3 ms·

Andreessen Horowitz's talent agency model

34 points by a5seo 16y ago

NIL8 16y ago
This is an interesting albeit, scary idea. I can see the benefits of such a company for a select group of individuals. However, the rest of the population may be treated as second-rate professionals; like the way it is with Hollywood. Most "talent" in Hollywood are not the best and brightest. They're either well connected or extremely lucky (with very few exceptions). If an idea like this were to be successful, I think we'd see a flood of talented people more interested in being stars than being productive. But, then again, maybe we're already there.
- a5seo 16y ago
  I've seen this happen in smaller markets with one dominant VC... Thankfully in the Valley we're a long ways from a company being DOA without AH as an investor.
iamelgringo 16y ago
Having talked a couple of times to various members of Andreessen Horowitz's team, I'm thoroughly impressed with they way they are approaching VC in the Valley. They are very much taking a long term approach to things, and they have some really good people on their team. Kudos to them for innovating.
- salemh 16y ago
  http://www.endeavor.org/blog/interview-wgina-bianchini-new-member-of-gab http://www.endeavor.org/blog/interview-wgina-bianchini-new-m... "Entrepreneurs in Residence" is fantastic.
clofresh 16y ago
"Groupon looked like a very high valuation," Horowitz said, "but any investment in a great company at any stage is almost always a good investment." I don't think I'd want to hear that statement come from someone who is investing my money.
- eru 16y ago
  Buffett does quite well while sounding somewhat similar. He also looks at the price, though.
- fredoliveira 16y ago
  You should be comfortable hearing a sentence such as that. Horowitz is clearly generalizing, but a great company will always make a return on investment. Obviously in this particular case Groupon is going to give investors a smaller return now than it would have 6 months ago, but it's still a winning strategy. Great companies keep growing - which is more than a good reason to invest.
  - eru 16y ago
    Depends. Even great companies can be too expensive. But the stage doesn't matter, like Horowitz said.

34 points by a5seo 16y ago

NIL8 16y ago

This is an interesting albeit, scary idea. I can see the benefits of such a company for a select group of individuals. However, the rest of the population may be treated as second-rate professionals; like the way it is with Hollywood. Most "talent" in Hollywood are not the best and brightest. They're either well connected or extremely lucky (with very few exceptions). If an idea like this were to be successful, I think we'd see a flood of talented people more interested in being stars than being productive. But, then again, maybe we're already there.

a5seo 16y ago
I've seen this happen in smaller markets with one dominant VC... Thankfully in the Valley we're a long ways from a company being DOA without AH as an investor.

iamelgringo 16y ago

Having talked a couple of times to various members of Andreessen Horowitz's team, I'm thoroughly impressed with they way they are approaching VC in the Valley. They are very much taking a long term approach to things, and they have some really good people on their team. Kudos to them for innovating.

salemh 16y ago
http://www.endeavor.org/blog/interview-wgina-bianchini-new-member-of-gab http://www.endeavor.org/blog/interview-wgina-bianchini-new-m... "Entrepreneurs in Residence" is fantastic.

clofresh 16y ago

"Groupon looked like a very high valuation," Horowitz said, "but any investment in a great company at any stage is almost always a good investment." I don't think I'd want to hear that statement come from someone who is investing my money.

eru 16y ago
Buffett does quite well while sounding somewhat similar. He also looks at the price, though.
fredoliveira 16y ago
You should be comfortable hearing a sentence such as that. Horowitz is clearly generalizing, but a great company will always make a return on investment. Obviously in this particular case Groupon is going to give investors a smaller return now than it would have 6 months ago, but it's still a winning strategy. Great companies keep growing - which is more than a good reason to invest.
- eru 16y ago
  Depends. Even great companies can be too expensive. But the stage doesn't matter, like Horowitz said.