Latest Interviews
Showing 1411–1425 of 1,932 interview transcripts.
Clear all filters- a16z21 min
How to Get the Most from Your Board
This presentation analyzes the critical dynamics of long-term venture capital relationships, emphasizing the need for entrepreneurs to align with board members who serve as strategic stewards rather than mere financial backers. It details how diverging economic interests and fiduciary duties influence three distinct exit scenarios: distress management through recapitalization, acquisition negotiations involving management carve-outs, and IPO processes where pricing conflicts arise. Ultimately, the discussion advises founders to rigorously assess investor incentives and liquidation structures to maintain alignment and build durable, independent public companies.
- a16z27 min
How to Understand and Choose a Venture Investor
David Swenson's endowment model and subsequent regulatory shifts enabled institutional investors to allocate significant capital to venture capital as a means of generating uncorrelated, power-law distributed returns. The industry now operates on structures requiring massive "home run" exits to offset frequent failures, while firms increasingly compete by providing operational expertise rather than just financial access. Looking forward, the sector faces intensified competition and a blurring of lines between private and public markets as companies stay private longer and secondary trading expands.
- a16z33 min
How to Raise Money from a Venture Investor
This comprehensive overview details critical foundational strategies for early-stage startups, emphasizing the adoption of Delaware C-Corporations and rigorous intellectual property protection to mitigate employer ownership claims. It further outlines optimal fundraising mechanics, advocating for Series Seed equity rounds over convertible notes to ensure clear ownership dilution while navigating valuation risks and specific term sheet economics like 1x non-participating liquidation preferences. Finally, the guidance addresses long-term governance and equity structures, recommending the strategic inclusion of independent board directors and the extension of stock exercise windows to align with modern private market tenures.
- Goldman Sachs28 min
Tzi Ma: Actor
Tai Ma, a Hong Kong-born actor who transitioned from cultural isolation in Staten Island to a prominent stage and film career, advocates for substantive Asian-American representation through his upcoming projects like *The Farewell* and the Netflix series *Wu Assassins*. He highlights a shifting industry landscape driven by the demographic spending power of the 23 million Asian-American consumers, noting increased opportunities for Asian-American women directors while criticizing the Writers Guild of America's lack of diversity. Beyond his own roles in major productions such as *Mulan*, Ma actively mentors emerging talent and employs a participatory casting approach to challenge script inconsistencies and foster authentic storytelling.
- Goldman Sachs28 min
Mark Teixeira: Retired Major League Baseball Player
Former MLB switch-hitter Mark DeShera reflects on his journey from a contentious 2004 Red Sox draft to winning a 2009 World Series with the Yankees, where he led the league in home runs and RBIs while rejecting performance-enhancing drugs to preserve his personal legacy. Now a broadcaster and dedicated philanthropist, DeShera analyzes the modern game's reliance on analytics and payroll depth while championing his DREAM organization's 99% college matriculation rate for at-risk youth in the New York tri-state area. His career is defined by high-stakes competition, a commitment to integrity, and a philosophy that values education and long-term relationship building over short-term baseball gains.
- Goldman Sachs20 min
Niklas Zennström: CEO of Atomico and Co-Founder of Skype
Niklas Zennström, Cliff Marriott
Founded by Skype co-creator Nicholas Zennstrom in 2006, Atomico has evolved from addressing European capital gaps to investing in consumer giants like Spotify while pivoting toward enterprise solutions in healthcare and climate sectors. The firm now integrates ethical governance into its portfolio strategy, requiring founders to assess societal risks and implementing proactive diversity hiring programs to foster inclusive growth. Zennstrom guides this transformation by framing the next decade as a critical window for technology to solve environmental challenges and align commercial success with sustainable corporate purpose.
- The Economist21 min
Why Jeremy Hunt thinks he'll be Britain's next prime minister
Jeremy Hunt, Donald Trump, Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Anne
Contender Jeremy Hunt warns that failing to deliver Brexit will lead to a Labour victory and political extinction, arguing that a no-deal outcome remains a necessary negotiation lever to overcome parliamentary blockades. To ensure the EU trusts the UK's delivery capacity, he proposes a unified government team including the DUP and ERG while rejecting a second referendum as undemocratic. Hunt further outlines his economic strategy of corporate tax cuts, asserts that NHS ownership will not be sold in US trade talks, and emphasizes that 5G decisions must prioritize national interest over foreign dependency.
- a16z36 min
What's Next for Esports Startups
Bennett Carroccio, Frank Chen, Andrew Chen, D'Arcy Coolican, Darcy Kulikin
Global esports viewership has surged past 450 million, generating over $1 billion in revenue driven by sponsorships and media rights that now rival traditional North American sports leagues. The industry distinguishes itself through a younger demographic, a cultural shift that integrates celebrities with gaming, and infrastructure optimized for digital engagement rather than just gameplay. Strategic investment is increasingly focusing on the underlying "picks and shovels" infrastructure and B2D2C models to capitalize on this rapid growth while publishers continue to define league standards and capture value.
- Goldman Sachs20 min
Dan Rosensweig: President and CEO, Chegg
Dan Rosenzweig leveraged a serendipitous net gain from his first layoff at Pitney Bowes to navigate a career defining the shift toward direct-to-consumer technology sales and later as Yahoo's COO, where he missed a pivotal opportunity to acquire a then-unprofitable Facebook. Following that tenure, he founded Chegg to address the higher education crisis marked by $1.5 trillion in student debt and obsolete four-year degree models, advocating for an on-demand, skills-based system aligned with employer needs. His work highlights the urgent need to reform curriculum and enrollment barriers to serve non-traditional learners and resolve the financial stagnation facing millions of American graduates.
- Goldman Sachs22 min
Lei Zhang: Founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital
Zhang Lei, founder and CEO of Gaoling Capital, directs a firm that has scaled assets under management to over $60 billion by applying a lean, reputation-based investment model that merges Western equity principles with Eastern philosophical concepts. The firm actively pursues the "Plus Internet" sector, driving innovation in traditional industries through artificial intelligence and biotechnology while prioritizing founders who demonstrate empathy, lifelong learning, and a resilient "sports team" culture. Beyond capital allocation, Lei's strategy extends to philanthropy and education, notably through the establishment of Hill House Academy and Westlake University, which aim to transform China's wealth culture by compounding human capital rather than seeking immediate financial exits.
- Milken Institute28 min
A Conversation with Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein, Mike Milken, Michael Milken
Calvin Klein co-founded his global fashion empire with early capital from childhood friend Barry Schwartz, eventually pioneering disruptive marketing strategies like the Brooke Shields "Nothing" campaign and unauthorized product placements to define an American, provocative brand identity. While the partnership with financier Michael Milken provided critical structural discipline during cash crunches, Klein also navigated legal controversies such as the "Kiddie Porn" investigation by prioritizing cultural conversation over traditional safety. Today, he reflects on how social media has compressed the industry timeline, distinguishing between fleeting celebrity brands and enduring legacy companies built on distinct style and consistent messaging.
- Goldman Sachs22 min
Hooi Ling Tan: Co-Founder of Grab
Grab, a Southeast Asian super app serving over 600 million people across eleven nations, evolved from a taxi safety solution into a comprehensive platform for mobility, food delivery, and financial services under the leadership of co-founders Huiling Tan and Anthony Tan. By strategically acquiring Uber's regional operations and securing critical financial wallet licenses faster than competitors, the company has integrated diverse markets into a unified ecosystem while maintaining strict safety protocols and regulatory partnerships. Operating with a heavy focus on on-the-ground infrastructure and cultural alignment, Grab targets the region's middle-to-lower income demographics to drive financial inclusion and aims to become the market leader in all its territories by year-end.
- Goldman Sachs21 min
Vijay Shekhar Sharma: Founder and CEO of Paytm
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Dan Dees, SAURABH MADAANI
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma outlines his company's transformation from a cash-rich entity into India's largest private bank by pivoting to a mobile-first ecosystem that integrates financial and lifestyle services. This strategic evolution, supported by $300 million in foreign direct investment from Warren Buffett and guided by a corporate mantra of "no fear, no greed, no entitlement," positions the firm to compete globally rather than within national boundaries. Sharma emphasizes that lasting success requires entrepreneurs to pursue a purpose-driven mission over quick exits, using Paytm's own resilience against a failed 2010 IPO as a case study in overcoming uncertainty.
- Goldman Sachs22 min
Scott Harrison: Founder and CEO, charity: water
Scott Harrison, a former nightclub promoter who abandoned his vices after a personal health crisis, founded Charity Water to address the global water scarcity that forces millions to rely on contaminated sources. The organization distinguishes itself through a unique financial model where 100% of public donations directly fund water projects, while overhead costs are covered by a separate, audited private fund to ensure total transparency. Driven by a goal to eliminate the 663 million people currently lacking access to clean water, the nonprofit employs data-driven transparency tools and an innovative equity-based compensation structure to attract top talent while maintaining strict accountability to donors.
- a16z39 min
Founding Stories: Sandbox VR
Steve Zhao, Siqi Chen, Andrew Chen, Frank Chen
Sandbox VR co-founders Steve Zhao and Siki Chen launched a location-based entertainment model by vertically integrating proprietary hardware, custom content, and physical retail spaces after failing to secure early funding due to the novelty of the concept. By pivoting to a venue in a Hong Kong high-rise in 2017, the team achieved viral traction with their immersive "Deadwood Mansion" title, attracting an Alibaba seed round and a rapid Series A commitment from Andreessen Horowitz within months of opening. Leveraging deep learning and computer vision to enable social agency and body tracking, the company is now expanding its technology to support larger concurrent groups and diverse genres beyond traditional shooting games.