Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
Ben Horowitz on What It Really Takes to Be a Great CEO... Are you a founder building the next big thing? Apply to Speedrun today - speedrun.a16z.com
Why is it so hard to lead a tech startup today? In this exclusive fireside, a16z Co-Founder Ben Horowitz breaks down the brutal truths of startup leadership, why most CEOs avoid the truth, and how to build a culture that actually scales. If you’re building a company in 2025, this one’s for you.
🔹 What it takes to be a great CEO in the AI age
🔹 The biggest mistakes founders make when facing hard truths
🔹 Why company culture is really about behaviors, not values
🔹 How to design a culture that actually scales
🔹 Fundraising advice founders need to hear
🔹 How to lead with honesty—especially when it’s hard
💡 Are you a founder building the next big thing? Join Speedrun, the startup accelerator designed to help founders move fast with capital, mentorship, and top investors.
👉 Apply now: speedrun.a16z.com
📲 Follow us for more insights:
X (Twitter): https://x.com/speedrun
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/a16zspeedrun
Chapters:
0:00 - 0:40 - Intro
0:40 - 4:26 – What it takes to be a great CEO today
4:26 - 9:52 – How company culture is built and evolves
9:52 - 12:49 – What early-stage startup life is really like
12:49 - 14:24 – Fundraising advice for first-time founders
14:24 - 15:12 - Outro
#BenHorowitz #a16z #speedrun #startups #techstartups #aistartups #founderadvice #ceoinsights #startupculture #venturecapital #techleadership #marcandreessen
Ben Horowitz on What It Really Takes to Be a Great CEO... Are you a founder building the next big thing? Apply to Speedrun today - speedrun.a16z.com
Why is it so hard to lead a tech startup today? In this exclusive fireside, a16z Co-Founder Ben Horowitz breaks down the brutal truths of startup leadership, why most CEOs avoid the truth, and how to build a culture that actually scales. If you’re building a company in 2025, this one’s for you.
🔹 What it takes to be a great CEO in the AI age
🔹 The biggest mistakes founders make when facing hard truths
🔹 Why company culture is really about behaviors, not values
🔹 How to design a culture that actually scales
🔹 Fundraising advice founders need to hear
🔹 How to lead with honesty—especially when it’s hard
💡 Are you a founder building the next big thing? Join Speedrun, the startup accelerator designed to help founders move fast with capital, mentorship, and top investors.
👉 Apply now: speedrun.a16z.com
📲 Follow us for more insights:
X (Twitter): https://x.com/speedrun
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/a16zspeedrun
Chapters:
0:00 - 0:40 - Intro
0:40 - 4:26 – What it takes to be a great CEO today
4:26 - 9:52 – How company culture is built and evolves
9:52 - 12:49 – What early-stage startup life is really like
12:49 - 14:24 – Fundraising advice for first-time founders
14:24 - 15:12 - Outro
#BenHorowitz #a16z #speedrun #startups #techstartups #aistartups #founderadvice #ceoinsights #startupculture #venturecapital #techleadership #marcandreessen
