Nat Barling

Our @a16z team is hiring a backend SWE in SF! You'll build mission-critical tools that our investing & operating teams use every day - to grow our network, support our founders, and more. You'll have meaningful ownership, ship fast, and collaborate with designers, engineers, & investors to bring new products & features to life. You'll also get to work with @NatBarling (the goat). Apply here: a16z.com/about/jobs/?gh…

Time for a Margit update! Here is the news: I’m “graduating” from operating partner to partner emeritus @a16z. First, let me back up. It seems that I do things in decade and a half increments. I got to the US in 1991 (October 19 is like a sort of birthday. Ask any immigrant and they will know their US birthday!). There was a tech recession at the time. Also, no American resume. Nor academic credentials. But this is America! And it came through for me. I spent a few years trying to get a job. I got a temp job at a tech PR firm. Then I got my first real break. A huge thank you to @simonecoxe and @maureenblanc for giving me my first real job and a shot at an actual career. That was a job as Account Executive at Blanc & Otus. I worked there for 4+ years. Then the talented @carynm650 and I started The Outcast Agency, which turned out to be the very best tech comms firm in the world. We built Outcast into the most sought after firm for tech franchises for over a decade and a half. We sold it to Nextfifteen (thank you, @timdyson . So that house was built; it’s still around and has amazing clients. @bhorowitz and @pmarca came calling. Before they ever raised money. These guys were ballsy. It was the height of the financial crisis, there was zero liquidity. Ben and Marc wanted to raise $300m. Just the two of them. When probed on this, Marc just said, “Let’s assume success, shall we?” Despite the risk…. It was a chance to build the top brand in venture capital. Period. Mind you, back then no VC firm was doing any marketing at all. It was seen as almost unseemly! I love building so I took a chance. The founders made me - I think - the first VC firm CMO. Now every firm has one of those, and that’s a good thing. Over the last 15 fabulous years, we’ve done so many things: - We marketed ahead of any result. We had to. So we marketed people and their ideas. - We invented going direct, creating a powerful content operation that allows us to communicate on our terms. - We produced events where people tried to crash multiple times and had to be escorted out by security. - Literally so many firsts and big things, there are too many to list them all. Now we actually have results! And we’re still the most exciting brand. a16z is full of talented people giving their best, full of amazing portfolio companies, and a very large and powerful network that everyone in our orbit can plug into. I can’t possibly thank every single person in the firm here, so I will keep it to the founders for being committed to building the top brand, and to @garcegarce of course. She was my first hire - she also took a chance on me and our entire project. Finally, a heartfelt thanks to the indefatigable @Mili10 , who has made my life easier and more productive for a decade. My sincerest thanks. Many more of you deserve a thank you, I’ll ping you directly. What’s ahead? I will be an active advisor for the next 6 months. We all want to make sure the change is smooth, in particular for the folks in our network who have a long-standing relationship. After that, I will not be gone and dead, haha. While I’ll take a nice break, I’ll also be looking for what to build next. My number won’t change. So feel free to reach out if you need anything. The house is built. I will forever bleed a16z. Here’s to more building!

Big news for AI x entertainment: I'm excited to co-lead the new round for Promise AI, a film and tv studio (and eventually game studio!) powered by the world’s best GenAI artists and storytellers. The startup is founded by George, Jamie, and Dave (@gstrompolos @jamiebyrne @Diesol) and we're co-investing alongside @PeterChernin from The North Road Company. As we’ve written before, Games and Entertainment are undergoing a profound transformation driven by rapid advancements in generative AI. At the forefront of this revolution is Promise, a new studio pioneering the use of generative AI to produce high-quality films, series, and to develop innovative new formats. Promise will produce new media in collaboration with leading Gen AI artists and storytellers using a reimagined production process enabled by proprietary workflow software. Today, we are thrilled to announce our investment in Promise, reflecting our confidence in their visionary approach to integrating technology with the craft of storytelling. Promise was founded by industry veterans George Strompolos, former CEO and founder of Fullscreen; Jamie Byrne, former YouTube content executive; and acclaimed generative AI innovator Dave Clark. Together, they bring decades of experience in discovering and elevating new voices, with a deep understanding of how technology can broaden opportunities for creators. George and Jamie were instrumental in helping creators harness platforms like YouTube to reach global audiences, while Dave’s groundbreaking work as an independent filmmaker has captivated us. Central to Promise’s mission is their development of MUSE, a first-of-its-kind generative AI production workflow software. MUSE seamlessly integrates the latest generative AI technology throughout the creative process. While there are many generative AI tools available, the challenge lies in making them work together cohesively. Without the know-how to integrate these tools seamlessly, the full potential of AI-driven filmmaking remains untapped. This innovative platform is set to change the game for filmmakers looking to harness generative AI, reinventing the creative process for the AI era. Promise is actively investing in top generative AI talent who blend traditional filmmaking skills and next generation AI creation ability. Behind Promise is a belief that generative AI filmmakers are a new and important class of creators looking to produce innovative new stories that’s only now possible with the advent of generative AI media tools. Promise is also engaging with leading Hollywood rights-holders, networks, and platforms to enable a multi-year lineup of category-defining films and series to be produced and seen by audiences everywhere. By doing so, they aim to set a new standard for high-quality storytelling enabled by AI. We are excited to support Promise as they pioneer the future of creativity. The convergence of technology and storytelling opens up endless possibilities, and Promise is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. Their innovative approach not only redefines the existing creative process, but also unlocks new opportunities for artists and audiences alike. The future of creativity in entertainment and games is here, and it’s being shaped by visionaries who understand that technology and artistry are complementary forces. We are honored to be part of Promise’s journey as they unlock the full potential of generative AI in storytelling. Announcement details a16z.com/announcement/i…