Helping Our Portfolio Companies Expand Globally
Short summary
a16z is rolling out a structured program to help its growth-stage portfolio enter key international markets by adapting its US playbooks for regions like Japan, Korea, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. The firm will open new offices, leverage its talent and go-to-market teams, and build localized networks to guide founders through market-specific strategies rather than ad-hoc deals.
- a16z is replicating its 15-year-old US talent/GTM/media playbook for international markets instead of leaving global expansion to ad-hoc deals
- Priority regions are North Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan), the Middle East, non-UK Europe, and Mexico/Latin America, chosen for strategic importance plus high entry barriers
- New Japan office is opening and a Korea office has already launched, while English-speaking markets get deprioritized since firms can handle those alone
- Raghu Raghuram is leading the effort with Anne Neuberger (Global Affairs) and Jen Kha's Global Partnerships team
Full summary
a16z has run U.S.-focused talent, go-to-market, and media teams for 15 years, helping growth-stage startups land top hires, secure early customers, and amplify their messages. Now, tech’s global pull means founders need international reach well before they’ve set up local offices. So a16z is adapting its U.S. playbooks—relationship mapping, structured GTM motions, operator guidance—to markets where network gaps traditionally slow expansion.
They’ll zero in on allied regions that combine strategic importance with high barriers to entry. In North Asia—Japan, Korea, Taiwan—demand for AI, defense, and robotics is soaring, yet success hinges on a respected local brand and cultural fit. a16z will open a Japan office and has already launched in Korea. In the Middle East, governments and corporations are racing to diversify economies. In Europe, beyond the UK, companies face varied cultural and regulatory climates. And in Mexico and Latin America, rapid modernization in banking, energy, and public services creates fresh demand for cutting-edge software and infrastructure.
English-language markets get lower priority since growth-stage firms often navigate those on their own. Internally, Raghu Raghuram will lead this push, working alongside Anne Neuberger (Global Affairs GP), Jen Kha’s Global Partnerships team, plus existing talent and GTM squads. The aim is a repeatable, long-term blueprint rather than ad-hoc deals, giving portfolio founders the structured support they need from day one of expansion.