Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has firmly denied reports claiming the venture capital firm plans to open an office in India, with general partner Anish Acharya calling the claims “entirely fake news” on X. The denial comes as multiple Indian media outlets reported Thursday that a16z was preparing to establish a Bengaluru office and hire local partners, highlighting the firm’s limited presence in one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems.
What you should know: The fake news reports suggested a16z was actively planning a physical expansion into India’s tech hub.
- Several Indian media outlets cited unnamed sources claiming the firm was setting up operations in Bengaluru and recruiting local talent.
- Anish Acharya, a Bay Area-based general partner at a16z, quickly dismissed these reports on social media, stating: “As much as I adore India and the many impressive founders+investors in the region, this is entirely fake news!”
The big picture: This denial reflects a16z’s broader pullback from international expansion efforts after strategic shifts.
- The firm shuttered its London office earlier this year, just one year after opening in 2023, citing regulatory changes and a strategic refocus on the U.S. market.
- Despite closing physical offices, a16z maintains it will continue international investments through remote teams and local networks, with scouts reportedly active across Europe.
Limited India presence: Unlike competitors, a16z has maintained minimal investment activity in India’s booming startup scene.
- The firm’s only significant Indian investment was crypto exchange CoinSwitch, which it backed as part of a $260 million funding round in 2021.
- Reports suggested a16z was seeking to deploy approximately $500 million in Indian startups, but no investments have materialized since the CoinSwitch deal.
- Other major U.S. venture firms like Accel, General Catalyst, and Lightspeed Venture Partners have established stronger presences in India.
What they’re saying: Marc Andreessen, co-founder of a16z, previously explained the firm’s cautious approach to international expansion.
- At a Stanford Graduate School of Business talk, he noted it’s “extremely tempting” to back startups in emerging markets but acknowledged the challenges of expanding to more countries.
- “Venture capital is a very hands-on process of understanding the people you’re working with for both evaluating the company and work[ing] with the company,” Andreessen said.
Current focus: a16z is concentrating resources on AI investments and domestic lobbying efforts.
- The firm sought to raise approximately $20 billion earlier this year for growth-stage AI company investments, targeting global investors interested in American companies.
- Records show a16z spent $1.49 million on federal lobbying this year, outspending industry trade groups and other VC firms.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...