# Margit Wennmachers

> Margit Wennmachers is the Operating Partner who built Andreessen Horowitz's brand from the ground up, transforming a16z from a new fund into the most recognized name in venture capital. A German immigrant who co-founded OutCast Communications in 1997 and grew it into a powerhouse PR firm serving Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix, she joined a16z in 2010 and pioneered a direct-to-audience content strategy that gave the firm an outsized voice in tech. She was the force behind Marc Andreessen's seminal 'Software is Eating the World' op-ed and spent 15 years shaping how founders, investors, and the world think about a16z.

- **Role:** Partner Emeritus at Andreessen Horowitz
- **Organizations:** Andreessen Horowitz, OutCast Communications, Next Fifteen Communications Group, World Affairs Council
- **From:** Breberen, Germany
- **Nationality:** German-American
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in Business, University of Lippstadt
- **Known for:** Co-founded OutCast Communications in 1997, grew it from 2 to multimillion-dollar firm with clients including Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Cisco, VMware, Spearheaded launch and communications for Andreessen Horowitz at its founding in 2008, Pioneered a16z's direct-to-audience content strategy, creating a media operation that speaks directly to founders

## Career timeline

- **1965** — Born in Breberen, Germany, youngest of four children
- **1991** — Immigrated to the United States, moved to San Francisco
- **1991-1997** — Joined Blanc & Otus (Hill & Knowlton/WPP), a high-tech communications firm; served as member of executive management team
- **1997** — Co-founded OutCast Communications with Caryn Marooney
- **2005** — OutCast Communications acquired by Next 15 Communications Group for approximately $10-13 million
- **2008** — Represented and launched Andreessen Horowitz while still at OutCast
- **2010** — Joined Andreessen Horowitz as Operating Partner for Marketing
- **2011** — Encouraged Marc Andreessen to write 'Software is Eating the World' WSJ op-ed; named to Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's 100 Women of Influence
- **2011** — Became non-executive director at Next Fifteen Communications Group
- **2016** — Named to Provoke Media's Influence 100 list
- **2025** — Transitioned to Partner Emeritus at Andreessen Horowitz after 15 years

## Achievements

- Co-founded OutCast Communications in 1997, grew it from 2 to multimillion-dollar firm with clients including Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Cisco, VMware
- Spearheaded launch and communications for Andreessen Horowitz at its founding in 2008
- Pioneered a16z's direct-to-audience content strategy, creating a media operation that speaks directly to founders
- Encouraged Marc Andreessen to write 'Software is Eating the World' - the most cited op-ed in tech history
- Named to Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's 100 Women of Influence (2012)
- Named to Provoke Media's Influence 100 (2016)
- Transformed a16z from a new fund into the most recognized brand in venture capital over 15 years

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — Appeared on The a16z Show with Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz discussing the marketing strategy that built a16z
- **2025-10** — Appeared on Internet History Podcast for comprehensive career retrospective
- **2025-07** — Announced transition from Operating Partner to Partner Emeritus at Andreessen Horowitz after approximately 15 years

## Links

- Website: https://a16z.com/author/margit-wennmachers/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margit-wennmachers-285978163
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/wennmachers
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO-SWlW6DFY
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/andreessenhorowitz

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/margit-wennmachers
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-09