a16z (Andreessen Horowitz) · 2026-03-25
· 71d
Understanding Venture Capital Investment Criteria and Strategy
Marc Andreessen explains the fundamental mechanics of venture capital investing, arguing that VCs operate under specific constraints: raising large funds to deploy over 3-4 years with expectations of 10x returns within 4-6 years. The piece clarifies which startups should seek VC funding based on business model leverage and exit potential, and why VCs reject certain opportunities.
Metrics in this report
Baseball Model - Base Hit Rate
2per 10 investments
expected
typical VC portfolio outcomes
Baseball Model - Home Run Rate
1per 10 investments
if lucky
typical VC portfolio outcomes
Baseball Model - Strikeout Rate
7per 10 investments
expected
typical VC portfolio outcomes
Expected Return Realization Horizon
4-6years
realistic
after date of funding
Fund Legal Lifespan
10years
maximum
venture capital funds
Investment Deployment Period
3-4years
typical
VC fund lifecycle
Minimum Return Multiple Required
10x
credible potential
per investment
Typical VC Fund Size
100+$ millions
minimum typical
venture capital funds