25 Things About Ben Horowitz

In Silicon Valley, where VCs are routinely regarded as superstars, the dynamic duo of Andreessen Horowitz occupies a special niche. The seemingly effortless business sense and high profile of the company are typified by founding partner Ben Horowitz, whose regular blog posts combine management and entrepreneurial know-how with hip-hop lyrics. Here, he offers a glimpse into his priorities and thought process, while becoming the first person to answer all 25 of our Ten Things questions.

What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
“Good Times.”

What qualities do you like in a person?
Courage, humor, original thinking, loyalty.

What qualities do you dislike?
Insecurity, narrow thinking, prejudices, bitch-assness.

Name one thing you will regret never having done (if you never do it).
Ending the oppression of women worldwide.

What’s the single most important issue in the world today?
Global women’s rights.

Do you still buy CDs or rent DVDs?
Yes.

What would you be doing if you were not in your current job?
CEO of a technology company.

What is your greatest achievement to date?
Professional: Helping turn LoudCloud into Opsware and making Opsware successful.
Personal: Marrying up.

iPhone, Android or BlackBerry?
iPhone.

If you could meet any historical or fictional person, who would it be?
Thomas Clarkson.

What site/app do you check first when you wake up?
Twitter.

What was the last thing you fixed?
My mom’s MacBook.

What was your first computer?
TRS-80.

What was your biggest mistake?
Signing a $30,000,000 letter of credit on a building lease for company expansion in early 2000.

Do you have a dog or cat or other pet?
Nope.

What’s your favorite mode of transportation?
Adidas.

What was the last book you read?
“The Tanning of America” by Steve Stoute.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
Speed like The Flash.

Name your favorite guilty pleasure.
Drinking Hine Cognac, listing to old Lil Weezy mixtapes.

What was your biggest most recent purchase?
Professional insulated neoprene BBQ gloves from Ole Hickory Pits.

Whom do you idolize?
Andy Grove, Michael Ovitz, Kanye West.

What do you drive/ride?
BMW b7 Alpina.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My singing voice.

Who was your biggest influence growing up?
My mom.

Describe an ideal day.
Wake up early, but not too early.
Breakfast at Lois the Pie Queen.
Meet with an entrepreneur who has a great new idea.
Help a CEO figure out an impossible problem.
Write a good blog post.
Dinner with my family.
Read something good.
Watch Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. while drinking yak with my fight buddies Sebastian, Jagoda, Joey, Cartheu and Michel, then listen to Prince, Kanyeezy and Weezy on my Krells.
No throwing up.