Marc Andreessen: Difference between revisions
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| alma_mater = [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]] | | alma_mater = [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]] | ||
| occupation = Businessman, investor, software engineer | | occupation = Businessman, investor, software engineer | ||
| years_active = | | years_active = 1993-present | ||
| known_for = Co-creator of Mosaic web browser<br>Co-founder of Netscape<br>Co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz | | known_for = Co-creator of Mosaic web browser<br>Co-founder of Netscape<br>Co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz | ||
| title = General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz | | title = General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz | ||
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After graduating from high school, Andreessen enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Although he initially considered majoring in engineering, he settled on computer science. During his undergraduate years, he interned twice at IBM in Austin, Texas, working in the AIX graphics software development group on X Window System implementations. | After graduating from high school, Andreessen enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Although he initially considered majoring in engineering, he settled on computer science. During his undergraduate years, he interned twice at IBM in Austin, Texas, working in the AIX graphics software development group on X Window System implementations. | ||
To earn money, Andreessen took a job at the university's supercomputing center, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), for $6.85 an | To earn money, Andreessen took a job at the university's supercomputing center, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), for $6.85 an hour - a position that would change the course of internet history. | ||
== Career == | == Career == | ||
=== NCSA Mosaic ( | === NCSA Mosaic (1992-1993) === | ||
At NCSA, Andreessen became familiar with Tim Berners-Lee's open standards for the World Wide Web, but existing browsers required advanced programming skills to use and lacked graphical capabilities. | At NCSA, Andreessen became familiar with Tim Berners-Lee's open standards for the World Wide Web, but existing browsers required advanced programming skills to use and lacked graphical capabilities. | ||
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In late 1992, after seeing the ViolaWWW browser, Andreessen approached NCSA colleague Eric Bina about creating a more user-friendly, graphical browser. Working in NCSA's basement offices, the two programmers completed a 9,000-line program called Mosaic in six weeks. | In late 1992, after seeing the ViolaWWW browser, Andreessen approached NCSA colleague Eric Bina about creating a more user-friendly, graphical browser. Working in NCSA's basement offices, the two programmers completed a 9,000-line program called Mosaic in six weeks. | ||
Released in 1993, Mosaic was | Released in 1993, Mosaic was revolutionary - the first web browser to display images inline with text rather than in separate windows. NCSA distributed Mosaic free of charge over the internet, and more than two million copies were downloaded within a year. The browser made the World Wide Web accessible to ordinary people for the first time, transforming the internet from an academic curiosity into a mass medium. | ||
Andreessen graduated from UIUC with his bachelor's degree in computer science in December 1993. | Andreessen graduated from UIUC with his bachelor's degree in computer science in December 1993. | ||
=== Netscape ( | === Netscape (1994-1999) === | ||
After graduation, Andreessen moved to California to work at Enterprise Integration Technologies. Soon after, he met Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, who had recently left his company. Clark saw commercial potential in Mosaic and proposed starting an internet software company together. | After graduation, Andreessen moved to California to work at Enterprise Integration Technologies. Soon after, he met Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, who had recently left his company. Clark saw commercial potential in Mosaic and proposed starting an internet software company together. | ||
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In April 1994, they founded Mosaic Communications Corporation in Mountain View, California, with Andreessen as co-founder and vice president of technology. However, NCSA, which held the copyright to the Mosaic name and code, objected. The company was renamed Netscape Communications Corporation, and its flagship product became Netscape Navigator. | In April 1994, they founded Mosaic Communications Corporation in Mountain View, California, with Andreessen as co-founder and vice president of technology. However, NCSA, which held the copyright to the Mosaic name and code, objected. The company was renamed Netscape Communications Corporation, and its flagship product became Netscape Navigator. | ||
Unlike NCSA Mosaic, Netscape Navigator was built from scratch, though it drew on lessons learned from the earlier browser. Released in late 1994, Navigator quickly captured the browser | Unlike NCSA Mosaic, Netscape Navigator was built from scratch, though it drew on lessons learned from the earlier browser. Released in late 1994, Navigator quickly captured the browser market - within four months, it held three-quarters of the market share. | ||
==== The IPO that launched an era ==== | ==== The IPO that launched an era ==== | ||
On August 9, 1995, Netscape went public in one of the most dramatic IPOs in history. The stock, initially planned to be offered at $14 per share, was doubled at the last minute to $28. On opening day, shares soared to $75 before closing at $58.25, giving Netscape a market valuation of $2.9 | On August 9, 1995, Netscape went public in one of the most dramatic IPOs in history. The stock, initially planned to be offered at $14 per share, was doubled at the last minute to $28. On opening day, shares soared to $75 before closing at $58.25, giving Netscape a market valuation of $2.9 billion - extraordinary for a company that had never turned a profit. | ||
The Netscape IPO is widely credited as the "big bang" that launched the dot-com boom, making billion-dollar tech startups a cultural phenomenon and turning the 24-year-old Andreessen into a household name. His face appeared on the cover of Time magazine, barefoot on a golden throne. | The Netscape IPO is widely credited as the "big bang" that launched the dot-com boom, making billion-dollar tech startups a cultural phenomenon and turning the 24-year-old Andreessen into a household name. His face appeared on the cover of Time magazine, barefoot on a golden throne. | ||
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Beyond creating the web browser, Netscape's engineers developed technologies that remain fundamental to the internet. Brendan Eich created JavaScript, now the most widely used programming language for web development. Lou Montulli invented HTTP cookies, essential for modern web functionality. The company also developed SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), later renamed TLS, which secures online communications. | Beyond creating the web browser, Netscape's engineers developed technologies that remain fundamental to the internet. Brendan Eich created JavaScript, now the most widely used programming language for web development. Lou Montulli invented HTTP cookies, essential for modern web functionality. The company also developed SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), later renamed TLS, which secures online communications. | ||
=== Loudcloud and Opsware ( | === Loudcloud and Opsware (1999-2007) === | ||
After leaving AOL, Andreessen co-founded Loudcloud in 1999 with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. The company provided cloud computing infrastructure services to businesses during the dot-com era. | After leaving AOL, Andreessen co-founded Loudcloud in 1999 with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. The company provided cloud computing infrastructure services to businesses during the dot-com era. | ||
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When the dot-com bubble burst, Loudcloud pivoted, selling its managed services business to Electronic Data Systems in 2002 and refocusing on enterprise software under the name Opsware. The company developed data center automation software. | When the dot-com bubble burst, Loudcloud pivoted, selling its managed services business to Electronic Data Systems in 2002 and refocusing on enterprise software under the name Opsware. The company developed data center automation software. | ||
In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired Opsware for $1.6 billion in | In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired Opsware for $1.6 billion in cash - a successful exit that demonstrated Andreessen and Horowitz's ability to build and scale enterprise technology companies. | ||
=== Andreessen Horowitz ( | === Andreessen Horowitz (2009-present) === | ||
In 2009, Andreessen and Ben Horowitz founded Andreessen Horowitz (commonly known as a16z) as a venture capital firm focused on technology investments. The firm distinguished itself by offering portfolio companies extensive operational support, including recruiting, marketing, and executive | In 2009, Andreessen and Ben Horowitz founded Andreessen Horowitz (commonly known as a16z) as a venture capital firm focused on technology investments. The firm distinguished itself by offering portfolio companies extensive operational support, including recruiting, marketing, and executive coaching - a model that departed from traditional VC firms. | ||
==== Growth and scale ==== | ==== Growth and scale ==== | ||
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From an initial $300 million fund, Andreessen Horowitz has grown into one of the largest venture capital firms in the world. As of May 2024, the firm manages approximately $42 billion in assets. As of July 2025, it ranks first among venture capital firms by assets under management with $46 billion. | From an initial $300 million fund, Andreessen Horowitz has grown into one of the largest venture capital firms in the world. As of May 2024, the firm manages approximately $42 billion in assets. As of July 2025, it ranks first among venture capital firms by assets under management with $46 billion. | ||
Since 2020, the firm has backed 32 unicorn | Since 2020, the firm has backed 32 unicorn companies - more than any other venture firm. Its portfolio includes over 1,000 companies as of late 2025. | ||
==== Notable investments ==== | ==== Notable investments ==== | ||
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Andreessen Horowitz's portfolio includes some of the most successful technology companies of the past decade: | Andreessen Horowitz's portfolio includes some of the most successful technology companies of the past decade: | ||
* '''Facebook/Meta''' | * '''Facebook/Meta''' - Andreessen has served on Meta's board since 2008 | ||
* '''Airbnb''' | * '''Airbnb''' - Early investor in the home-sharing platform | ||
* '''Coinbase''' | * '''Coinbase''' - Major investor in the cryptocurrency exchange | ||
* '''Stripe''' | * '''Stripe''' - Payments infrastructure company | ||
* '''GitHub''' | * '''GitHub''' - Code hosting platform (sold to Microsoft for $7.5 billion) | ||
* '''Instagram''' | * '''Instagram''' - Photo-sharing app (sold to Facebook for $1 billion) | ||
* '''Pinterest''' | * '''Pinterest''' - Visual discovery platform | ||
* '''Slack''' | * '''Slack''' - Workplace communications (sold to Salesforce for $27.7 billion) | ||
* '''Lyft''' | * '''Lyft''' - Ride-sharing platform | ||
* '''Skype''' | * '''Skype''' - Video communications | ||
* '''Databricks''' | * '''Databricks''' - AI and data platform | ||
* '''Anduril''' | * '''Anduril''' - Defense technology | ||
==== Cryptocurrency investments ==== | ==== Cryptocurrency investments ==== | ||
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=== Housing opposition in Atherton === | === Housing opposition in Atherton === | ||
In 2022, Andreessen and his wife advocated against the construction of 131 multifamily housing units in their town of Atherton, | In 2022, Andreessen and his wife advocated against the construction of 131 multifamily housing units in their town of Atherton, California - one of the wealthiest communities in America. Critics pointed to the apparent contradiction between Andreessen's calls for technological progress and growth while opposing housing development near his own home. The controversy became known as "NIMBYism" (Not In My Backyard) criticism. | ||
=== "Software Is Eating the World" === | === "Software Is Eating the World" === | ||
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In 2006, Andreessen married Laura Arrillaga, daughter of Silicon Valley billionaire real estate developer John Arrillaga Sr. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen is a philanthropy educator at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of the New York Times bestselling book "Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World" (2011). | In 2006, Andreessen married Laura Arrillaga, daughter of Silicon Valley billionaire real estate developer John Arrillaga Sr. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen is a philanthropy educator at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of the New York Times bestselling book "Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World" (2011). | ||
They met at an event, and according to Laura, one of the first questions she asked him was what he was doing | They met at an event, and according to Laura, one of the first questions she asked him was what he was doing philanthropically - reflecting her lifelong commitment to charitable giving. | ||
Laura is the founder of Silicon Valley Social Ventures (SV2), a venture philanthropy fund, and co-founder and president of Andreessen Philanthropies (Marc and Laura Andreessen Foundation). | Laura is the founder of Silicon Valley Social Ventures (SV2), a venture philanthropy fund, and co-founder and president of Andreessen Philanthropies (Marc and Laura Andreessen Foundation). | ||
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Andreessen's investment approach emphasizes: | Andreessen's investment approach emphasizes: | ||
* '''Technical founders''' | * '''Technical founders''' - Preference for entrepreneurs with deep technical expertise | ||
* '''Market timing''' | * '''Market timing''' - Believing that timing is crucial; technologies sometimes fail because they arrive too early | ||
* '''Platform thinking''' | * '''Platform thinking''' - Investing in companies that can become platforms for other businesses | ||
* '''Long-term conviction''' | * '''Long-term conviction''' - Willingness to make contrarian bets and hold through volatility | ||
His famous dictum "software is eating the world" reflects his belief that software companies will eventually dominate most industries. | His famous dictum "software is eating the world" reflects his belief that software companies will eventually dominate most industries. | ||
Latest revision as of 07:52, 22 December 2025
Marc Lowell Andreessen (born July 9, 1971) is an American businessman, venture capitalist, and software engineer who co-created Mosaic, the first widely-used graphical web browser, and co-founded Netscape, the company that launched the commercial internet era. He is best known today as co-founder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture capital firms, which manages over $42 billion in assets as of 2024.
Andreessen's 1995 Netscape IPO is widely credited with launching the dot-com boom and making billion-dollar technology startups a cultural phenomenon. Since then, he has become one of the technology industry's most prominent investors and voices, sitting on the board of Meta Platforms (Facebook) and investing in hundreds of companies across software, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence.
With a net worth estimated at $1.9 billion in 2024, Andreessen has increasingly embraced controversial political positions, publishing the "Techno-Optimist Manifesto" in 2023 and endorsing Donald Trump for president in 2024, marking a significant shift from his earlier Democratic Party affiliations.
Early life and education
Marc Lowell Andreessen was born on July 9, 1971, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and raised in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, which he later described as "the sticks." His father, Lowell Andreessen, worked as a sales manager for the seed producer Pioneer Hi-Bred International. His mother, Patricia, worked as a customer service operator at the catalog retailer Lands' End.
Andreessen showed an early aptitude for technology, writing his first computer program in sixth grade on a school computer. The following year, his parents bought him a TRS-80 from Radio Shack, and he taught himself BASIC programming to create video games.
After graduating from high school, Andreessen enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Although he initially considered majoring in engineering, he settled on computer science. During his undergraduate years, he interned twice at IBM in Austin, Texas, working in the AIX graphics software development group on X Window System implementations.
To earn money, Andreessen took a job at the university's supercomputing center, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), for $6.85 an hour - a position that would change the course of internet history.
Career
NCSA Mosaic (1992-1993)
At NCSA, Andreessen became familiar with Tim Berners-Lee's open standards for the World Wide Web, but existing browsers required advanced programming skills to use and lacked graphical capabilities.
In late 1992, after seeing the ViolaWWW browser, Andreessen approached NCSA colleague Eric Bina about creating a more user-friendly, graphical browser. Working in NCSA's basement offices, the two programmers completed a 9,000-line program called Mosaic in six weeks.
Released in 1993, Mosaic was revolutionary - the first web browser to display images inline with text rather than in separate windows. NCSA distributed Mosaic free of charge over the internet, and more than two million copies were downloaded within a year. The browser made the World Wide Web accessible to ordinary people for the first time, transforming the internet from an academic curiosity into a mass medium.
Andreessen graduated from UIUC with his bachelor's degree in computer science in December 1993.
Netscape (1994-1999)
After graduation, Andreessen moved to California to work at Enterprise Integration Technologies. Soon after, he met Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, who had recently left his company. Clark saw commercial potential in Mosaic and proposed starting an internet software company together.
In April 1994, they founded Mosaic Communications Corporation in Mountain View, California, with Andreessen as co-founder and vice president of technology. However, NCSA, which held the copyright to the Mosaic name and code, objected. The company was renamed Netscape Communications Corporation, and its flagship product became Netscape Navigator.
Unlike NCSA Mosaic, Netscape Navigator was built from scratch, though it drew on lessons learned from the earlier browser. Released in late 1994, Navigator quickly captured the browser market - within four months, it held three-quarters of the market share.
The IPO that launched an era
On August 9, 1995, Netscape went public in one of the most dramatic IPOs in history. The stock, initially planned to be offered at $14 per share, was doubled at the last minute to $28. On opening day, shares soared to $75 before closing at $58.25, giving Netscape a market valuation of $2.9 billion - extraordinary for a company that had never turned a profit.
The Netscape IPO is widely credited as the "big bang" that launched the dot-com boom, making billion-dollar tech startups a cultural phenomenon and turning the 24-year-old Andreessen into a household name. His face appeared on the cover of Time magazine, barefoot on a golden throne.
Browser Wars and decline
Netscape's dominance attracted the attention of Microsoft, which launched Internet Explorer as a direct competitor. Microsoft bundled IE with Windows, giving it an insurmountable distribution advantage. Netscape's market share, which had exceeded 90% in the mid-1990s, began a steady decline.
On November 24, 1998, America Online announced it would acquire Netscape in a stock swap initially valued at $4.2 billion. By the time the deal closed in March 1999, it was worth approximately $10 billion due to AOL's rising stock price.
Andreessen briefly served as AOL's chief technology officer but left after six months.
Legacy
Beyond creating the web browser, Netscape's engineers developed technologies that remain fundamental to the internet. Brendan Eich created JavaScript, now the most widely used programming language for web development. Lou Montulli invented HTTP cookies, essential for modern web functionality. The company also developed SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), later renamed TLS, which secures online communications.
Loudcloud and Opsware (1999-2007)
After leaving AOL, Andreessen co-founded Loudcloud in 1999 with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. The company provided cloud computing infrastructure services to businesses during the dot-com era.
When the dot-com bubble burst, Loudcloud pivoted, selling its managed services business to Electronic Data Systems in 2002 and refocusing on enterprise software under the name Opsware. The company developed data center automation software.
In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired Opsware for $1.6 billion in cash - a successful exit that demonstrated Andreessen and Horowitz's ability to build and scale enterprise technology companies.
Andreessen Horowitz (2009-present)
In 2009, Andreessen and Ben Horowitz founded Andreessen Horowitz (commonly known as a16z) as a venture capital firm focused on technology investments. The firm distinguished itself by offering portfolio companies extensive operational support, including recruiting, marketing, and executive coaching - a model that departed from traditional VC firms.
Growth and scale
From an initial $300 million fund, Andreessen Horowitz has grown into one of the largest venture capital firms in the world. As of May 2024, the firm manages approximately $42 billion in assets. As of July 2025, it ranks first among venture capital firms by assets under management with $46 billion.
Since 2020, the firm has backed 32 unicorn companies - more than any other venture firm. Its portfolio includes over 1,000 companies as of late 2025.
Notable investments
Andreessen Horowitz's portfolio includes some of the most successful technology companies of the past decade:
- Facebook/Meta - Andreessen has served on Meta's board since 2008
- Airbnb - Early investor in the home-sharing platform
- Coinbase - Major investor in the cryptocurrency exchange
- Stripe - Payments infrastructure company
- GitHub - Code hosting platform (sold to Microsoft for $7.5 billion)
- Instagram - Photo-sharing app (sold to Facebook for $1 billion)
- Pinterest - Visual discovery platform
- Slack - Workplace communications (sold to Salesforce for $27.7 billion)
- Lyft - Ride-sharing platform
- Skype - Video communications
- Databricks - AI and data platform
- Anduril - Defense technology
Cryptocurrency investments
Andreessen Horowitz has been a major force in cryptocurrency investing. In 2021, the firm launched a $2.2 billion crypto-focused fund, followed by a $4.5 billion fund in 2022, bringing total crypto investments to $7.6 billion.
Notable crypto investments include Coinbase, Uniswap, OpenSea, Solana, Avalanche, Dapper Labs, and Yuga Labs. In February 2024, the firm announced a $100 million investment in crypto restaking startup EigenLayer.
AI investments
The firm has invested heavily in artificial intelligence companies including Databricks, Mistral, Black Forest Labs, and Elon Musk's xAI. In 2024, Andreessen Horowitz raised $7.2 billion primarily targeting AI and gaming investments.
Techno-Optimist Manifesto
On October 16, 2023, Andreessen published a 5,200-word essay titled "The Techno-Optimist Manifesto" on the a16z website. The document articulated his belief that technology is "the only perpetual source of growth" and called for technologists to reject critics and pessimists.
The manifesto explicitly rejected concepts Andreessen labeled "enemies" of techno-optimism, including social responsibility, trust and safety measures, sustainability, and tech ethics. He called for embracing unlimited growth, free markets, and technological progress without restraint.
The essay drew significant criticism. Jacobin characterized it as "right-wing elitism in new packaging," noting its intellectual debt to Friedrich Nietzsche and Friedrich Hayek. Fortune called it "utopian" libertarianism. Tech commentator Dwarkesh Patel published a critical response, which led Andreessen to permanently block him on Twitter.
Supporters viewed the manifesto as a necessary corrective to what they see as excessive regulation and pessimism about technology's potential.
Controversies
Political shift and Trump endorsement
Formerly a supporter of the Democratic Party, Andreessen grew politically disillusioned with the Biden administration due to antitrust enforcement against tech companies, cryptocurrency regulation following the FTX scandal, and proposed taxes on billionaires.
In July 2024, Andreessen announced he would donate to super PACs supporting Donald Trump's presidential campaign. He stated that he believed Trump's policies would be more favorable for technology, startups, cryptocurrency, and AI development.
Co-founder Ben Horowitz joined in the endorsement, stating: "I wish we didn't have to pick a side... We literally [believe] the future of our business, the future of technology, and the future of America is at stake."
The endorsement represented a significant shift for Andreessen, who had previously supported Democratic candidates and causes. Following Trump's victory in November 2024, Andreessen became an informal advisor to the new administration.
Housing opposition in Atherton
In 2022, Andreessen and his wife advocated against the construction of 131 multifamily housing units in their town of Atherton, California - one of the wealthiest communities in America. Critics pointed to the apparent contradiction between Andreessen's calls for technological progress and growth while opposing housing development near his own home. The controversy became known as "NIMBYism" (Not In My Backyard) criticism.
"Software Is Eating the World"
In August 2011, Andreessen published an influential Wall Street Journal op-ed titled "Why Software Is Eating the World," arguing that software companies were poised to disrupt traditional industries. The essay proved prescient as companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Netflix transformed transportation, hospitality, and entertainment.
Personal life
Marriage
In 2006, Andreessen married Laura Arrillaga, daughter of Silicon Valley billionaire real estate developer John Arrillaga Sr. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen is a philanthropy educator at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of the New York Times bestselling book "Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World" (2011).
They met at an event, and according to Laura, one of the first questions she asked him was what he was doing philanthropically - reflecting her lifelong commitment to charitable giving.
Laura is the founder of Silicon Valley Social Ventures (SV2), a venture philanthropy fund, and co-founder and president of Andreessen Philanthropies (Marc and Laura Andreessen Foundation).
Residence
The couple lives in Atherton, California, one of the wealthiest communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Philanthropy
In 2020, Marc and Laura donated $2 million to Stanford Health Care to help offset costs from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through Andreessen Philanthropies, the couple supports various causes including education and healthcare initiatives.
Investment philosophy
Andreessen's investment approach emphasizes:
- Technical founders - Preference for entrepreneurs with deep technical expertise
- Market timing - Believing that timing is crucial; technologies sometimes fail because they arrive too early
- Platform thinking - Investing in companies that can become platforms for other businesses
- Long-term conviction - Willingness to make contrarian bets and hold through volatility
His famous dictum "software is eating the world" reflects his belief that software companies will eventually dominate most industries.
See also
References