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Marc Andreessen: Software Engineer and Venture Capitalist

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Human Profile
Name:Marc Lowell Andreessen
Birthday:July 9, 1971 (age 54 years), Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Height:6'5" (196 cm)
Education:New Lisbon High School (Diploma)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (BS), Computer Science

Overview

Marc Lowell Andreessen is an American entrepreneur, software engineer, and venture capitalist best known for co-authoring the Mosaic web browser and co-founding Netscape and the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

Latest News (May 18, 2026): Marc Andreessen recently engaged in a high-profile public exchange on X, criticizing a viral advertisement by General Catalyst and sharing a spoof video to mock the campaign. Additionally, reports highlighted that Marc Andreessen and his firm have significantly increased their political contributions during the current election cycle.

Early life and education

Marc Lowell Andreessen was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on July 9, 1971, and grew up in New Lisbon, Wisconsin. His mother, Patricia, was a customer service representative for Lands’ End, and his father, Lowell Andreessen, worked as a sales manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a seed producer. From an early age, Andreessen demonstrated an interest in computers, teaching himself the BASIC programming language from a library book.

After high school, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While there, he worked part-time at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). This position provided him with the opportunity to work with powerful computers and computer networks. In 1993, he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Career beginnings with Mosaic

While at the NCSA in 1992, Andreessen and his colleague Eric Bina began developing a user-friendly web browser with integrated graphics. The result was Mosaic, one of the first web browsers to display images inline with text. The browser simplified web navigation and made the internet more accessible to the general public. Mosaic was released in 1993 and was distributed for free, quickly gaining popularity.

Netscape and the browser wars

After graduating, Andreessen moved to California and worked for a small technology company. He was soon contacted by James Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, who saw the commercial potential of a web browser. In 1994, they co-founded Mosaic Communications Corporation, which was later renamed Netscape Communications Corporation. Andreessen served as the company’s co-founder and vice president of technology.

Netscape launched its flagship product, the Netscape Navigator web browser, which quickly became the dominant browser. The company’s success and rapid growth were key factors in the dot-com boom of the mid-1990s. Netscape’s rise attracted the attention of Microsoft, leading to a period known as the “browser wars.” Microsoft developed its own browser, Internet Explorer, and bundled it with its Windows operating system, which eventually led to a decline in Netscape’s market share. In 1999, Netscape was acquired by AOL for $4.3 billion, and Andreessen briefly served as its chief technology officer.

Entrepreneurial ventures

After leaving AOL, Marc Lowell Andreessen co-founded Loudcloud in 1999 with Ben Horowitz, Tim Howes, and In Sik Rhee. The company, later renamed Opsware, provided web hosting and software services. In 2007, Opsware was acquired by Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion.

In 2004, Andreessen co-founded Ning, a platform that allowed users to create their own social networks. He served as the company’s chairman. Ning was sold to Mode Media in 2011.

Andreessen Horowitz

In 2009, Marc Lowell Andreessen and his long-time business partner Ben Horowitz founded the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z. The firm invests in technology companies at various stages, from seed startups to more established growth companies.

Andreessen Horowitz has become one of the most prominent venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Its portfolio includes investments in a wide range of technology sectors such as software, bio and healthcare, crypto, fintech, and consumer technology. The firm has been an early investor in several notable companies, including Facebook, Twitter, GitHub, Airbnb, and Lyft.

Personal life

Marc Lowell Andreessen married Laura Arrillaga in 2006. She is the founder of the Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund and the daughter of real estate billionaire John Arrillaga. The couple has one son. Together, they have engaged in philanthropic activities through the Marc and Laura Andreessen Foundation.