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Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) announced it has raised $7.2 billion to invest in various technology sectors including gaming and artificial intelligence, but it has not increased investments in the cryptocurrency sector. The firm’s growth venture strategy will receive the largest share with an increase of $3.75 billion. In its announcement dated April 16, a16z stated that infrastructure and application projects will receive $1.25 billion and $1 billion respectively.
a16z Unveils Investment Strategies
The infrastructure strategy primarily focuses on financing teams in artificial intelligence, computing, and data industries; while application funds are targeting consumer, enterprise, and fintech application developers.
The remaining $1.2 billion, and game-focused funds, will be equally distributed between the new American Dynamism fund, which invests in founders and companies supporting the United States’ national interests in aviation, defense, security, education, and manufacturing. The $4.5 billion crypto-focused fund did not receive any additional financing.
According to a16z general partner and overseer of Games Fund One, Andrew Chen, the $600 million allocated for gaming projects will be used to create a second game-focused fund. Chen shared the following in a post on X on April 16:
“With artificial intelligence, Web3 games, VR/AR, 3D tools, gamified applications, game studios, and much more, the fund targets an industry that has seen incredible companies emerge over the last decade, aiming for success in a sector worth over $300 billion.”
Chen added that he is particularly focused on financing games that integrate productive artificial intelligence:
“Many product categories in the productive AI space, especially games and interactive entertainment, will transform. It’s no surprise that games are the driving force for new exciting applications on emerging computing platforms.”
Insightful Statements from a Prominent Figure
A portion of the $600 million will be used in a16z’s accelerator program launched at the beginning of April, which will distribute $750,000 to up to 40 gaming ventures during a 12-week course in Los Angeles starting from the end of July.
a16z co-founder Ben Horowitz stated in his announcement on April 16 that each focus fund will have its own experts to maximize the likelihood of success:
“Each area requires deep expertise, so for instance, trying to cross-train someone in game projects and infrastructure is not prudent. Founders developing foundational models in artificial intelligence need completely different networks and skills than those developing biotechnology therapies.”
