Andrew Chen
InvestorGeneral Partner, Andreessen Horowitz · General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz · Board director at Virtual Kitchen · Board director at Substack
San Francisco, CA
Writes $1M – $100M checks · typically $10M
About
Andrew Chen led Uber's rider growth team before joining Andreessen Horowitz, where he is a general partner investing in consumer startups, games and AI, including through the firm's Speedrun accelerator. He is the author of The Cold Start Problem, a widely read book on network effects, and has published essays on growth and marketplaces at andrewchen.com for two decades. His newsletter and writing made him one of the best-known thinkers on user acquisition before he ever wrote a check.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechConsumerCrypto & Web3Defense Tech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Co-founded Reforge with Brian Balfour to provide advanced professional education on startup growth. Co-founded a now-defunct startup that was funded by the Andreessen Horowitz Angel Fund about a decade before he joined a16z.
- Education
- Studied at University of Washington (B.S., Applied Mathematics)
- Communities
- Popularized the term 'growth hacking' through an essay he wrote in 2012, inspired by his friend Sean Ellis.
- Awards
- Wrote The Cold Start Problem, a best-selling book on network effects.
- More
- Has written over 650 long-form essays on startups, user growth, and network effects. Spent about a decade in the Bay Area building his network and doing dozens of angel investments and advisory roles. Andrew Chen has written hundreds of essays on startups and user growth at andrewchen.com over the past decade.
From Andrew's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Virtual Kitchen
Intro paths
In turn, Andrew can intro founders to Virtual Kitchen's investors below.
Virtual Kitchen's investors · 3
Co-founders at Virtual Kitchen
Board director at SubstackYC W18
Intro paths
Andrew went through Y Combinator (Winter 2018) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
Their group partner at YC was Jared Friedman, YC Group Partner — the partner who ran Substack's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
In turn, Andrew can intro founders to Substack's investors below.
Substack's investors · 8
Co-founders at Substack
Experience
- Andreessen HorowitzGeneral Partnercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- HarperCollins PublishersAuthor, THE COLD START PROBLEM2019 — 2022
- UberGrowth2015 — 2018San Francisco, California, United States
- Stealth StartupFounder2009 — 2014Palo Alto, CA
Deals · 1
SubstackLed round
via Andreessen Horowitz · filed Jul 2019
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Books by Andrew Chen
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Andrew ChenFireside: Andrew Chen, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz - Succeeding in Consumer Tech
Slush
Andrew Chen on growth metrics vs strategy | 🎙 Andreessen Horowitz general partner Andrew Chen has helped the likes of Uber, Dropbox and AngelList tackle growth. This week, he joins our podcast to... | By Intercom
facebook.com
Fun video featuring Jonathan driving an Uber and singing Roses (The Chainsmokers) with his riders
youtube.com
Network33
▶21 more connections
Annie CollinsBen PortneyBenedict EvansBob SwanBryan FaustCaroline GogginsChris LyonsDaisy WolfDaniel ChenDaren MatsuokaDave AndersonDavid Brillembourg Jr.David FragaDavid HaberDon ThompsonEddy LazzarinElizabeth HarkavyEmma CooperEric AlbyFrank ChenGabriel Vasquez
Investors connected to Andrew in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Andrew Chen?
- Andrew Chen led Uber's rider growth team before joining Andreessen Horowitz, where he is a general partner investing in consumer startups, games and AI, including through the firm's Speedrun accelerator. He is the author of The Cold Start Problem, a widely read book on network effects, and has published essays on growth and marketplaces at andrewchen.com for two decades. His newsletter and writing made him one of the best-known thinkers on user acquisition before he ever wrote a check.
- Where does Andrew Chen work?
- Andrew Chen is General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz at Andrew Chen and Board director at Virtual Kitchen and Board director at Substack.
- What does Andrew Chen invest in?
- Andrew Chen invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Consumer, Crypto & Web3, Defense Tech.
- What check size does Andrew Chen write?
- Andrew Chen typically writes checks of $1M – $100M.
- Where did Andrew Chen go to school?
- Andrew Chen studied at University of Washington (Bachelor of Science - BS, Applied Mathematics).
- What awards has Andrew Chen received?
- Wrote The Cold Start Problem, a best-selling book on network effects.
- What podcasts and interviews feature Andrew Chen?
- Tracked appearances include "Fireside: Andrew Chen, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz - Succeeding in Consumer Tech", "Andrew Chen on growth metrics vs strategy | 🎙 Andreessen Horowitz general partner Andrew Chen has helped the likes of Uber, Dropbox and AngelList tackle growth. This week, he joins our podcast to... | By Intercom", "Fun video featuring Jonathan driving an Uber and singing Roses (The Chainsmokers) with his riders".
Paths to reach Andrew
People who overlapped with Andrew at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at Andreessen HorowitzAndrew: General Partner
Same school
Also attended University of Washington277
+ 271 more
Shared employers
Also worked at HarperCollins Publishers8
+ 2 more
Also worked at Uber418
+ 412 more
