A16Z has hired former journalist Maggie Leung as its executive editor. This comes as the tech startup is preparing to launch its podcast. The company also invested in crypto, which it plans to use as a way to make money. It is also looking to return to its roots as a digital media platform.
Former journalist Maggie Leung joins a16z as executive editor
A16Z, the venture capital firm backed by the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and Google, has hired the former NerdWallet executive editor Maggie Leung to a new role as its executive editor. With more than 20 years of experience in journalism, the newly hired Maggie has already built a content operation from the ground up. She is a seasoned veteran of both the mainstream media and the financial world, having previously worked at the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNN, and more.
A16Z has been on a hiring spree in the past few months, bringing on a slew of senior level content and marketing experts. This includes a team of 100 writers and editors spanning North America. Not only are they creating new content, but they are also building out their media operations and preparing for a possible IPO.
a16z is building for its own profit
A16z is a private venture capital firm founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. It is based in Menlo Park, California. The firm focuses on entrepreneurship, technology, and consumer products, and it has about 500 employees.
Although a16z is a relatively new organization, it has already amassed a significant portfolio of assets. As a result, it can make a lot of money from management fees alone. For instance, the firm has invested in Coinbase, Lyft, Airbnb, and Instacart.
A16z is also known for making big swings. For instance, in 2014, the firm invested in Lyft and Slack. However, the firm’s biggest return was when it invested in Coinbase.
The firm has recently made an epochal-level bet on crypto. Last year, a16z raised a $2.2 billion fund to invest in crypto.
a16z wants to go back to 2008
The venture capital firm a16z has made its mark in the tech world. Its investments include Coinbase, Instacart, Lyft, and Stripe. But the a16z empire doesn’t end there. A16z is also an investor in Slack and Robinhood. And the firm announced plans to open offices in New York and Miami Beach.
With the announcement came the news of a16z’s latest hire: a new executive editor named Maggie Leung. She previously served as vice president of content at fintech startup NerdWallet. On top of that, the a16z brand has hired Amelia Salyers, an ex-corporate content marketing whiz who formerly worked at two tech startups.
A16z’s hirings are a reflection of its newfound remote working culture. While Leung is the first editor to join the company, the new staff is composed of a motley crew of veteran PR pros, public relations gurus, and digital marketers.
a16z has invested in crypto
Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z as it’s known in crypto circles, has invested in several crypto companies and crypto projects. A16z’s portfolio includes investments in DeFi, Protocol Labs, and Tally Labs.
The firm’s fourth crypto fund will be worth approximately $4.5 billion. It will be spent on seed investment and venture investments in layer 1 and layer 2 infrastructure.
a16z has made several investments in crypto/blockchain companies in the last 12 months. It also backed Yuga Labs, an internet computing platform. In addition to those investments, a16z has backed Entropy, a decentralized custodian for tokens, and has participated in several funding rounds of Anchorage Digital, a game developer.
a16z has been active in the crypto space since early 2013. They’ve financed more than 50 different crypto/blockchain startups, including Uniswap, Autograph, Co:Create, and Sky Mavis.
a16z is relaunching its podcast
If you’re into technology, you’ve probably heard of a16z. This is the venture capital firm behind some of the best tech podcasts out there. Its latest and greatest incarnation aims to educate future entrepreneurs in the crypto space.
A16z also runs the Crypto Startup School, a program dedicated to teaching young developers how to build products and services in the cryptospace. In May, it launched its fourth crypto fund, ia16z. a16z has been in the cryptospace for a few years now. With a name like that, you can expect to hear a lot of talk about the latest and greatest crypto developments from top notch experts.
Conclusion
The new a16z podcast will focus more on the technology and the technology industry. In addition to the usual suspects, a16z will also be featuring domain experts from the world of gaming, health, and mobility.
