VC Titan Ben Horowitz Switches Gears – 'Making A Significant Donation' To Kamala Harris Campaign

Ben Horowitz, co-founder of VC giant Andreessen Horowitz (A16z), made a surprising pivot in his political donations. In an email to his staff, Horowitz revealed that he and his wife Felicia will make a “significant donation” to Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign. This news comes just a few months after Horowitz publicly supported Donald Trump for his pro-tech stance.

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The email, which was first reported by Axios and later confirmed by Business Insider, raised eyebrows given Horowitz’s prior support for Trump. In July, Horowitz said that Trump was the right choice for the future of emerging tech and startups. Now, just months later, he’s backing Harris, highlighting a notable shift in his political approach.

Horowitz and his wife have known Vice President Harris for over a decade. He mentioned their long-standing friendship in the email, stating, “She has been a great friend to both of us during that time." Horowitz added that Harris helped with several events early on at his home while building A16z's Cultural Leadership Fund.

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Despite this donation, Horowitz stopped short of endorsing Harris outright. He acknowledged that while he has had conversations with Harris and her team, they have not yet stated their tech policies, which leaves A16z’s official stance on tech policy unchanged. "I am very hopeful that the Harris administration will be much better," Horowitz wrote. "But they have not yet stated their intentions."

The venture capitalist's email comes amid a presidential race that's heating up, especially in the tech sector. While Harris has not formally outlined her tech policies, Horowitz's donation signals confidence in her potential leadership. However, he still awaits more concrete details on how her administration would approach key issues like AI, blockchain and cryptocurrency.

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Horowitz's backing is major in a race where tech policies are critical. His company, A16z, has been a big player in backing startups and emerging technologies. His previous support for Trump centered on believing that Trump's policies would encourage innovation in sectors like AI and blockchain. Now, Horowitz is hedging his bets on Harris, likely hoping for a tech-friendly administration.

This move also illustrates how the tech sector could play a big role in the upcoming election. Tech investors like Horowitz are watching closely, especially after the Biden administration's stricter policies on blockchain and AI. Horowitz earlier criticized them as “exceptionally destructive.”

With the 2024 election shaping up to be one of the closest in recent history, Horowitz's pivot could indicate a broader shift in the tech world's political allegiances. It's clear that while Horowitz has shown his support for Harris, he's still waiting for her to reveal her tech agenda. Until then, it seems the VC titan is playing it safe, keeping his options open while contributing to one of the most important political races of the century.

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