From Thesis to Meme to Fund: Building American Dynamism
David Ulevitch and Katherine Boyle
For over a century, the United States has been the birthplace of world-changing innovation – from the Wright brothers’ first flight to the invention of the transistor, the moon landing, and the birth of the internet. But in recent years, belief in American progress has wavered.
Three years ago, a16z General Partner Katherine Boyle wrote a bold thesis called Building American Dynamism, challenging this apathy and calling for startups to tackle the country’s biggest problems. The idea spread fast – first as a meme, then as a movement, and today as a $600M dedicated fund.
In this episode, Katherine and fellow a16z General Partner David Ulevitch discuss:
- The origins of American Dynamism—and why it was controversial at first
- How Washington and Silicon Valley can come together
- America’s competitiveness in today’s great power competition
- The latest American Dynamism 50 list focused on the Indo-Pacific, showcasing the top startups building for the national interest
If you’re curious about the future of America, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Check out this year’s full AD50 list.
More About This Podcast
The a16z Podcast discusses the most important ideas within technology with the people building it. Each episode aims to put listeners ahead of the curve, covering topics like AI, energy, genomics, space, and more.