Marc Andreessen

Andreessen and a16z argued against rules they believe could stifle startups and open-source AI, and opposed proposals such as California's SB 1047, which would impose substantial obligations on developers of large models.

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Trump appointed Andreessen to PCAST in March 2026, giving him an official science and technology advisory role at a time when a16z held substantial investments in AI, cryptocurrency, defence and other sectors affected by federal policies.

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On 29 June 2026, Andreessen was appointed to the Defense Policy Board, an advisory body responsible for providing strategic recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and other senior officials.

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a16z invests in several defence, drone, space and dual-use technology companies which could benefit from Pentagon contracts or strategic decisions. Andreessen's appointment to the Defense Policy Board therefore drew criticism over a potential conflict of interest.

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Andreessen Horowitz and its co-founders are among the leading backers of Fairshake, a super PAC spending substantial amounts to support candidates considered favourable to the cryptocurrency industry. By 2026, Fairshake had raised approximately $137 million for the election cycle.

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Political responsibility

Andreessen and Ben Horowitz jointly contributed $25 million to Leading The Future, a network of super PACs supporting candidates favouring lighter AI regulation and campaigning against some candidates supporting strict rules.

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Political responsibility

a16z is a major investor in Flock Safety, which supplies cameras and number-plate readers to thousands of police forces. In 2026, several Republican officials themselves called for restrictions or ended relationships with Flock, citing abuses and risks to civil liberties.

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A Delaware derivative action alleges that Coinbase directors and executives, including Marc Andreessen, sold shares during the 2021 direct listing while possessing material non-public information, allegedly avoiding later losses. a16z sold more than $118.7 million in shares in that transaction. Following an initial decision refusing dismissal, a special board committee investigated and found the allegations lacked merit; in January 2026, the Court of Chancery nevertheless refused to terminate the action on the basis of the committee's report.

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Allegations

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Accused

Marc Andreessen is among the defendant directors in a federal class action concerning, among other things, Coinbase's offering documents and public statements. On 18 August 2026, the federal court in New Jersey refused another motion to dismiss the third amended complaint, allowing the case to proceed.

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Allegations

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Accused

According to reports published in August 2026, the US Department of Justice is investigating Andreessen Horowitz concerning board seats held by partners at Databricks and Fivetran, companies whose activities now overlap. The review concerns the 'interlocking directorates' provisions of Section 8 of the Clayton Act.

Andreessen was among Meta directors and executives sued by shareholders seeking billions of dollars, alleging that the board had allowed privacy violations to continue despite commitments made after Cambridge Analytica.

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Accused

Andreessen helped Elon Musk's DOGE network, notably by recruiting or identifying talent. Sources described him as an unofficial adviser, while he jokingly called himself an 'unpaid intern'.

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In private messages reported in 2025, Andreessen claimed that certain universities had discriminated against Trump voters through DEI and immigration and that they 'would pay the price'. He also described Stanford and MIT as political lobbying operations and attacked the role of the National Science Foundation.

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Andreessen Horowitz moved its main management company from Delaware to Nevada, with Andreessen criticising what he considered an overly costly legal system hostile to founders and directors. The move was part of a wider campaign by several technology executives against the historic centre of US corporate law.

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Direct responsibility

Andreessen is among investors connected with Pronomos Capital, which finances private city projects or developments with lighter regulatory frameworks. Reuters reported in 2025 that he was among supporters of a proposed 'Freedom City' in Greenland, amid Trump's renewed interest in the island.

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Andreessen and Ben Horowitz announced their support for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, citing taxation, cryptocurrency, AI and regulation favourable to startups. Their endorsement symbolised part of Silicon Valley's political shift towards Trump.

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Andreessen published a manifesto celebrating technological growth and portraying concepts such as sustainability, ESG, social responsibility, trust and safety, tech ethics and risk management as part of a demoralising campaign of 'bad ideas'. The text triggered substantial debate about safety, inequality and responsibility in the technology sector.

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Andreessen and his wife submitted a strongly worded objection to zoning in Atherton that would permit more multifamily housing, citing property values, quality of life, traffic and noise. The position was seen as inconsistent with his essay 'It's Time to Build', which criticised housing shortages in prosperous areas.

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Andreessen sat on the special committee responsible for negotiating a reclassification that would have allowed Mark Zuckerberg to sell shares while retaining control. The Delaware court described 'facially dubious' back-channel communications: Andreessen sent Zuckerberg live updates and advice during committee meetings.

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In October 2018, the Saudi government named Andreessen as a member of NEOM's global advisory board, at a time when Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance and subsequent murder were causing an international crisis and prompting several prominent figures to distance themselves from Saudi projects.

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After India banned Facebook's Free Basics programme, Andreessen posted a message suggesting that anti-colonialism had been economically disastrous for the country. The tweet provoked a strong reaction in India and even from Mark Zuckerberg.

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Andreessen joined HP's board in 2009 and became an influential voice during its executive succession crises. He was among the directors who supported its software strategy and the $11.1 billion acquisition of Autonomy, which subsequently led to an enormous write-down and strong criticism of the board's due diligence.

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Direct responsibility