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  1. a16z1h 5m

    Ben Horowitz and Ali Ghodsi: How to Run a $100 Billion Business

    Ben Horowitz, Ali Ghodsi, Sarah Wang, Erik Torenberg

    In 2016, Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi executed a critical strategic pivot from open-source distribution to a B2B enterprise sales model to overcome the open source paradox and secure proprietary revenue. This transformation required hiring non-PhD sales veterans and forging a high-stakes Microsoft partnership that aligned Databricks' technical capabilities with Microsoft's massive distribution channel. Under Ghodsi's leadership, the company maintained a rigorous acquisition strategy prioritizing cultural fit over immediate financial metrics while retaining top engineering talent through competitive compensation and a private equity structure.