a16z Crypto Startup School

How a16z crypto is Building the Next Internet with Web3

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What is a16z crypto?

a16z crypto is a venture capital fund that invests in crypto and web3 startups1. It is part of Andreessen Horowitz, one of the most influential and successful VC firms in Silicon Valley. The fund was launched in 2018 by Chris Dixon, a founding general partner and a leading thinker in the crypto space2.

a16z crypto has over $7.6 billion assets under management across four funds, and has been investing in web3 – across all stages – since 20133. Some of its notable portfolio companies include Coinbase, MakerDAO, Compound, Uniswap, Dapper Labs, OpenSea, and many more.

What is web3?

Web3 is the third era of the internet, which combines the decentralized, community-governed ethos of the first era with the advanced, modern functionality of the second era3. The first era of the internet [~1990-2005] was about open protocols that were decentralized and community-governed. Most of the value accrued to the edges of the network: users and builders. The second era of the internet [~2005-2020] favored siloed, centralized services. Most of the value accrued to a handful of large tech companies.

Web3 aims to restore the original vision of the internet, where users have more control over their data, identity, and digital assets. Web3 also enables new forms of creativity and entrepreneurship, where anyone can build and participate in open, permissionless, and global networks.

How does a16z crypto support web3?

a16z crypto supports its portfolio and the growth of web3 through various operations, such as:

Research: The fund has a dedicated research team that conducts cutting-edge research on topics such as cryptography, distributed systems, game theory, economics, and governance. The research team also collaborates with academic institutions and publishes papers and articles to advance the state of the art in web31.

Engineering and security: The fund has an engineering and security team that helps its portfolio companies with technical challenges, such as scaling, interoperability, privacy, and security. The team also builds tools and infrastructure to support web3 development and adoption1.

Legal and regulatory: The fund has a legal and regulatory team that works with policymakers and regulators to educate them about web3 and advocate for sensible and innovation-friendly policies. The team also helps its portfolio companies navigate the complex and evolving legal and regulatory landscape in crypto1.

Go-to-market networks: The fund has a go-to-market network that connects its portfolio companies with potential customers, partners, investors, and talent. The network also organizes events and programs to foster community and collaboration among web3 stakeholders1.

Recruiting services: The fund has a recruiting service that helps its portfolio companies hire top talent in web3. The service also runs Crypto Startup School, a program that trains aspiring entrepreneurs on how to build successful crypto startups1.

Governance and infrastructure: The fund has a governance and infrastructure team that helps its portfolio companies design and implement effective decentralized governance mechanisms. The team also participates in various governance forums and votes on behalf of its portfolio companies1.

Educational content and media properties: The fund has an educational content and media team that produces high-quality content and media properties to educate and inform the public about web3. The team also showcases the stories and achievements of its portfolio companies1.

Why should you care about a16z crypto?

a16z crypto is not just a venture capital fund. It is a visionary force that is shaping the future of the internet with web3. By backing bold entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of protocols, platforms, applications, and services in crypto, a16z crypto is enabling a new wave of creativity and innovation that will benefit millions of people around the world.

If you are interested in learning more about a16z crypto or joining its mission to build the next internet with web3, you can visit their website1, follow them on Twitter, or subscribe to their newsletter. You can also apply for their Crypto Startup School program, which is now open for Spring 2024 in London.

How a16z crypto is Building the Next Internet with Web3

What are some of the trends and opportunities in web3?

Web3 is a vast and diverse space that encompasses many domains and use cases. Some of the trends and opportunities that a16z crypto is following and investing in include:

DeFi: Decentralized finance (DeFi) is the term for a set of protocols and applications that enable peer-to-peer financial services, such as lending, borrowing, trading, investing, and saving, without intermediaries or centralized control. DeFi aims to create a more open, inclusive, and efficient financial system that leverages the power of smart contracts, blockchain, and crypto assets. Some of the DeFi projects that a16z crypto has invested in include MakerDAO, Compound, Uniswap, Aave, dYdX, and Balancer.

NFTs: Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique digital assets that represent ownership and provenance of scarce and valuable items, such as art, music, collectibles, gaming items, and more. NFTs enable new forms of creative expression and monetization for artists, creators, and collectors. Some of the NFT projects that a16z crypto has invested in include Dapper Labs, OpenSea, Zora, Foundation, SuperRare, and Art Blocks.

DAOs: Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are entities that are governed by a set of rules encoded in smart contracts, rather than by a central authority or hierarchy. DAOs enable new forms of coordination and collaboration among people who share a common vision or goal. Some of the DAO projects that a16z crypto has invested in include Syndicate, FWB, Friends with Benefits, PleasrDAO, and Gitcoin.

Social tokens: Social tokens are tokens that represent the value of a community or a creator. Social tokens can be used to reward members for their contributions, access exclusive content or experiences, or participate in governance decisions. Some of the social token projects that a16z crypto has invested in include BitClout, Rally, Roll, and Mirror.

Web3 infrastructure: Web3 infrastructure refers to the tools and platforms that enable developers and users to interact with web3 applications and protocols. Web3 infrastructure includes components such as wallets, oracles, bridges, APIs, SDKs, middleware, and more. Some of the web3 infrastructure projects that a16z crypto has invested in include Near Protocol, Celo, Solana, Optimism Arbitrum , StarkWare , The Graph , Skale , Filecoin , IPFS , Textile , Ceramic , 3Box , Magic , Fortmatic , Alchemy , Infura , Chainlink , Etherscan , and Coin Metrics .

How can you get involved in web3?

If you are curious about web3 and want to get involved in this exciting and rapidly evolving space, there are many ways to do so. Here are some suggestions:

Learn: The best way to start is to learn about the basics of web3, such as blockchain, crypto assets, smart contracts, decentralized applications, and more. There are many resources available online to help you learn about web3. For example:

You can read [The Crypto Canon], a curated list of essential readings on crypto by a16z crypto.

You can watch [Crypto Startup School], a series of videos from a16z crypto’s program that teaches how to build crypto startups.

You can listen to [a16z Podcast: Crypto], a podcast that features interviews with experts and entrepreneurs on various topics related to crypto and web3.

You can follow [a16z Crypto Newsletter], a newsletter that delivers the latest news and insights on crypto and web3 from a16z crypto.

Explore: The next step is to explore some of the web3 applications and protocols that are live today. You can browse through different categories of web3 projects on platforms such as [DeFi Pulse], [NFT Stats], [DAOHaus], [Forefront], or [Product Hunt]. You can also try out some of the web3 applications and protocols yourself by using a web3-enabled browser or wallet such as [MetaMask], [Brave], [Rainbow], or [Coinbase Wallet].

Build: The final step is to build your own web3 project or contribute to an existing one. There are many opportunities for developers and non-developers alike to build or join web3 projects. For example:

You can join a hackathon or an online course that teaches you how to build web3 applications and protocols. Some examples are [ETHGlobal], [Consensys Academy], [Web3 Foundation], and [Buidl School].

You can join a community or a DAO that is working on a web3 project or a common cause. Some examples are [Crypto Twitter], [Discord], [Telegram], [Reddit], and [Snapshot].

You can apply for a grant or a fellowship that supports web3 builders and innovators. Some examples are [Ethereum Foundation Grants], [Web3 Foundation Grants], [Filecoin Grants], [Uniswap Grants], and [a16z Crypto Startup School Scholarships].

a16z crypto is a real and legitimate venture capital fund that invests in crypto and web3 startups. It is part of Andreessen Horowitz, one of the most influential and successful VC firms in Silicon Valley. The fund was launched in 2018 by Chris Dixon, a founding general partner and a leading thinker in the crypto space1.

a16z crypto has over $7.6 billion assets under management across four funds, and has been investing in web3 – across all stages – since 20132. Some of its notable portfolio companies include Coinbase, MakerDAO, Compound, Uniswap, Dapper Labs, OpenSea, and many more.

Is a16z Crypto Lagit Or Scam?

a16z crypto is not a scam or a fake. It is a visionary force that is shaping the future of the internet with web3. By backing bold entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of protocols, platforms, applications, and services in crypto, a16z crypto is enabling a new wave of creativity and innovation that will benefit millions of people around the world.

If you are interested in learning more about a16z crypto or joining its mission to build the next internet with web3, you can visit their website3, follow them on Twitter, or subscribe to their newsletter. You can also apply for their Crypto Startup School program, which is now open for Spring 2024 in London.

Conclusion

Web3 is the next internet, and a16z crypto is building it with its portfolio and the web3 community. By investing in and supporting the most promising and impactful web3 projects, a16z crypto is creating a more open, inclusive, and efficient internet that empowers users and enables innovation. If you want to be part of this exciting and transformative movement, you can learn, explore, and build with web3 today.

frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: What is a16z crypto?

A: a16z crypto is a venture capital fund that invests in crypto and web3 startups. It is part of Andreessen Horowitz, one of the most influential and successful VC firms in Silicon Valley. The fund was launched in 2018 by Chris Dixon, a founding general partner and a leading thinker in the crypto space.

Q: What is web3?

A: Web3 is the third era of the internet, which combines the decentralized, community-governed ethos of the first era with the advanced, modern functionality of the second era. Web3 aims to restore the original vision of the internet, where users have more control over their data, identity, and digital assets. Web3 also enables new forms of creativity and entrepreneurship, where anyone can build and participate in open, permissionless, and global networks.

Q: How does a16z crypto support web3?

A: a16z crypto supports its portfolio and the growth of web3 through various operations, such as research, engineering and security, legal and regulatory, go-to-market networks, recruiting services, governance and infrastructure, and educational content and media properties.

Q: What are some of the trends and opportunities in web3?

A: Web3 is a vast and diverse space that encompasses many domains and use cases. Some of the trends and opportunities that a16z crypto is following and investing in include DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, social tokens, and web3 infrastructure.

Q: How can I get involved in web3?

A: If you are curious about web3 and want to get involved in this exciting and rapidly evolving space, there are many ways to do so. You can learn, explore, and build with web3 by using various resources, platforms, tools, communities, and programs that are available online.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Please consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions.