19, 1996|publisher=Time}}"At just 24, he appeared—barefoot and wearing a crown—on the cover of Time."{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/topstory.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000122134558/http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/topstory.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 22, 2000|publisher=Businessweek|date=April 13, 1998|title=The Education of Marc Andreessen|author=Steve Hamm}} and other publications.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/b3573002.htm|title=04/13/19 Cover Story|publisher=Businessweek|date=April 13, 1998|author=Alan Levenson (photo credit)|url-status=dead|access-date=September 28, 2007|archive-date=November 4, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104164009/http://www.businessweek.com/1998/15/b3573002.htm}}

Netscape was acquired in 1999 for $4.3 billion by AOL. Andreessen's hiring as its chief technical officer was contingent on the completion of the acquisition.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/1999/02/aol-names-andreessen-cto/|title=AOL Names Andreessen CTO|magazine=WIRED|access-date=February 27, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=February 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228100725/https://www.wired.com/1999/02/aol-names-andreessen-cto/|url-status=live}} The same year, he was named to the MIT Technology Review TR100 as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35.{{cite web |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518 |title=1999 Young Innovators Under 35: Marc Andreessen, 28 |work=MIT Technology Review |year=1999 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227001555/http://www2.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?TRID=518 |url-status=dead }}

After AOL acquired Netscape in late 1998, Andreessen founded Opsware with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee.{{cite web|last=Venkat|first=Girish|title=Loudcloud: Early light on cloud computing|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10202058-92.html|work=Business Tech News|publisher=CNET|access-date=August 3, 2012|archive-date=March 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330034003/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10202058-92.html|url-status=dead}} Originally named Loudcloud, the company provided computing, hosting and software services to consumer-facing internet and e-commerce companies. Loudcloud sold its hosting business to EDS and changed its name to Opsware in 2003, with Andreessen serving as chairman. Acquired by Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion in 2007, it was one of the first companies to offer software as a service and to attempt cloud hosting.{{cite web|last1=Martens|first1=China|title=HP Buying Opsware in $1.6 Billion Deal|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/134946/article.html|publisher=PC World|access-date=October 20, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308174420/https://www.pcworld.com/article/134946/article.html|url-status=dead}}

Between 2005 and 2009, Andreessen and Horowitz separately invested a total of $80 million in 45 startups, including Twitter and Qik.{{cite web|last=Wong Kromhout|first=Wileen|title=Ben Horowitz MS '90|url=http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/visitor-links/alumni-parents-friends/alumni-profiles-1/ben-horowitz-ms-201990|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212214752/http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/visitor-links/alumni-parents-friends/alumni-profiles-1/ben-horowitz-ms-201990|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 12, 2012|work=Alumni Profiles|publisher=UCLA Engineering|access-date=August 3, 2012}} The two became well known as super angel investors. On July 6, 2009, Andreessen and Horowitz announced their Silicon Valley venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.{{cite news|last=Maney|first=Kevin|title=Marc Andreessen puts his money where his mouth is|url=https://money.cnn.com/2009/07/02/technology/marc_andreessen_venture_fund.fortune/index.htm|work=Fortune Magazine|publisher=CNNMoney|access-date=August 3, 2012|date=July 6, 2009|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827051308/http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/02/technology/marc_andreessen_venture_fund.fortune/index.htm|url-status=live}}

Andreessen Horowitz began with an initial capitalization of $300 million;{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204652904577194891305125140|title=Andreessen's Firm Raises $1.5 Billion|last=Tam|first=Pui-Wing|date=February 1, 2012|work=Technology|access-date=August 3, 2012|publisher=The Wall Street Journal}} within three years the firm grew to $2.7 billion under management across three funds.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704101604576246844229305376|title=Andreessen Horowitz Raises $200 Million Co-Investment Fund|last=Tam|first=Pui-Wing|date=April 6, 2011|work=Technology|access-date=August 3, 2012|publisher=The Wall Street Journal}} In 2012, Andreessen Horowitz's portfolio holdings included Facebook, Foursquare, GitHub, Pinterest, Twitter, and Honor, Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/andreessen-horowitz-matrix-partners-invest-112-million-in-meteor-2012-07-25|title=Andreessen Horowitz, Matrix Partners Invest $11.2 Million in Meteor|work=News Release|publisher=MarketWatch|access-date=August 3, 2012|archive-date=August 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830131736/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/andreessen-horowitz-matrix-partners-invest-112-million-in-meteor-2012-07-25|url-status=dead}}

On September 1, 2009, an investor group that included Andreessen Horowitz acquired a majority stake in Skype at a valuation of $2.75 billion,{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/11/19/ebay-skype-sale/|title=Breaking: eBay Completes Skype Sale At $2.75 Billion Valuation|last=Wauters|first=Robin|date=November 19, 2009|newspaper=TechCrunch|access-date=August 2, 2012|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026051603/https://techcrunch.com/2009/11/19/ebay-skype-sale/|url-status=live}} which was considered risky.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2011/05/10/microsoft-skype-deal-andreessen-horowitz-takes-victory-lap/|title=Microsoft-Skype Deal: Andreessen Horowitz Takes Victory Lap|last=Ovide|first=Shira|date=May 10, 2011|work=Deal Journal|access-date=August 2, 2012|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|archive-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114151404/http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2011/05/10/microsoft-skype-deal-andreessen-horowitz-takes-victory-lap/|url-status=live}} The deal paid off in May 2011 when Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion. In 2010, the firm assisted Silicon Valley attorney Ted Wang in creating the first free standardized seed round financing documents, the Series Seed Documents.{{cite web|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/|title=Series Seed Documents–With an Assist From Andreessen Horowitz–To Help Entrepreneurs With Legal Hairballs|author=Kara Swisher|author-link=Kara Swisher|publisher=allthingsd.com|access-date=March 4, 2010|archive-date=March 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304064332/http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100301/series-seed-documents-with-a-big-assist-from-andreessen-horowitz-set-to-launch-to-help-entrepreneurs-with-legal-hairballs/|url-status=live}}

Andreessen joined the eBay board of directors in 2008 and served on it for six years.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/marc-andreessen/|title=Marc Andreessen Joins EBay Board|magazine=WIRED|access-date=February 27, 2018|language=en-US}} In October 2014, he announced his resignation from the board due to the company's decision to break off its online payments unit PayPal. The decision to cut ties with PayPal was a point of contention between Andreessen and investor Carl Icahn. Icahn advocated for the PayPal split while Andreessen opposed the spin-off, resulting in public disputes. Andreessen was accused by Icahn of putting his own interests in front of what was best for shareholders. Icahn published his argument in an open letter that detailed alleged conflicts of interest in eBay's 2009 sale of Skype to a group of private investors, which included Andreessen's firm.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2014/10/20/marc-andreessen-resigns-from-ebay-board-following-icahn-defeat/|title=Marc Andreessen Resigns From eBay Board Following Icahn Defeat|last=Mac|first=Ryan|work=Forbes|access-date=February 27, 2018|language=en}}

Andreessen has invested in multiple special economic zones including California Forever in northern California,{{Cite news |last1=Dougherty |first1=Conor |last2=Griffith |first2=Erin |date=2023-08-25 |title=The Silicon Valley Elite Who Want to Build a City From Scratch |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/25/business/land-purchases-solano-county.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Próspera off the coast of Honduras,{{Cite magazine |last=Kusnetz |first=Nicholas |title=A Lawsuit From Backers of a 'Startup City' Could Bankrupt Honduras |url=https://www.wired.com/story/a-lawsuit-from-backers-of-a-startup-city-could-bankrupt-honduras/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} and Praxis in an as yet to be announced location. {{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Joseph |date=2023-12-12 |title=Who Would Give This Guy Millions to Build His Own Utopia? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/style/praxis-city-dryden-brown.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} He has also invested in Pronomos Capital,{{Cite web |date=2023-12-30 |title=The VC Plan That Surely Won't Backfire: Tech Bro Colonies |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/pronomos-capitals-new-vc-idea-colonies-of-tech-bros/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}} which is funding multiple special economic zone projects across the world.{{Cite web |title=Portfolio |url=https://www.pronomos.vc/portfolio |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.pronomos.vc |archive-date=March 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320231017/https://www.pronomos.vc/portfolio |url-status=live }} These special economic zones have been linked by various sources to the Network State movement.{{Cite web |last=Ropek |first=Lucas |date=2024-12-27 |title=Worst New Trend of 2024: Techno-Colonialism and the Network State Movement |url=https://gizmodo.com/worst-new-trend-of-2024-techno-colonialism-and-the-network-state-movement-2000525617 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Widmann |first=Sebastian |title=Network States – Revolutionary Idea To Potential New Asset Class |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/12/20/network-states--revolutionary-idea-to-potential-new-asset-class/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=March 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321161713/https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/12/20/network-states--revolutionary-idea-to-potential-new-asset-class/ |url-status=live }}

Andreessen advises the leaders of companies in which Andreessen Horowitz invests, including Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Mark Pincus of Zynga.{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21527020|title=Disrupting the disrupters|date=September 3, 2011|work=Technology Quarterly: Q3 2011|access-date=August 3, 2012|publisher=The Economist|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915111427/http://www.economist.com/node/21527020|url-status=live}}

Andreessen and Horowitz were ranked No. 6 on Vanity Fair{{'}}s 2011 New Establishment List,{{cite web|title=The 2011 New Establishment List: And the Top Spot Goes to...|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/09/the-2011-new-establishment-list--and-the-top-spot-goes-to---?mobify=0|work=VF Daily|date = September 2011|publisher=Vanity Fair|access-date=August 3, 2012}} no. 1 on CNET's 2011 most influential investors list{{cite web|title=Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz |url=http://news.cnet.com/2300-1001_3-10010632.html |work=12 of the most influential tech investors of 2011 |publisher=CNET |access-date=August 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208230221/http://news.cnet.com/2300-1001_3-10010632.html |archive-date=February 8, 2012 }} and Nos. 2 and 21, respectively, on the 2012 Forbes Midas List of Tech's Top Investors.{{cite news|title=2012's Top Tech Investors|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/midas/2012/midas-list-top-tech-investors.html|work=The Midas List|publisher=Forbes|access-date=August 3, 2012|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144607/https://www.forbes.com/lists/midas/2012/midas-list-top-tech-investors.html|url-status=live}}

In April 2012, Andreessen and Andreessen Horowitz General Partners Ben Horowitz, Peter Levine, Jeff Jordan, John O'Farrell, and Scott Weiss pledged to donate half their lifetime incomes from venture capital to charitable organizations.{{cite news|last=McBride|first=Sarah|title=Andreessen Horowitz partners pledge income to charity|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-andreessenhorowitz-charity-idUSBRE83O1CV20120425|publisher=Reuters|access-date=August 3, 2012|date=April 25, 2012}}

In 2012, Andreessen was named in the Time 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world assembled by Time.{{cite news|last=McCracken|first=Harry|title=The 100 Most Influential People in the World|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112116,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419073159/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112116,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012|newspaper=Time|date=April 18, 2012}} His essay "Software is eating the world" has been influential and widely cited.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/08/29/software-ate-the-world-now-ai-is-eating-software/|title=Software Ate The World, Now AI Is Eating Software|first=Tarry|last=Singh|website=Forbes}}{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/07/software-is-eating-the-world-5-years-later/|title=Software is still eating the world|date=June 7, 2016|access-date=July 26, 2024|archive-date=May 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525225308/https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/07/software-is-eating-the-world-5-years-later/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Andreessen|first=Marc|date=August 20, 2011|title=Why Software Is Eating The World|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460.html|access-date=June 19, 2021|issn=0099-9660}}

In 2013, Andreessen was one of five Internet and Web pioneers awarded the inaugural Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.[http://qeprize.org/ "2013 Winners Announced"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630095437/http://qeprize.org/ |date=June 30, 2015 }} Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

In April 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Andreessen published an opinion article, "It's time to build", describing the United States' COVID-19 response and suggesting technological and cultural solutions to the problem.{{Cite web|date=April 18, 2020|title=IT'S TIME TO BUILD|url=https://a16z.com/2020/04/18/its-time-to-build/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Andreessen Horowitz|language=en-US|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213103200/https://a16z.com/2020/04/18/its-time-to-build/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Griffith|first1=Erin|last2=Lorenz|first2=Taylor|date=May 19, 2020|title=The Hot New Thing in Clubby Silicon Valley? An App Called Clubhouse|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/technology/clubby-silicon-valley-app-clubhouse.html|access-date=January 6, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108011523/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/technology/clubby-silicon-valley-app-clubhouse.html|url-status=live}}

In October 2023, Andreessen published a "Techno-Optimist Manifesto" arguing that civilization is built on technology and that "Technology is the glory of human ambition and achievement, the spearhead of progress, and the realization of our potential."{{Cite web |last=Andreessen |first=Marc |date=2023-10-16 |title=The Techno-Optimist Manifesto |url=https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Andreessen Horowitz |language=en |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123234238/https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/ |url-status=live }} He has also described himself as a "tescrealist".{{Cite web |last=Zuckerman |first=Ethan |author-link=Ethan Zuckerman |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Two warring visions of AI |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/64491/two-warring-visions-of-artificial-intelligence-tescreal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701165000/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/64491/two-warring-visions-of-artificial-intelligence-tescreal |archive-date=July 1, 2024 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |website=Prospect |language=en}}

Andreessen cofounded and chaired Ning, the third company he established, after Netscape and Loudcloud.{{cite web|last=Andreessen|first=Marc|title=Merging Glam and Ning|url=http://blog.pmarca.com/2011/09/20/merging-glam-and-ning/|work=Marc Andreessen's Blog|publisher=Marc Andreessen|access-date=August 3, 2012|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722234518/http://blog.pmarca.com/2011/09/20/merging-glam-and-ning/|url-status=live}} In September 2011, it was announced that Ning had been sold to Mode Media for a reported price of $150 million. Andreessen joined Glam Media's board of directors after the sale.{{cite web|last=Rosoff|first=Matt|title=Glam Media Buys Marc Andreessen's Ning|url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-20/tech/30179213_1_loudcloud-social-networks-online-publishing|work=Articles|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=August 3, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212040634/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-20/tech/30179213_1_loudcloud-social-networks-online-publishing|archive-date=December 12, 2012}}

He is a personal investor in companies including LinkedIn{{cite news|url=https://a16z.com/2011/08/20/why-software-is-eating-the-world/|title=Why Software is Eating the World|last=Andreessen|first=Marc|date=August 20, 2011|work=Life & Culture|access-date=August 3, 2012|publisher=The Wall Street Journal}} and boutique bank Raine.{{cite web|last=Yarow|first=Jay|title=Eric Schmidt, Sean Parker, Marc Andreessen Invest in Boutique Bank Raine|url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-04-11/tech/29968037_1_eric-schmidt-investment-demand-media|work=Investment|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=August 3, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212040627/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-04-11/tech/29968037_1_eric-schmidt-investment-demand-media|archive-date=December 12, 2012}}

Andreessen serves on the board of Meta,{{cite web |author=Dan Frommer |title=Marc Andreessen Joins Facebook Board |url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board |access-date=October 5, 2008 |publisher=Alleyinsider.com |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122231341/http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/marc-andreessen-joins-facebook-board |url-status=live }} Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Kno,{{cite web|title=Marc L. Andreessen|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=97899&privcapId=35135559&previousCapId=108856&previousTitle=Hewlett-Packard%20Co|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508123849/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=97899&privcapId=35135559&previousCapId=108856&previousTitle=Hewlett-Packard%20Co|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2013|work=Executive Profile|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=August 4, 2012}} Stanford Hospital,{{cite web|title=Silicon Valley Couple Pledge $27.5 Million Gift to Stanford Hospital for Cutting-Edge Emergency Care|url=http://stanfordhospital.org/newsEvents/newsReleases/2007/pledgeEmergencyCare.html|work=News Release|publisher=Stanford Hospital & Clinics|access-date=August 4, 2012|archive-date=July 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727103415/http://stanfordhospital.org/newsEvents/newsReleases/2007/pledgeEmergencyCare.html|url-status=live}} Bump Technologies, Anki,{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/10/anki-debuts-at-wwdc-with-an-ai-car-racing-game-raises-50m-from-a16z-and-others/ |title=Anki Debuts Serious Robotics AI With Fun Racing Game At WWDC, Raises $50M Led By A16Z |last1=Tsotsis |first1=Alexia |date=June 10, 2013 |work=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL Tech |access-date=June 10, 2013 |archive-date=November 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103105013/http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/10/anki-debuts-at-wwdc-with-an-ai-car-racing-game-raises-50m-from-a16z-and-others/ |url-status=live }} Oculus VR,{{Cite news| url = https://techcrunch.com/2013/12/12/oculus-vr-raises-75-million-to-help-bring-virtual-reality-goggles-to-the-masses/|title=Oculus VR Raises $75 Million To Help Bring Virtual Reality Goggles To The Masses|author=Chris Velazco|publisher=TechCrunch |date = December 12, 2013 }} OpenGov,{{Cite web|title=OpenGov Picks Up $25 Million More And Adds Marc Andreessen To The Board|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/10/15/opengov-picks-up-25-million-more-and-adds-marc-andreessen-to-the-board/|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=TechCrunch|date=October 15, 2015 |language=en-US}} Dialpad, and TinyCo.{{cite web|title=TinyCo Raises $18 Million From Andreessen Horowitz For Mobile Gaming

|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/02/25/tinyco-raises-18-million-from-andreessen-horowitz-for-mobile-gaming/ |publisher=TechCrunch |date=February 25, 2011}} Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced in February 2018 that board member Andreessen would not seek reelection at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645590/000164559018000002/form8-kandreessenresignati.htm|title=Form 8-K Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company|date=February 1, 2018|website=www.sec.gov|access-date=February 27, 2018|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527161333/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645590/000164559018000002/form8-kandreessenresignati.htm|url-status=live}} In his time at Hewlett Packard, Andreessen had been partially blamed for some of the company's failures, including the recruiting of Léo Apotheker as well as the acquisitions of Autonomy and Palm.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/21/hp-board-member-marc-andreessen-an-internet-pioneer-deserves-some-of-the-blame-for-the-company-s-failures|title=HP Board Member Marc Andreessen, an Internet Pioneer, Deserves Some of the Blame for the Company's Failures|last=Cox|first=Rob|date=November 21, 2012|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=February 27, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/hp-board-disaster-2011-9|title=HP's Board Was Such A Dysfunctional Mess That It Hired Leo Apotheker Without Really Interviewing Him|work=Business Insider|access-date=February 27, 2018}}

He is advisor to Asana and director of CollabNet.{{cite web|last1=Constine|first1=Josh|title=Marc Andreessen joins board of Dialpad, the desk phone killer|date=November 2016 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/01/dialpad/|publisher=TechCrunch}} He is a proponent of Bitcoin.{{Cite news |author=Dylan Love |date=January 21, 2014 |title=Marc Andreessen Has A Great Answer For Why Bitcoin Matters |work=businessinsider.com |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-on-why-bitcoin-is-worth-money-2014-1?op=1&IR=T}} Andreessen is on an advisory board for Neom, the Saudi Arabian government's plan to build a futuristic megacity in the desert.{{cite news |title=Top tech execs will help Saudi Arabia build its mega city of the future |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/10/tech/neom-city-investors/index.html |work=CNN |date=October 11, 2018 |archive-date=October 13, 2018 |access-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013141328/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/10/tech/neom-city-investors/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Some Silicon Valley Superstars Ditch Saudi Advisory Board After Khashoggi Disappearance, Some Stay Silent |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/10/11/some-silicon-valley-superstars-ditching-saudi-advisory-board-after-khashoggi-disappearance-some-stay-silent/ |work=The Intercept |date=October 12, 2018 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |access-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331220041/https://theintercept.com/2018/10/11/some-silicon-valley-superstars-ditching-saudi-advisory-board-after-khashoggi-disappearance-some-stay-silent/ |url-status=live }}

While not officially part of Elon Musk's DOGE, Andreesseen has been listed as a “a key networker for talent recruitment” at the agency, according to The Washington Post.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-24 |title=Musk and Ramaswamy race to build a 'DOGE' team for war with Washington |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/24/musk-ramaswamy-doge-trump/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218203747/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/24/musk-ramaswamy-doge-trump/ |archive-date=February 18, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-21 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Kirsten Korosec, Zack Whittaker, Charles Rollet, Sean O'Kane, Lorenzo |date=2025-03-12 |title=The people in Elon Musk's DOGE universe |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/the-people-in-elon-musk-doge-universe/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=March 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321161713/https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/the-people-in-elon-musk-doge-universe/ |url-status=live }} He has also shared insight about DOGE's plans in various interviews.{{Cite web |last=Dyos |first=Stuart |title=Marc Andreessen says DOGE is focused on the 'ghost town' of Washington, D.C., where most employees don't go to the office |url=https://fortune.com/2025/01/16/marc-andreessen-doge-elon-musk-donald-trump-federal-rto-remote-office/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Fortune |language=en}}

In February 2016, Andreessen posted a tweet in response to India's decision to apply net neutrality to Facebook's proposed project Free Basics. The tweet suggested that anti-colonialism had been catastrophic for the Indian people. Andreessen later deleted the tweet following criticism from Indians and non-Indians alike (including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg).{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/100216/net-neutrality-indians-fume-over-offensive-tweet-by-facebook-board-member.html|title=Net Neutrality: Indians fume over offensive tweet by Facebook board member|website=Deccan Chronicle|date=February 10, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/in/2016/02/10/marc-andreessen-just-offended-1-billion-indians-with-a-single-tweet/ |title=Marc Andreessen just offended 1 billion Indians with a single tweet|date=February 10, 2016|first=Abhimanyu|last=Ghosha|website=The Next Web|access-date=December 22, 2019 }}{{Cite web|title = Mark Zuckerberg responds to Andreessen's tweet|url = https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10102645335962321 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/4/10102645335962321 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|publisher=Facebook.com|first=Mark|last=Zuckerberg|date=February 11, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2019}}{{cbignore}} Facebook spent millions advertising Free Basics to the Indian public.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/may/12/facebook-free-basics-india-zuckerberg|title=The inside story of Facebook's biggest setback|date=May 12, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Rahul|last=Bhatia|access-date=December 22, 2019}} The project failed due to violations, setting preferential tariffs in accessing content and setting up a "walled garden" on the internet.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/08/free-basics-and-facebooks-waterloo-in-india/|title=Free Basics And Facebook's Waterloo In India|first=Vivek|last=Wadhwa|website=TechCrunch|date=February 8, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=November 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114003255/http://techcrunch.com/2016/02/08/free-basics-and-facebooks-waterloo-in-india/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/facebooks-free-basics-service-shut-down-indian-regulators-over-net-neutrality-2237865|title=Facebook's Free Basics Service Shut Down In India|date=December 23, 2015|work=International Business Times|first=David|last=Gilbert|access-date=December 22, 2019}}

In April 2016, Facebook shareholders filed a class action lawsuit to block Zuckerberg's plan to create a new class of non-voting shares. The lawsuit alleges Andreessen secretly coached Zuckerberg through a process to win board approval for the stock change, while Andreessen served as an independent board member representing stockholders.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-marc-andreessen-text-message-stock-reclassification-lawsuit-2016-12|title=Here are the chummy behind-the-scenes text messages between Mark Zuckerberg and Marc Andreessen that surfaced in a Facebook lawsuit|last=Heath|first=Alex|work=Business Insider|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215005452/https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-marc-andreessen-text-message-stock-reclassification-lawsuit-2016-12|url-status=live}}

According to court documents, Andreessen shared information with Zuckerberg about their progress and concerns and helped Zuckerberg negotiate against shareholders. Court documents included transcripts of private texts between Zuckerberg and Andreessen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/marc-andreessen-facebook-texts-to-zuckerberg-shareholders/|title=Marc Andreessen accused of conflict of interest based on private texts to Zuckerberg|last=Chang|first=Lulu|website=Digital Trends|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2019}}

{{Conservatism US|activists}}

Andreessen married Laura Arrillaga in 2006.{{cite news |first=Michelle |last=Quinn |title=Andreessen Casts a Wide Net |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 15, 2007 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-aug-13-fi-wonderboy13-story.html}} She is the founder of the Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund and daughter of Silicon Valley real estate billionaire John Arrillaga. They have one son together.

In 2009, Andreessen issued a $25,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the 1987 unsolved murder of Barbara Blackstone, a teacher from New Lisbon High School in Wisconsin, which he had attended.{{cite news |title=Netscape co-founder Andreessen offers reward |url=https://www.twincities.com/2009/03/31/netscape-co-founder-andreessen-offers-reward/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=Twincities.com - Pioneer Press |agency=Pioneer Press |date=31 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202175128/https://www.twincities.com/2009/03/31/netscape-co-founder-andreessen-offers-reward/ |archive-date=2 December 2024}} The case remains unsolved as of 2022.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Rachael |title=What happened to Barbara Blackstone?; 35 years later and her death remains unsolved |url=https://www.wkow.com/news/what-happened-to-barbara-blackstone-35-years-later-and-her-death-remains-unsolved/article_33debcbc-5bcf-11ed-a763-3b9bd6e1eea9.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=WKOW.com |publisher=Allen Media Broadcasting |date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318000453/https://www.wkow.com/news/what-happened-to-barbara-blackstone-35-years-later-and-her-death-remains-unsolved/article_33debcbc-5bcf-11ed-a763-3b9bd6e1eea9.html |archive-date=18 March 2023}}

In 2021, he and his wife bought a property in Malibu for $177 million from Serge and Florence Azria. This was the highest price paid for a California property at that time.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/marc-andreessen-is-the-buyer-of-serge-azrias-malibu-home-11635531243 |title=Marc Andreessen Is the Buyer of Serge Azria's Malibu Home |first=E.B. |last=Solomont |date=October 29, 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |access-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327153136/https://www.wsj.com/articles/marc-andreessen-is-the-buyer-of-serge-azrias-malibu-home-11635531243 |url-status=live }} As of February 2023, his net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion by Forbes.{{Cite web |title=Marc Andreessen |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/marc-andreessen/ |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902212115/https://www.forbes.com/profile/marc-andreessen/ |url-status=live }}

In 2022, Andreessen advocated against the construction of 131 multifamily housing units in their affluent Atherton, California town.{{Cite web |last=Demsas |first=Jerusalem |date=August 5, 2022 |title=The Billionaire's Dilemma |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/08/marc-andreessens-opposition-housing-project-nimby/671061/ |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=October 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028013838/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/08/marc-andreessens-opposition-housing-project-nimby/671061/ |url-status=live }} In a letter, Andreessen and his wife wrote that they opposed permitting more than one house on a single acre of land.{{Cite news |last=Griffith |first=Erin |date=August 12, 2022 |title=The Summer of NIMBY in Silicon Valley's Poshest Town |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/technology/nimby-housing-silicon-valley-atherton.html |access-date=September 25, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911230013/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/technology/nimby-housing-silicon-valley-atherton.html |url-status=live }} Andreessen's comments sparked criticisms of hypocrisy, as he had previously argued for increased housing supply, in particular in California.

Andreessen endorsed and voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/16/andreessen-horowitz-co-founders-explain-why-theyre-supporting-trump/ |title=Andreessen Horowitz co-founders explain why they're supporting Trump |first=Marina |last=Tempkin |date=July 16, 2024 |work=TechCrunch |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |access-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204043249/https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/16/andreessen-horowitz-co-founders-explain-why-theyre-supporting-trump/ |url-status=live }} In 2012, Andreessen donated $100,000 to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Nicholas |date=2012 |title=SURPRISE: Silicon Valley Hero Marc Andreessen Is Backing Romney |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/surprise-silicon-valleys-hero-marc-andreessen-is-backing-romney-2012-3?op=1 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/07/17/marc-andreessen-talks-facebook-romney-and-yahoo.html |title=Marc Andreessen Talks Facebook, Romney and Yahoo |first=Julia |last=Boorstin |date=July 17, 2012 |work=CNBC |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829111246/https://www.cnbc.com/2012/07/17/marc-andreessen-talks-facebook-romney-and-yahoo.html |url-status=live }} During the 2016 primary season, he endorsed Republican candidate Carly Fiorina, but after Fiorina dropped out of the race, Andreessen switched his endorsement to the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, citing the Republican nominee Donald Trump's immigration stance.{{cite news |url=http://www.recode.net/2016/6/14/11940052/marc-andreessen-donald-trump-hillary-clinton |title=Asked why he supports Clinton over Trump, Marc Andreessen responds: 'Is that a serious question?' |first=Dawn |last=Chmielewski |date=June 14, 2016 |work=Recode |archive-date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=August 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919171406/http://www.recode.net/2016/6/14/11940052/marc-andreessen-donald-trump-hillary-clinton |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-trump-and-clinton-2016-6 |title=Marc Andreessen on why he's supporting Clinton over Trump: 'Is that a serious question?' |first=Matt |last=Weinberger |date=June 15, 2016|work=Business Insider|access-date=December 22, 2019}}

In July 2024, Andreessen announced he would donate to Super PACs that support Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.{{Cite web |last1=Field |first1=Hayden |last2=Cnbc • • |date=2024-07-16 |title=Andreessen Horowitz founders plan to donate to pro-Trump super PAC |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/andreessen-horowitz-founders-plan-to-donate-to-pro-trump-super-pac/5601949/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=NBC New York |language=en-US}}

Andreessen is a mega-donor to the political superPAC and pro-cryptocurrency advocacy group Fairshake.Silicon Valley, the New Lobbying Monster https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/14/silicon-valley-the-new-lobbying-monster {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009105608/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/14/silicon-valley-the-new-lobbying-monster |date=October 9, 2024 }} Andreessen came out against president Joe Biden's re-election bid, saying he feared higher taxes on billionaires and stricter regulations on industries he invests in (cryptocurrency and AI). On Joe Rogan's podcast in November 2024, Andreessen claimed that some cryptocurrency users have been unfairly debanked.{{Cite web |last=Ingram |first=David |date=2024-12-10 |title=How tech's right-wing elite made 'debanking' claims into a political rallying points |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/debanking-what-is-meaning-crypto-musk-rogan-andreessen-rcna182597 |website=NBC News}}

Andreessen was one of six inductees in the World Wide Web Hall of Fame announced at the First International Conference on the World-Wide Web in 1994.{{cite web |author=Robert Cailliau |author-link=Robert Cailliau |date=May 1994 |title=WWW94 Awards |url=http://www94.web.cern.ch/WWW94/Awards0529.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306023448/http://www94.web.cern.ch/WWW94/Awards0529.html |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2011 |publisher=CERN}}{{cite magazine |author=Friend, Tad |author-link=Tad Friend |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Tomorrow's advance man : Marc Andreessen's plan to win the future |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/18/tomorrows-advance-man |department=Letter from California |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=91 |issue=13 |pages=58–73 |access-date=August 5, 2015 |archive-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820210401/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/18/tomorrows-advance-man |url-status=live }}

• "Techno-Optimist Manifesto"
• [https://a16z.com/why-software-is-eating-the-world/ "Why Software is Eating the World"]
• [https://a16z.com/ai-will-save-the-world/ "Why AI Will Save the World"]

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