The a16z Show

Do Revenue and Margins Still Matter in AI?

517 snips
Dec 18, 2025
David George, a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a key player in backing notable startups like Stripe and SpaceX, dives into the evolving landscape of AI and growth investing. He discusses how private markets can generate significant value and the enduring importance of revenue amidst AI advancements. David emphasizes the unique strategies in identifying and supporting exceptional founders, the dynamics of winner-take-all markets, and the potential of AI to reshape productivity and company valuations.
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INSIGHT

Don't Overweight Theoretical Competition

  • Overweighting fear of theoretical future competition can cause you to miss winners.
  • David George says spiking founder strengths matter more than hypothetical competitors.
ADVICE

Judge AI By Engagement, Not Just Revenue

  • Assess AI startups by short-cycle retention and engagement, not just revenue speed.
  • Look for organic acquisition and high engagement as leading indicators of durable growth.
INSIGHT

Market Pull Predicts Category Winners

  • Market pull (customers pulling product) is the strongest signal for building category winners.
  • David George highlights companies with organic acquisition as ideal kingmaking candidates.
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