Bobby Franklin

a16z Podcast | Of Policy, Capital, and the Startup Ecosystem

Scott Kupor, Bobby Franklin, Sonal, Scott Cooper

Amidst a period of unified government control, the 2017 to 2019 timeframe presents a unique legislative opportunity to reshape capital formation through tax reforms, regulatory adjustments to the JOBS Act, and the potential creation of a Long-Term Stock Exchange. These proposed structural changes aim to lower barriers for early-stage companies by modifying IPO filing requirements, implementing tick size pilots for small-cap liquidity, and extending Net Operating Loss provisions to better support startups. While political optimism initially drives market sentiment, the ultimate success of these initiatives depends on overcoming implementation complexities to foster broader job creation and long-term investor participation beyond major financial hubs.