Ben Horowitz emphasizes that successful venture capital firms require strong, independent partners who align around mission-driven investing rather than consensus or trend-chasing. He contrasts the autonomy of general partners with traditional corporate executives, highlighting the need for leadership to manage cognitive load and resolve conflicts proactively. The firm’s strategy prioritizes scale through broad sector exposure and platform services tailored to domains like AI and crypto, enabling support beyond board seats. However, scaling brings challenges—particularly in maintaining alignment and securing top-tier deals—since true returns come from winning competitive investments, not just selecting them. Ben argues that while fund growth is limited more by access to elite founders than capital, reorganizations demand decisive leadership to avoid stagnation. To preserve agility, a16z uses small, autonomous teams backed by shared resources. Hiring former founders and CEOs ensures deep operational empathy, while early adoption of media helped build trust and differentiation in a crowded field. Ultimately, long-term success hinges on impact, not check size or imitation.