General Partner, American Dynamism
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)Check size: $1M-$100M+ (from $2.5B+ American Dynamism fund)
Leads a16z's American Dynamism practice — a $2.5B+ fund (expanded from $600M in 2023) backing companies that support national interests. Believes the most important companies of the next decade will be built at the intersection of technology and national security. Patriotic tech thesis: the best founders don't just build for consumers, they build for the country. Katherine argues that Silicon Valley abandoned hard, important problems for consumer social apps and that the pendulum is swinging back. The name 'American Dynamism' is intentional — it's about restoring the dynamism that built America's infrastructure, defense, and industrial capacity. She sees a generational opportunity as government procurement modernizes and defense budgets prioritize technology over legacy systems. Has written extensively about how the best founders she meets are motivated by mission, not just money.
Technical founders solving problems that matter for national security and sovereignty. Companies that can navigate government procurement. Products that make the US more competitive and secure. Founders with military or government background who understand the customer. Mission-driven founders who would build this company even if VC money didn't exist. Companies that are 'dual-use' — technology that serves both defense and commercial markets.
Consumer entertainment. Companies without a government or defense application. Founders who don't understand how government procurement works. Pure software plays without physical-world impact. Companies that would work equally well outside the US — she wants things that specifically strengthen American capacity.
Lead with the mission. Why does this matter for the country? Show understanding of government customers and procurement cycles. If you have military or government experience, lead with that. This is about building things that matter, not just things that make money. Demonstrate that you understand the unique challenges of selling to government — long sales cycles, compliance requirements, security clearances. Show that your technology has dual-use potential (defense + commercial). Be specific about which government agency or branch is your customer. Katherine is deeply knowledgeable about defense procurement — don't oversimplify. If you're building in manufacturing, infrastructure, housing, or energy, frame it in terms of American competitiveness.
The core thesis: invest in companies that support the national interest — defense, infrastructure, housing, energy, manufacturing, public safety. Not charity or patriotism for its own sake, but a recognition that the biggest market opportunities of the next decade align with things the country needs. The government is the world's largest customer.
The best American Dynamism founders are motivated by mission first. They often have military service, government experience, or personal connection to the problem. This conviction carries them through the uniquely difficult challenges of selling to government and building in regulated markets.
The best American Dynamism companies serve both defense/government AND commercial markets. This creates two revenue streams, reduces dependency on government procurement cycles, and accelerates iteration speed. Anduril is the archetype — defense technology with commercial applications.
A return to building things that exist in the physical world. Not just software, but factories, aircraft, defense systems, housing, infrastructure. The companies that built American prosperity — Boeing, Lockheed, GE — had this ethos. A new generation of builders is bringing it back with modern technology.
The foundational essay for a16z's American Dynamism practice. Argues that Silicon Valley spent a decade building consumer social apps while ignoring the hard infrastructure, defense, and industrial problems that actually matter for the country. The pendulum is swinging back — the most ambitious founders now want to build things that strengthen America.
Optimistic case for American renewal through technology. Argues that a new generation of founders is choosing to build defense companies, infrastructure companies, and manufacturing companies — not because it's trendy, but because it matters.
The best founders are 'builders' in the deepest sense — they want to create things that exist in the physical world, that defend the country, that house people, that power cities. This is a return to the builder ethos that created American prosperity.
Defense budgets are shifting toward technology. Government procurement is modernizing. A new generation of defense founders (many with military experience) are building companies that can move at startup speed while meeting government requirements.
Annual list of the 50 most important American Dynamism companies — spanning defense, infrastructure, housing, energy, public safety, and manufacturing. Signals where the fund sees opportunity.
“The most ambitious founders of this generation aren't building the next social app. They're building the things that defend the country, house its people, and power its cities.”
— Building American Dynamism essay
“Silicon Valley spent a decade building consumer social apps while the country's infrastructure crumbled. The pendulum is swinging back.”
— Various talks and essays
“The best defense tech founders I meet are motivated by mission first. The venture returns follow from building something that genuinely matters.”
— Interviews
“American Dynamism isn't a sector — it's a belief that the most important companies of the next decade will be the ones that strengthen the country.”
— a16z talks
“We're looking for founders who would build these companies even if venture capital didn't exist. That level of conviction is what separates the great defense tech founders from the ones who are chasing a trend.”
— Interviews
“Government procurement is modernizing faster than people realize. The founders who figure out how to sell to the government while moving at startup speed will build enormous companies.”
— Podcast appearances
Former journalist at the Washington Post and Fortune magazine. Her journalism background gave her deep understanding of how policy, politics, and technology intersect. Joined a16z to build the American Dynamism practice from scratch. Has become one of the most prominent voices in defense tech investing. Grew up with a deep appreciation for American institutions and infrastructure — has written about how her journalism career showed her both America's strengths and where it was falling behind. Has built relationships across the defense establishment, Congress, and the national security community. Known for being articulate, passionate, and intellectually rigorous about the American Dynamism thesis.