50 Facts About Marc Andreessen

Early Life and Education

Marc Andreessen's journey into the tech world began early. His childhood and education laid the foundation for his future success.

1. Birthplace and Date: Marc Andreessen was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on July 9, 1971.
2. Early Life: Growing up in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, Andreessen developed an early fascination with technology. He taught himself BASIC programming at the age of nine.
3. Education: Andreessen attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he majored in Computer Science. His time at the university was pivotal in shaping his future career.
4. National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA): While an undergraduate, Andreessen worked at NCSA, where he became familiar with Tim Berners-Lee’s open standards for the World Wide Web.
5. Collaboration with Eric Bina: At NCSA, Andreessen collaborated with Eric Bina to develop Mosaic, a user-friendly web browser that integrated graphics and was designed to work on a variety of computers.

The Birth of Mosaic and Netscape

Andreessen's work on Mosaic and Netscape revolutionized the way people accessed the internet.

6. Mosaic Development: The Mosaic browser was announced in January 1993 and quickly gained popularity. Over two million copies were downloaded within the first year, significantly increasing web usage.
7. Graduation and Post-Graduation Plans: After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science in 1993, Andreessen moved to California to pursue further opportunities in the tech industry.
8. Silicon Valley Career: In California, Andreessen worked for Enterprise Integration Technologies, a company that developed Internet security products. This experience laid the groundwork for his future ventures.
9. Meeting James Clark: In 1994, Andreessen received an email from James Clark, a former professor at Stanford University who had recently left Silicon Graphics, Inc. Clark was looking to start a new business venture and saw potential in Mosaic.
10. Founding Netscape Communications: With Clark's business acumen and Andreessen's technical expertise, they founded Mosaic Communications Corporation in April 1994. The company was later renamed Netscape Communications Corporation.
11. Netscape Navigator: Netscape Navigator, launched in 1994, quickly became the most popular browser on the internet, capturing over 75% of the market share by mid-1996.
12. IPO Success: Netscape's initial public offering (IPO) in 1995 was a massive success, earning millions of dollars on the first day of trading.
13. Microsoft Competition: Microsoft announced its entry into the browser market in 1995, which led to intense competition between Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
14. Leadership Roles at Netscape: Andreessen took control of product development at Netscape in 1997 and shifted focus to intranets and content-rich websites in 1998.
15. AOL Acquisition: In 1999, America Online (AOL) acquired Netscape, and Andreessen briefly served as the Chief Technology Officer at AOL before leaving after seven months.

Post-Netscape Ventures

After Netscape, Andreessen continued to innovate and invest in the tech industry.

16. Founding LoudCloud (Opsware): In October 1999, Andreessen co-founded LoudCloud, Inc., which was later renamed Opsware. The company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2007.
17. Ning Co-Founder: In October 2004, Andreessen co-founded Ning with Gina Bianchini. Ning allowed users to create social networks tailored to their interests, with Andreessen serving as the company's chairman.
18. Venture Capitalist: In 2009, Andreessen co-founded the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz with Ben Horowitz. The firm invests in companies within the information technology industry and was ranked No. 1 on CNET’s 2011 list of most influential investors.
19. Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People: In 2012, Marc Andreessen was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
20. Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering: In March 2013, Andreessen was awarded the first Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, recognizing outstanding advances in engineering that have changed the world.

Investments and Advisory Roles

Andreessen's keen eye for potential has led him to invest in and advise numerous successful startups.

21. Investments in Startups: Andreessen has been an investor in several startups, including Digg, Plazes, Qik, and Twitter.
22. Advisory Roles: He serves in advisory roles for Facebook, Ebay, Hewlett-Packard, Asana, CollabNet, and Kaikai.
23. Education Background: Andreessen holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
24. Early Programming Experience: Before college, Andreessen taught himself BASIC programming and attempted to design a program to do his math homework.
25. Electrical Engineering Plans: Initially, Andreessen planned to become an electrical engineer but shifted his focus to computer science during his university years.

Recognitions and Honors

Andreessen's contributions have been widely recognized and celebrated.

26. NCSA Clippings File: The University of Illinois Archives contains news clippings on Marc Andreessen in the NCSA Clippings File.
27. Alumni and Faculty Biographical File: The Alumni and Faculty Biographical File at the University of Illinois Archives includes information on Marc Andreessen.
28. Stanley Ikenberry General Correspondence File: The Stanley Ikenberry General Correspondence File at the University of Illinois Archives contains correspondence related to Mosaic.
29. Mosaic at NCTE Annual Convention: The NCTE/Middle Level Section File at the University of Illinois Archives contains minutes and agendas showcasing Mosaic at the NCTE annual convention in 1997.
30. Historical Marker at NCSA: A historical marker at NCSA commemorates Marc Andreessen’s contributions to the development of Mosaic.
31. Engineering Hall of Fame: A poster in the Engineering Hall of Fame at the University of Illinois recognizes Marc Andreessen’s achievements.
32. Internet Hall of Fame Inductee: In 2012, Marc Andreessen was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame for his role in creating Mosaic and Netscape Navigator.
33. Time Magazine Cover: In 1996, Marc Andreessen appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, highlighting his significant impact on the tech industry.
34. Bandwidth Tidal Wave Prediction: As vice president of technology at Netscape, Andreessen predicted the "bandwidth tidal wave" that would transform the wireless communications industry.
35. Netscape’s Revenue Growth: By the first quarter of 1996, Netscape reported revenues totaling $55 million, a significant milestone in its growth.
36. Microsoft’s Browser Entry: Microsoft’s entry into the browser market in 1995 marked a turning point in the competition between Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
37. Netscape’s Market Share: By mid-1996, Netscape Navigator had captured over 75% of the browser market share, making it the dominant browser at the time.
38. Mosaic’s Impact: Mosaic is often credited with popularizing the internet by making it easier for non-technical users to navigate the web.
39. Netscape’s Acquisition by AOL: In 1999, America Online acquired Netscape, leading to a brief stint for Andreessen as the Chief Technology Officer at AOL.
40. LoudCloud’s Acquisition by HP: In 2007, Hewlett-Packard acquired LoudCloud, Inc., which was founded by Marc Andreessen in 1999.

Legacy and Impact

Andreessen's work has left a lasting legacy in the tech world, influencing countless innovations and entrepreneurs.

41. Ning’s Social Networking Platform: Ning allowed users to create social networks tailored to their interests, with Andreessen serving as the company’s chairman.
42. Andreessen Horowitz’s Influence: The venture capital firm co-founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz has been ranked as one of the most influential investors in the tech industry.
43. Investment in Digg: Andreessen was an early investor in Digg, a social news and networking website that gained significant popularity in the mid-2000s.
44. Investment in Plazes: He also invested in Plazes, a location-based social networking service that aimed to connect people based on their physical locations.
45. Investment in Qik: Andreessen invested in Qik, a video-sharing service that allowed users to share live video content.
46. Investment in Twitter: He was an early investor in Twitter, which has become one of the most influential social media platforms globally.
47. Advisory Roles at Facebook and Ebay: Andreessen serves in advisory roles for Facebook and Ebay, two of the largest technology companies in the world.
48. Advisory Roles at Hewlett-Packard: He also serves in an advisory role for Hewlett-Packard, a multinational information technology company.
49. Advisory Roles at Asana and CollabNet: Andreessen serves in advisory roles for Asana and CollabNet, companies focused on project management and software development tools.
50. Legacy and Impact: Marc Andreessen’s contributions to the development of the internet and his role in shaping the tech industry have left a lasting legacy. His work on Mosaic and Netscape Navigator paved the way for modern web browsers and social media platforms, transforming how we communicate and access information today.

Marc Andreessen's Lasting Legacy

Marc Andreessen's journey from a small-town kid to a tech giant is nothing short of inspiring. His early work on Mosaic and Netscape Navigator revolutionized how we use the internet today. Founding Netscape Communications and later Andreessen Horowitz, he showed an uncanny knack for spotting and nurturing tech talent. His investments in startups like Twitter, Digg, and Qik highlight his forward-thinking approach. Serving in advisory roles for Facebook, Ebay, and Hewlett-Packard, Andreessen continues to shape the tech landscape. Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame, his impact is undeniable. From teaching himself BASIC at nine to earning the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, Andreessen's contributions have left an indelible mark on the digital world. His legacy is a testament to innovation, perseverance, and vision.